The Tucson citizen., 1901-12-27
TIRED OF THE TRIP.
30 HE GOT OUT or THE BALLOON
BV THE JUMP ROUTE.

iiShmen He Met What He Had Done
They con@sderately Carried Mim
ON 40 EN- Insane Asylum.
Il went up In balloon once, and /
never want TO make such trip again."
said Colonel A. Noel Brakeman. my
experience as an aeronaut was In Lon
DON" he continued. "and 1t would
never have occurred but for friend /
rhanced to meet there. lie was going
to make an ascent, and be persuaded
me TO accompany him.
1.-THE balloon was a feature OF some
big exhibition. and every day 1t was
inflated and made an ascent. with four
or five passengers. In charge OF an ex-
perienced aeronaut There were about
ave In the party the day | took the trip.
We got into the basket. which was
boxed In quite high, then let the rope
go, and we shot up about 1900 feet. II
was interesting to look down on the
world md hear the noises Of London
streets coming from so far below. The
drfted for about eight miles.
"lt was when we tried 10 descend
that the trouble began. The method
was to threw out anchors as the bal
loon 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 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 bold Of the valve
rope and. standing safe distance
away. open the valve. let the gus es-
cape, 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 II
they caught and covered us we would
be In an atmosphere OF most poisonous
gas,
"Ali this was very interesting. but
we did not seem to be making very
much progress toward the point where
we would have TO look out for the de-
: scending folds OF the collapsing bal
! loon. The anchors caught In a whole
lot Of trees, but they did not hold. One
would get tangled In tree. and then
J 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,
and we would shoot up again.
Il beca me very tired Of this and told
the aeronaut that thought II was time
to bring the voyage TO conclusion.
lie told me II did not like 1t could
jump out. At nrst | thought be was
simply reaentful of my remark. but be
said he meant whaf be said.
when the car tilts over again. you
climb out on the edge. he said. and let
go. 1t viii probably be piowed field
underneath us. and you won's get hurt
We'll. did as he suggested. When
| the anchor caught again. climbed out
and hung 10 the edge OF the car. When
I saw that the car was as low as II was
| likely TO get. let so. ! dropped about
IL feet. and. as he expected. n plowed
field was below us.
| "As soon as | dropped out the bal
! loon. relieved OF my weight, shot up in
, the mir again and scared of. | walked
to the nearest road and continued along
! II until came 10 an inn.
II asked the landlord how far 1t was
, 10 London. and he told me IL was eight
miiea. ordered a carriage TO take tne
, there. and while | was waiting the
landlord asked me where | had come
from.
III took him to the door or the Inn.
and. pointing 10 the balloon. which was
then sailing along about quarter Of a
ell out OF that
1.-THE man looked at me In alarmed
fashion. and after | had returned to the
sitting room noticed that several peo-
pie peered through the window at me.
Finally my four wheeler was ready.
and 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. ! yelled to him and asked
him what he meant. that wanted TO
40 straight 10 London. but be paid no
attention and slowly circied the court.
When he stopped on the other side.
man wearing glasses stuck his head In
, the carriage. scrutinixing 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 eonchman
: Jumped Off the box. ran up the steps
aud an soon as bis knock was answered
, asked II Mr. Brakeman lived there.
, The maid was just answering that
did when | reached the top of the steps
and collared the fellow.
"'What was that place you drove me
into on our way TO Londonr | asked
a him.
"It was hinsane hasylum. sir be
replied. When you said you had jump
q ed out o. that balloon. we thought you
was crazy and maybe you was es-
, cnped patient from the hasyium.' "-~
. Washington Post
:
Realised His OSu Madness.