The Washington herald., 1909-08-29
Journeying Above the
Clouds.
tconsinued from PIC g.

altitude OF over three mlles-hlgher than
the highest mountain an Europe-nay have
distressed Us little. IL was easy 10 I'M
agine strange forms la the blackness, out
Of which streamed cold, light particles,
touching our faces aud clinging to our
clothes There gigantic, , m4nStro a.
palace ana woman descending its mar
ble steps, finding her way by the light OF
a lamp. Captain Maitland and MFR. Gaud-
ron afterwards admitted having few
similar fancies. The strain on the eyes
Of constantly watching the scenery and
reading the instruments no doubt has It's
effect in a long journey.
II was Inevitable that the balloon, with
its heavy and increasing burden OF snow
probably now amounting 10 several hun
dred pounds. would soon begin 70 de-
scend. But for long time the thermom,
eter indicated that we had not returned
to temperature above zero. Rapidly
we descended and as we fell we increased
our momentum 50 that an immediate ter
mnatlon OF the voyage appeared probable.
Mr.. Gaudron cut away bag OF ballast
TO retard our fall. but It's effect WAS very
slight. He kept on the lookout AID when
We saw the earth again there were inter
walls OF clear spaces between the woods,
and as we proceeded. the country opened
out little more. our only course was
10 descend In the safest landing that OF
fered Itself without Running the foolish
risk OF proceeding I'm such n condition.
We were told TO remain I'm the basket,
no matter what happened, until the balloon
WAS ueuNltNs we were 10 nOlU on 10 tue
ropes, taking up positions where the sud.
den humping and Earring were not likely
10 iniure Us.
Rapidly we approached the ground,
which flew past US at a great pace, as
II we had been in an express train. An
other bag Of ballast was cut away. Then,
al n height Of about 200 feet MIR. Gaud-
ron opened the ripping valve. Lne object
being 10 debate the balloon as much as
possible. so that the wind sAould not
drag Us far along the ground. was
hanging on with both hands 10 one Of the
ropes, holding myself as much as posi-
BILE off the bottom Of the car We swept
over the ground. past belts Of trees and
bushes. easily seen against the snow past
a hut with "A light In the window. and the
wind dashed us against snOw-covered
slope with violence aud with loud
crash. so that ! marvelled 20 find the
basket still intact and myself unhurt.
a moments brenthiess pause while the
collapsing balloon stretched out In the
great wind. happing with loud reports,
then the car turned over on its side and
instantly began 10 drag along the ground
at what seemed To be a furious. pace
Although more than half debated and
rapidly emptyng. the balloon, blown by
the hurricane, mp banks and rushing head
long down slopes era ASKING against OBJ
stacles end breaking through them. the
basket al the while scraping along the
ground, so that our ears were filed with
the terrifying din.
Our safety depended upon keeping hold
OF the ropes. and 10 these we chung des-
perately all three in fnextricable confus-
ton. and flung about inside the basket al
most like dice in a box.
II seemed that we should never stop.
and ! doubted whether we should all es-
cape alive, but after what seemed an
eternity. but was really only few sec
onds. we slid headiong down long slope.
A final crash, ana then absolute darkness
and silence, save for the roaring and
moaning Of the wood. | tried 70 move,
and found that I was pinned down by
the basket and the ropes. but unhurt. My
face and one hand were lying upon ice.
/ felt no pain AID knew that no bones
were broken. but what about the others?
Who can say with what relief ! heard
Mr.. GaudrOn's voice close TO my ear. Are
you hurt?' OF with what gladneSs Cap
tain Maitland's answering simultaneously
with mine, II IN all right
We lay painting for a few moments.
Then Mr.. Gaudron asked Us each IL we
could move our answers revealed the
fact that we were all three pinned down
and kept prisoners by the basket and the
rigging The basket had completely over
turned 50 that were shut I'm n lidiess
box. q contingency that has never before
happened in Mr.. Gaudron's experience.
We found that we could not move the
basket an inch. Mr.. GaudrOn seemed,