Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-07-04

the chemistry building. and out across
the campus to the edge of the pine
woods. Then we let it rise.
The night was very dark and still,
but clouds had risen in the north and
west, and there was frequent glow
of lightning in that quarter, although
SO distant that the thunder could not
be heard.
There's a shower coming!" Jarvis
exclaimed, as the balloon began it's
ascent. 1--WE shall have to make
haste"
But as yet there was not breath
of wind stirring; the balloon had
risen and hung directly overhead, and
was pulling hard at its restraining
string.
We knew from past experience that
when the electric spark acted on the
two gases the explosion would be
something tremendous; but we
thought that at height of 800 or 900
feet, out there by the woods, no
damage would follow.
And perhaps none would have fol-
lowed, if all had gone as we planned,
but Jarvis had great deal OF trou-
BILE connecting the wires. He was
bothering with them for some min
utes.
Then suddenly the first gust OF the
oncoming shower struck us.
What followed came quickly. The
balloon swayed over before the wind.
Down it bowed until the cord strung
out far aslant.
"Good gracious!" I cried, holding
hard. She'll get away from me, Jarve!
Touch her off quick, or she will break
away!"
In the darkness we could not see
Just where the balloon was, or what
it was over.
But the next moment we saw! jar
Wis had managed at last to connect
the wires and touch off the balloon.
There came q sudden blaze and ire
mendous defamation, as If the whole
town had cracked clean down
through the center of the earth!
The shock bowled us both over, and
we heard a crash of timbers follow
ing the report. The thing had ex-
ploded about 30 feet over the barn
and shed of a. worthy inhabitant OF
B., who lived near the ball grounds,
and kept a lazy horse which he
hired to the boys at such high prices
that they had nicknamed him "old
Gripus."
"We've done 1t now!" gasped Jar
Wis, as he scrambled hastily to his
feet. "That's Old Gripe's bsrn!"
But that was not the worst. Shreds
of the burning paper and cloth from
the balloon must have fallen among
hay and straw, for even rs we stood
staring in that direction bright
fame shot up from the building.
The only thing left us now was to
run to the house and shout: "Fire!"
That we did with a vengeance, and
soon reused the fire department; the
new steam engine and two old hand
"tubs" responded. .t".f
Through their united efforts, aided
considerably by the shower which
soon began to pour copiously, the old
mans house was saved from the FIRE.
but the barn and shed and an old
buggy were consumed.
Jarvis and ! were greatlysworried,
and, indeed, were on the. verge Of
honorable confession Of our act; but
now, am sorry to say, to our relief,
we found that it was. the unanimous
opinion of every, one, including the
fire department and the owner him
self, that the barn had been struck
by lightningl For everybody in
town had heard what they believed
to be an awful clap of thunder!
Jarvis nudged me in the crowd, and
we went home to talk II over. We had
very little spare cash, and disliked ex-
ceedingly to go homo, own up to
such q prank, and try to get $3.50
each from an unsympathetic father.
"Chdm," said Jarvis. with a down