The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-10
HIS NARROW ESCAPE.
PERiLous RIDE or AN AERoNAuT
WITH A MAOMAN.

IL 0odsrd's Account Of the Man Who
Made m Ascension with Him In Search
Of Emotions-How = Little Diplomacy
Saved Two Lives.
M. GODDARD, noted French acronaut,
was recently reiating to party of friends,
among them writer for The Star, some
Of his experiences while up In balloon.
"The most exciting and III many re-
speots most perilous ascension l ever
made" said M. GODDARD, occurred about
i've years ago from point near Paris. On
the OCCASION to which refer was accom-.
panied by single fellow traveller, who
had paid me 1 900 francs for tho privilege
or place by my side Tho weather was
hne and the balloon had risen to a consid
erable height when turned to my com.
panion, who, noticed, was very quiet, and
inquired, What effect has tho journey had
SO far upon you, monsieurY
"'None Whatever was the curt reply.
"'Then, said I, i must compliment
you. You are the first amateur I have
ever known to reach this altitude without
experiencing some unusual emotion
al wish you'd 60 higher said the
amateur cooly.
"In response to this request threw out
90 yards higher.
"'Now how do you feelP' asked
"'Just the same replied my compan.
lon in a rather petulant tono.
"'By Jove' exclaimed after glancing
with surprise at tho stolid, Indifferent ex-
preston OF my guests face, you are
wonder, a born aeronaut, monsieur
"Well, the balloon kept on rising, and
when few hundred yards higher again
turned to my phlegmatio friend and ques-
toned him ms to his emotions.
"'Emotionsl Not q trace of emotions
replied he, with the air of man who feels
that he has been greatly imposed upon.
well, SO much the worse, said I. 4
fear I shall not be able to alarm you.
We have risen high enough, and we shall
now descend
"'DescendP repeated the man, glaring
at me with q strange, wild glare In his
eyes which had not noticed before.
"'Yes, certainly. II would be danger
GUS to 60 any higher.
! don't care about the danger, and ]
don't choose to descend declared the
man. I'm going up higher, am. I've
paid thousand francs in order to expert
ence some emotions, and emotions I'll
have before going down to the earth
again.
II burst out laughing. I thought the
man was joking.
care you going up higher or notP'
asked my companion, at the same time
grasPing me with an iron grip by the
throat and shaking me violently. 4 In.
tend to have my emotions
1T was only now," continued M. God.
ard, THAT realized that was in the SO.
.ciety Of madman. The dilated eyes, the
furious grasp, ths very tone Of the pen's
voice lett 70 doubt In my mind about
that, but what was to be doneP We were
some 5000 feet high among the clouds. A
struggle was ont of the question, hs one
violent motion of the madman would be
enough to upset the car. All these
thoughts flashed through my mind in less
than a second. My adversary was pow
erfully built man, and without losing his
grasp no called out: 'Ah, my fine fellow,
You have made me pay 1000 francs and
not given me single emotion.
But what would you have me do?'
asked, as calmly and soothingly as could
under the circumstances
"'I'm going to throw you over said
the madman, with wild laugh, but first
an idea strikes mo. I'll go up to the tor
of the balloon And, suiting the action tC
the word, he jumped into tho rigging oi
the car.
But, my dear friend said I, you
will surely fall and lose your life. AT
least let me put rope around your waist
to prevent such an accident
Well, be 1t So, said the madman, who
seemed to sec the necessity OF some precau.
ton, and the rope having been attached he
commenced climbing the rigging of the
balloon with the agility OF squirrel, and
In minute or 50 was seated on the apex
clapping his hands and shouting with Joy.
Suddenly he seemed to be seized with a
mischievous desire, for, taking out OF his
pocket huge clasp knife, he brandished
1t above his head and yelled out: Now,
you rascal You wanted to descend, did
your So you shall, In hurry!' And be.
fore could utter word two out of the
six ropes attaching the car to the balloon
were cut and the car began to swing
about ominously. The madman's knife
was touching another rope when called
out to him, 'Stop-one wordp
mo, no! Down you go!
But Let me tell you something, my
friend. We are now nearly 1000 feet high,
and the loss OF the car, or even single
pound OF ballast Il contains. would result
In certain death to you. II you have sc.
cret grudge against me, don't sacrifice
your own life by quitting the car loose OF
casting me ont. Let us rather return to
the earth alive and wc can soon settle any
differences We may have with brace OF
pistols
"'AgreedP said the medman, throwing
his knife away, and coming rapidly down
the rigging from his dangerous perch he
again took his seat quietly beside me In
the car. Needless to say soon pulled the
valve, allowing tho gas to slowly escape,
and the balloon gradually descended to the
earth, where. after the madman had gone
In search Of pistols, said solemn prayer
and vowed never to make another ascen.
sion with man possessed OF craving to
experience the sensations of ballooning In
high attitudes. ."-Washington Star.
He Reported.
In McCluro's Magazine Is told story of
nm aid whom Colonel Dan Macaulcy sent