The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-06-05
TIRED OF THE TRIP.
SO HE GOT OUT OF THE BALLOON
BY THE JUMP ROUTE.

lishmen lie Met What lie Had Done
They Considerably Carried Him
GA to nu Insane Asylum.
Il Went up in balloon once, and |
never want TO make such trip again."
said Colonel \. Noel Brakeman. MY
experience as an aeronaut was In Lon
don,' he continued and 1t would
never have occurred but for n friend l
CHANGED 10 meet there. He was going
10 make an ascent and he persuaded
me 10 accompany him.
The balloon was feature of some
big exhibition. and every day 1t was
iailated aud made an ascent, with four
or five passengers. in charge of an ex-
perlenced aeronaut. There were about
five In the party the day | took the trip.
We got into the basket, which was
boxed In quite high, then let the rope
80, and we shot up about 5000 feet. 1t
was interesting to look down on the
world and hear the noises of London
streets coming from SO far below. The
balloon sailed along smoothly, and we
trifted for about eight miles.
ut was when we tried to descend
that the trouble began. The method
was to throw out anchors as the bal
loon settled toward the earth. Tho
aeronaut said that when one OF these
anchors caught firmly lie would haul
the balloon down to the tree In which
the anchor was expected TO become
fastened. This would be done by wind
Ing In the rope on winch In the car.
We would be expected to climb out OF
the balloon into the tree, he said, and
he would then take hold of the valve
rope and. standing Il safe distance
away, open the vnlve. let the gas es.
cape and the big affair would collapse
and sink, lie informed us that we
must get clear of the sinking folds, az
they would come down fast, and IL
they caught and covered us we would
be In an atmosphere of most poisonous
gas.
"All this was very interesting, but
we did not seem TO be making very
much progress toward the point where
we would have 10 look out for the de-
scendlng folds of the collapsing bal
loon. The anchors caught IN whole
lot of trees, but they lid not hold One
would get tangled In tree, aud then
the balloon would sway far over, tilt
ing the basket In which we were until
IT seemed that we would be spilled out.
Then the anchor would break loose,
aud we would shoot up again
II became very tired of this and told
the aeronaut that thought II was time
TO bring the voyage To II conclusion.
lie told nae If did not like II ! could
jump out. At first thought he was
simply resentful Of my remark, but he
said he meant what he said.
When the ear Tits over again, you
climb out on the edge he said, and let
20. 1t Will probably be u plowed held
underneath us. aud you won't get hurt
We'll. | did as he suggested When
the anchor caught again, climbed out
and hung to he edge of the car When
| saw that the car was as low as II was
likely 10 get. let go. dropped about
II feet. and. Hs he expected. u piowed
field was below ia.
AS soon as dropped out the bal.
loon. relieved Of my weight shot up In
the air again ana scared off | walked
to the nearest road aud continued along
1t until came to an Inn.
II asked the landlord how far IL was
to London. and he told me 1t was eight
miles. ordered II carriage to take me
there, and while | was waiting the
landlord nsked me where | had come
from
Il took him to the door OF the inn.
and. pointing 10 the balloon. which wns
then sailing along about quarter of
mile above The ground, said. 1 Jump
cd out of that
The man looked at me In alarmed
fashion. and after | had returned to the
sitting room | noticed that several peo
pie pecrcd through the window at me
Finally my four wheeler was ready
G9d | sei oG Tor London After Ne had
driven alou@ tni half an hour OF 81 the
coachman suddruly turned the horse In
through a gate. aud W. drove into n big
courtyard | yelled to him aud asked
him what hc uicaut. thai | wanted To
90 straight 10 London. hill he paid no
attention and sloNA. eiacl.d the court
When he stopped on the other Side. II
man wearing glasses stuck his head In
the carriage. setutiniziug me closely,
pulled back said something to the
coachnan, and We drove on to London
FINALLY W. reached ny lodgings,
and WHEN W did 81 the coachman
jumped oil the box ran up the steps
and as soon ~ his kuock was answered
asked II Mr. Blakeman lived there
The maid WINS Just ans Werng that
did when | reached the top Of the steps
and collafcd lac fellow
"'What WINS that place you drove me
into on our way to I.ond0nr | asked
him
"'lt was Il hInsane hasylum sir lac
replied When you said you had jump.
ed out o that balloon, we thought you
was crazy and maybe you was es-
raped patient from the hasyium -