Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

climb mp toward its top. il turned with
me. not having any counterha lanclrg
weight. as would he the case II it mad
had basket
"Curiously enough. once | made up my
mind that there was no hone Tor me. I
ceased 10 worry. \ calm feeling ~ COM
plete resignation came over me | pro-
ceeded to take things easy. and began ~
look about. In the distancH near Triest.
saw "A small steamer. She WAS coming
in my direction, but ! rad no reason 10
think those on board would pay mucn
attention to me. except IT, consider me-
simply 4 balloonist taking an ordinary
journey. They would certainly not re-
gard me in any DANCE. or realize
that l had no basket and no means OF
descent. save into the sea.
1T was just here. however, that had
not calculated correctly. The little steamer
i saw was a boat specially chartered by
the Governor of Trieste tn go in search
of me When the steamer WAS about
half mile off. my balloon suddenly
collapsed. all the gas escaping through
some mysterious cause. IT shot down
toward the sea with tremendous rapidly
Fortunately, ! had provided myself with
a life belt. and managed Ia get irio
this just AS were striking tho water
/ disentangled myself from the netting
and managed To keep afloat until the boat
came up. I think that was the closest
shave | ever had in my life.
Nv hen at the ST. Louis exposition some
years ago something went wrong with
the valve Of my balloon. and | could not
let the gas out when | wished Ia descend.
The consequence was that | kept on go
ing higher and higher. until my inst
ments told me | was "9n0J feet above the
earth. | think that is record. or
course. the air was almost unbearahiy
cold and | suffered terrible discomfort
from blood pressure in the eyes. ears and
mouth. After losing consciousness for
short time the balloon began To descend
of its own accord. and | got back into 4
breathable atmosphere. The eNperienc"
was however. most unpleasant one.
I'm the recent long distance trips which
I have undertaken there has been little
element Of real danger. The only trouble
l ever had was from natives or Russia.
where / landed some years ago in trip
from England. These people seemed tn
regard the descent of an aeronaut as "A
godsend and they at once proceeded Ia
loot my outfit. They stole pretty nearly
everything movable from the balloon. IN.
Guiding even the anchor Though the in
struments could have been OF no earthly
use to them. they seemed to consider ii
their duty not TO leave anything. 1t was
only after | began to protest in earnest
that I succeeded in getting the authorities
to interest themselves | had to bride
them to get some of my instruments back
Since that experience | have always
gone armed, and do not hesitate to give
the people to understand that intend
TO protect my property. | have had little
trouble since | adopted militant tactics
. and kept the officials wei creased with
money.
Frequently | have great difficulty
especially when travelling alona-in maxi
ing myself understood in foreign coUn-
tries whose language | do not speak. In
an ignorant country district. such az the
interior of Russia, l cannot get any one To
help me pack UP the balloon. as the ma
tives are superstitious, many Of them.
never having seen a balloon before, look
ing upon it as bewitched
Copyright. 1905. by Curtis Brown.)