Evening star., 1905-11-11
BAI.LOoNING IN A TEMPEST.
Comte de La Vaulx's Most Thrilling
Experience.
Paris Cor. London Globe.

Paris Cor. London Globe.
Comte Henry de La Vaulx, the we'll
known French aeronaut, has had many and
various adventures in his day. but his latest
one smacks somewhat of vaudeville. He
and another aeronaut, NJ Jaubert went to
Algeria to see the eclipse of the sun and TO
take observations from their balloon, the
Centaure. The trip most successful
and some very interesting scientific data
were secured The trouble came after,
When the aeronauts made their descent
the natives, thinking the aerial monster
had something to do with the eclipse were
at first disposed to give its passengers
hostile reception: but In the end they over
came their fear and aided the voyagers
from the clouds to anchor When Comte
de La Faulx and his companion had made
everything fast they went Off In search OF
something 10 eat, leaving their photo
graphic apparatus slung up to the rigging
OF the balloon. The natives" they argued
are 50 ignorant and superstitious that
they will be afraid to touch our cameras"
But the native has very strong propensity
for thieving, and so soon he had come TO
the conclusion that there was nothing su-
pernatural about the balloon or it's passen-
gers. he began to look for plunder. 1t did
not take him long to find IT. The result was
that when the aeronauts returned 10 the
Centaure they found 1t stripped of its pho
tographic apparatus. The natives had
stolen all the instruments. and although the
count tried to frighten them by telling them
that In case of inexpert handling they would
go or with terrible consequences he
might as well have saved himself the trou-
bic. The Instruments were not returned
What Comte de La Vaux himself de-
scribes as the most thrilling OF his expe-
riences was the so-called "Concours de
Tempete," which took place on August 26
lSo, when he started in the Horizon. in
Hated with $500 cubic yards of gas. with a
number of other balloons, in the midst of Il
tremendous storm.
The experiment" he afterwsrd said.
was exceedingly dangerous and everybody
urged that the balloons had better wait TIL
the storm was over. But Comma nder
Renard, who represented the committee OF
the Paris exposition, was absent and was
replaced by NJ. Louis GODDARD, the latter re-
FUSED 10 admit of any delay, and said that
he would not take upon himself the respon-
sibility of calling off the competition.
started with NM. Oudet and Lepic whom [
had vainly tried to persuade to remain upon
the ground. about o'clock in the evening
Several of the balloons that had started pc
fore me were dashed against the trees, and
the vast crowd assembled feared a catas-
trophe at every moment. The Horizon set
off. happily without striking any obstacle.
and we were borne westward by a furious
gale. The night was dark. Our pace was
from fifty to sixty miles hour. and at
$50 we were already in sight OF the light
house of La Heve.
we expected to be dashed out to sea
when suddenly a strange caprice Of the
wind carried US south, and for while we
hoped to keep away from the coast Blu.
soon after we again saw lights at AV-
ranches and the heavy surge along the
coast. and the sound of the waves roaring
and dashing against the rocks reached our
ears. My companions grew pale and 4
must say l myself gave up everything for
lost, for TO land among these rocks meant
certain death for us ALL and out to sea We
could only expect short shrift in such q
bowling tempest. / felt only one satisfa,-
uon-that / had not willingly undertaken
such foolhardy exploit, the only one IN
which L ever Incurred serious danger. and
that another was responsible. In another
instant we were over the sea, with immense
pillows rolling below. My companions re-
mained silent, and all expected the
worst. But happily luck again favored us
In the distance we perceived light houses
and the dark outlines Of the coast toward
which We seemed to be returning Ii was
o'clock The balloon sped along RAPIDLY
ana when L thought we were again over
dry land let a bottle fall. / heard IL with
fel1ef strike the ground distinctly, and |
knew We were saved. / pulled at once for
all was worth on the escape valve and in
another moment our anchor struck the
ground. But the race that ensued was ter
rifle We were jolted and hustled about in
our basket distance of over a mile In the
darkness striking against branches OF trees
and each OF us holding on to the car for
dear life. AT last the anchor caught firmly
In a tree, and the balloon itself was dashed
into grove where the silk was torn and
the car landed beside hedge. We had in
deed, narrow escape. and should not ike
Ia repeat the attempt"