Middletown transcript., 1899-10-14
ADVENTURES OF AwAR BALLOON.

The London Globe.
The Balloon Corps Of the italian
Army has been exercising In Rome re
Gently, and experienced the following
curious and unpleasant interruption OF
August "a. 1t appears that q sudder
gust of wind swept away the balloon,
made Of silk, and the soldiers. holdine
It by ropes, had to let them 90 for fear
Of being carried on by the balloon,
which at once rose and made for The
hillside district. Toward evening II
came to earth at the village Of Palom.
baro, and then its troubles really began.
The whole population of the neighbor-
hood ran to meet the beautiful, silvery,
shining balloon, and soon took 1t q
prisoner.
To their great astonishment, the
women and maidens of Palombaro dis.
covered that the balloon was made of
pure silk, and naturally they all sought
to get as large piece Of It % possible
to make into dresses. But, despite all
their efforts. the simple minded pea.
SAINTS could not empty the balloon,
which with every puff Of wind bounded
hither and thither, and threatened
finally to escape from them into the
clouds. The matter became serious,
and at last rumor ran among the
crowd that the balloon was q monster
escaped from hell, and that the devil
was hiding inside it. How to get rid
Vt the devil was the next question.
THAT will be simple enough" said q
crafty peasant. '.Let US drag the bal
loon into the church. II the devil
really is inside he will then have to
cone out Of the balloon OF his own
accord, since no devil can remain in
side church."
No sooner said than done. The bal
loon was dragged to the church, and
The large entrance door was thrown
open, but the unwieldy ''monstern
resisted all efforts to cram IL through
The church door. Then arose sqabble
among the peasants; some Of them
that the balloon was too
huge, while others said that the devil |
was the cause Of their failure to force |
he balloon through the door, because
10 resisted with oil his strength the
Efforts being made to make him enter
he church by force. A 6nal attempt
vas made, and by dint Of pushing, |
queezing and dragging the balloon it
vas got inside the church.
In The church all was do, kness.
'ome candles were at once brought, as
be villagers desired to observe closely
be demeanor OF the suspicious balloon
inside their church. One especially
,quisitive peasant went np quite close
, the balloon and held q candle to the
Tx at part fiom which there was q
mall escape Of gas. All ct once : II
luish flame sprang from the balloon; .
1en came In quick succession q fearful
,ar, terrible stencil and iond calls !
n help, as The people, half suffOcated &
nd many OF them singed. ran hlindly ]
om the church.
Pale and trembling from their fFIeht.
le good folks Of PnlOmbaro Assembled
q the square In front OF tbs church. 10
{ course, nearly eli Of them had sen | i
le devil as with : blae flame and .
arfui stencil be had escaped ffom the
sllo0n and ut Of the church. When 8
% smell had passed awny, ID the 8
'urse Of half ~ hour, couple Of !
'olhardy young men sehtared TO enter !,
le et4Fch again. Thers we've ne
'idenf Signs that he librrated devil E
I'd Wrought pily kreaE havoc. But 9
e beautiful silk, from Nhlph The fair
Z Of Palomb6ro had intended 70 maks
lo raiment. was utterly destroyed. ,
d lay black and chaErsd on The dae. :