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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 225, 21 September 1881, Page 2

"" ■ . An eccentric old gentleman in Lincolnshire, aged 83, is (says the St. James Gaze'.te\ it is stated; so firmly convinced of the approaching end of the world, that he has ordered an immense balloon to be made for his own convenience, by means of which he hopes to witness the destruction of the planet without sharing the fate of its inhabitants. He will take with him in his ascent tinned pr67isions, brandy, soda-water, claret, and other creaiur?.. com f°rts in sufficient quantities to meet his requirements for three years, by which time he c&lc-^iates his life will come to a natural close. He is pf opinion that among the debris of the world wiil be several ltfrge fragments, on one of which he will he able to effect a descent at an opportune moment, and find a ref nge for his few remaining years, He proposes to take with him no companioft but a gamekeeper, who bas been long in lm service, and for whom he has a great regard. He has, however, warned his faithful retainer, who is only 52 years of age, that wheii the provisions in the balloon are exhausted he will have to shift for himself, and may therefore in three years' time be without means of substinence. Having made these arrangements, the old gentleman is perfectly calm, and indeed cheerful. "I shall," he declares, "get on better without the world than with it." The ransom paid for Mr Suter to the Greek brigands, £15,000, was, it is said, just Mr Sater's weight in gold.