The Tucson citizen., 1902-06-20
TIRED OF THE TRIP.
30 HE GOT OUT OF THE BALLOON
BY THE JUMP ROUTE

| And Then when He Told the Eng.
linhmen He Met Whas He Had Done
They ComniderAtely Carried Him
on 10 mn Insane Asylum.
II went up in balloon once, and
never want to make such a trip again."
said Colonel A. Noel Brakeman. MY
experience as an aeronaut was In Lon
don" he continued, land IT would
never have occurred but for friend
chanced to meet there. He was going
20 make an ascent, and be persuaded
me to accompany him.
The balloon was a feature OF some
big exhibition. and every day it was
inflated and made an ascent. with -four
or five passengers, in charge Of an ex
perienced 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
60. and we shot up about 5000 feet. II
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
drifted for about eight miles.
ut was when we tried TO descend
that the trouble began. The method
was TO threw out anchors Is 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
be would then take hold of the valve
rope and, standing safe distance
away. open the valve, let the gas es-
cape. and the big affair would collapse
and sink. He informed ns that we
must get clear of the sinking folds. as
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 to look out for the de-
| scending folds of the coliapslng bal.
loon. The anchors caught In n whole
lot of trees, but they did not hold One
would get tangled In o tree. and then
the balloon would sway far over. tilt
ing the basket In which we were until
II seemed that we would be spilled out
Then the anchor would break loose.
and we would shoot mp again.
"1 became very tired of this and told
the aeronaut that thought 1t was time
10 bring the voyage 20 q conclusion.
He told me If did not lfke II could
jump out. At frat thought he was
simply resentful of my remark. but he
said be meant what he said
when the car tits over again. you
climb out on the edge he said. and LET
90. II will probably be q piowed field
underneath u.s. and you won't get hurt
We'll. did as be suggested. When
the anchor caught again, climbed out
and hung to the edge Of the car. When
saw tha, the car was as low as 1T was
likely TO get. let so. dropped about
L. feet. and. as he expected. q plowed
| Geld was below us.
"As soon az dropped out the bah
loon. relieved Of my weight. shot up Ia
the air again and scared OF. | walked
TO the nearest road and continued along
II until came 10 an Inn.
II asked the landlord how far II was
10 London. and he told me II was eight
miles. | ordered carriage to take me
there. and while j was waiting the
landlord asked me where | had come
from.
II took bim to the door OF the Inn,
and. pointing to the balloon. W bich was
then sailing along about II quarter Of
mile above the ground, said, 4 jump
ed out OF that
THE man looked at me In alarmed
fashion. and after had returned 10 the
sitting room noticed that several peo'
pie peered through the window at me.
Finally my four wheeler was ready,
and ] set of for London. After we had
driven along for half an hour or so the
eoachmau 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
so straight TO London. o1t he paid no
attention and slowly circled the court
When he stopped on the other side,
man wearing glasses stuck his head in
the carriage, scrutlnizing 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 IL Mr. Brakeman lived there,
The maid was Just answering that
did when | reached the top Of the steps
and collaFed the fellow.
What was that place you drove me
into on our way to LondonT asked
him.
n ocVfuui sir he