The Tucson citizen., 1902-06-18
TIRED OF THE TRIP.
SO HE GOT OUT OF THE BALLOON
BY THE JUMP ROUTE

Vu 10 Wm HmuAAG
II went up In a balloon once, and
never want to make such trip again,
said Colonel A. Noel Brakeman. my
experience as an aeronaut was ID Lon
don" he continued. land 1t wouio
never have occurred but for friend
chanced 10 meet there. He was going
70 make an ascent, and he persuaded
noe TO accompany him.
"rhe balloon was feature of some
big exhibition, and every day was
Inflated and made an ascent, with four
or FIVE passengers, in charge OF an cx-
perienced aeronaut. There were about
Eve In the party the day took the trip
We got into the basket which was
boxed in quite high, then let the rope
so. and we shot up about 1900 feet. II
was interesting 10 look down on the
world and hear the noises Of London
streets coming from so far below Tue
balloon sailed along smoothly, and we
drifted for about eight miles.
ut was when we tried to descend
that the trouble began. The method
was 10 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 a 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 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
he In an atmosphere OF most poisonous
gas.
IAN 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-
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 a tree and then
the balloon would sway far over, tilt
ing the basket In which we were untn
1t seemed that we would be spilled out.
| Then the anchor would break loose,
and we would shoot up again.
81 became very tired of this and told
the aeronaut that thought 1t was time
to bring the voyage to a conclusion.
He told me IL did not like IL could
jump out. At first | thought he was
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
so. II will probably be plowed field
underneath us, and you won't get hurt
We'll, | did as he suggested. When
the anchor caught again, climbed out
and hung to the edge of the car. When
saw that the car was as low as 1t was
likely to get. let go. dropped about
IL feet, and. as he expected. plowed
| Geld was below us.
/ LAS soon as | dropped ont the bal
/ loon, relieved of my weight. shot up in
/ the air again and scared of | walked
! TO the nearest road and continued along
! 1t until came 10 an inn.
IL asked the landlord how far II was
/ to London. and he told me 1t was eight
niles. ordered carriage TO take me
there. and while was waiting the
landlord asked me whore | had come
from.
Il took him to the door of the Inn,
and. pointing to the balloon. which was
then sailing along about quarter Of a
mile above the ground, said, | jump
rd out Of that
The man looked at me in alarmed
fashion. and after had returned to the
sitting room | noticed that several pe0-
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 a gate. and we drove into IA big
courtyard. | yelled to him and asked
him what he meant, that | wanted to
go straight to London. bat he paid ne
attention and slowly circled the court
When he stopped on the other side. a
man wearing glasses stuck his head In
the carriage. scrutinizing me closely
pulled back, said something to the
coachman. and we drove on to LCndon
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 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 mt
into on our way to LondonY | asked
him.
"Et was a hinsane hasylum, sir he
replied. When you said you had jump
ed out o that balloon. we thought you
was crazy and maybe you was es
capped patient from the hasylum' -
Washington Post