The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-31
u APD FROM 4 BAAIO)I
COL. A. NOEL BI1AIxEMAN's Ex-
TERRENCE AS AN AERONAUT
IN ENGLAND
1T TOLD WHAT HE HAD DONE
nhc EngIiShmen at Once Concluded
He Was Insane, and Carried
Him Off to an
Asylum.
WASHINGTON Post

Washington Post
1 went UP in a balloon once, and I
never want to make such trip again"
said Col. A. Noel Brakeman, chief of
staff to Gen. Greene, the grand marshal
OF the inaugural parade the day follow
ms that great event, as he sat in his
Office talking with some of the young
men Of military fame and social prom-
inence who were among the grand mar.
shals aids. Col. Brakeman has travelled
the world over, first as a paymaster In
the navy. during which time he inStitut-
ed the first Masonic lodge that China
ever knew. This was in HongkOng, and
Co. Blakeman's picture still adorns the
lodge chambers. In recent years he has
been abroad many times on private bust
ness.
My experience as an aeronaut was in
London" he continued, and it would
never have occurred but for friend I
CHANGED to meet there. He was going
IL make an ascent. and he persuaded me
to accompany him.
The balloon was feature of some
big exhibition, and every day 1t was in
fiated and made an ascent. with four or
five passengers in charge Of an experience
ed aeronaut. There were about five in the
party the day I took the trip. We got
into the basket, which was boxed In
quite high then let the rope go, and we
shot up about 5000 feet. 1t was interest,"
ing 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 drifted for about eight
miles
1T was when we tried to descend that
the trouble began. The method was to
throw out anchors "A the balloon settled
toward the earth. The aeronaut said that
when one of these anchors caught firmly
he would haul the balloon down to the
tree in which the anchor was expected
to become fastened. This could be done
by winding 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 a safe distance away,
open the valve, let the gas escape and
the big affair would collapse and sink
He informed US that we must get clear
of the sinking folds as they would come
down fast. and if they caught and cover
ed lis we would be In an atmosphere Of
most poisonous gas.
'All this was very interesting. but we
did not seem to be making much prog
ress toward the point where we would
have to look out for the descending folds
of the collapsing balloon. The anchors
caught in a whole lot of tress but they
did not hold One would get tangled in A
tree. and then the balloon would sway
far over, fitting the basket in which we
were until it seemed that we would be
spilled out. Then the anchor would
break loose and we would shoot I'D again
Il became very tired of this and told
the aeronaut that I thought it was time
T. bring the voyage to a conclusion. He
told me If I did not like it I could
simply resentful of my remark, but he
said he meant what he said
When the car tits over again. YOU
climb out on the edge he said and let
go. 1T will probably be a plowed field
underneath US and you won't get hurt
We'll. [ did as he suggested. When
and hung to the edge of the car. When
j saw that the car was as low as It
seemed likely to get, I let go. 1 dropped
about twelve feet. and as he expected
a plowed field was below us
AS soon as I droDped out the balloon.
relieved of my weight, shot up In the
air again and scared off. L walked TO
the nearest road and continued along it
until I came to an inn.
Il asked the landlord how far it was to
London. and he told rue it was eight
there. and while I was waiting the land
lord asked me where I had come from.
- took him to the door of the inn and
pointing to the balloon which was then
sailing along about a quarter of a mile
out of that
Inc man looked at me IN an alarmed
f9Sbion. and after I had returned to the
sitting room I noticed that several peo-
PIE peered through the window at me-
Finally. my four wheeler was ready
and I set off for London. After we had
driven along for half an hour or so the
coachman suddenly turned the horse IN
Through gate. and we drove into big
courtyard I yelled to him and asked
him what he meant: that I wanted to 90
straight to London, but he paid no at
tention and slowly clrcled the court.
When we stopped on the other side a
man wearing glasses stuck his head in
the carriage scrutinfzed me closely. pulled
back, said something to the coachman.
and we drove on to London
FINALLY We reached my lodgings and
when we did so the coachman jumped
off the box, ran UP the steps. and as
soon as his knock was answered. asked il
Mr.. Rlakeman lived there The maid
was Just answering that I did when I
reacheG the top of the steps and collared
the fellow.
What was that place You drove me
into on our way to London?' I asked
1T was a hinsane hasylun, sir he
rcDlied. When you said you had jumped
cut o that balloon We thought you was
crazy. and maybe you was a escaped
patient. from the hasyluIn'