Year: 1879




"We are making a lower and more
southerly course now. DO you see the


Belgil Mountainsp They are almost
beneath us, but little to the west"


The dense forest that marked the
mountains encircles beautiful little
sheet of water, about hundred acres
in area. To us it looked no larger than
silver dollar.


All around the gloom became more
thick, and little could be seen but the
forests and clearings below. Above a
few stars were visible, but they gave
but a feeble light, which seemed to
make our situation the more ghastly.
We passed over n small forest and then
fioated above the immense woods known
as the Bois de Salvail. They are u
number OF miles in width and u great
length.


The balloon was descending, and to
prevent falling into the forest MIR. Grim
ley seized one of the sand bags and
hurled it out of the car. We shot up
ward for few moments and then the
car sank again. Another bag of ballast
was thrown out, but the cold air famed
our cheeks, telling of our approach to
the earth. Only one bag was left.


"l dare not throw it over" said
Grimley; 81 will keep it for the last
moment Pull in the drag rope or it
will catch in the tree"


We could feel the rush of air as the
Canada plowed through the current on
her downward course, and both sprang
forward to draw in the heavy rope
dangling beneath. II required our
united strength to pull it up even slow
ly, and as we made one tremendous
effort the door of the car flew open and
l came within an ace of being thrown
out / caught hold of an iron bar, how
ever, and hung on for dear life. AS
the car began to tremble and shake
with the frightful velocity of its descent,
by great effort regained my position,
and we soon succeeded in placing the
drag line safely in the cage.


"How can we save ourselvesP' l
asked.


''Keep cool and get ready for work."
was the quiet reioinder.


/ turned and looked at the man. He
had the throttle valve rope between his
teeth and in his hands was the collapse
line, by which the balloon could be
ripped from top to bottom instantly.
We were almost over the edge of the
forest, and there was small clearing
and another forest beyond. There was
no time for notes, as we were within
few yards of the earth.


"Out with all the ballast" the little |
cried, and seized the re-
bag of ballast and threw it
over the car rail. 1t was too late.
With frightful crash we struck the
high poplar trees and cut the tops off
as clear as though with knife. Then
we tore at race-horse speed
through the forest, tearing away the
branches of oak and maple trees, and
throwing us both from one side of the |
car to the other. Every time the cage
struck it would steady for q moment
and then bound along until another
bough impeded its progress, when we
would receive a shock that stunned us
for the instant.


Suddenly we lifted clear of the trees
and began TO tear over the fields. The
Professor gave q mighty pull on the
collapse valve, to let us down at once
before we got in the other forest, but |
under the great strain the line broke
and to my horror we headed due east |
for the sinister looking forest.


"Get hold of the valve rope and help
me-" said Grimley, as he clambered up
in the netting and caught the lines.
With might and main we drew the
valve open, inch by inch, and the Can
ada began to sink. While we dangled |
on the ropes end among the rigging
saw we must strike the ground.


"Drop the line and cut the netting
of the car" commanded Grimley, as
he allowed the valve rope to cut his
wrist with the great pressure from
above. i did as directed, and as we
were dragging over, fences, bitches
and burrows l grasped stones and
earth to serve as ballast. Over the |
clearing we went, smashing against |
stumps and rocks, until it seemed rs
though the iron car must give way.
Finally the gas began to pour from the
valve in heavy volume and the i'm
mense canvas runaway stopped. And
it was lucky for us that it did, as ten
feet from us was seven-foot fence, to
have struck which meant death for
both of us, and had we bridged that
danger we could not have escaped the |
forest, only twenty yards distant.
Grimley told me to remain in the Car
while he clambered up in the network
with large knife in his teeth; huge
slit was made in the canvas which
eased the balloon of its great power.
A high wind began to blow now and /
the car was upset, the Professor and |
myself being spilled out in an uncere-
manner.


When we got on our feet the balloon
had gone few feet, but we held on to
it until the breeze slackened. 1t was
then half-past ten p. M, and we must
have struck at ten p. m. precisely. The
next work was to let the gas escape
from the balloon, which was very slow
performance.


After walking couple of miles we
saw light and toward it we went, and
soon were at tn. door of house.-St |
quebec Cor. N. Y. Herald,