A BALLOON ADVENTURE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2447, 21 January 1881, Page 3

A BALLOON ADVENTURE.

The recent marriage of Mdlle. Leferriere, the daughter of the well known French comedian, with M. Paul Holier, brings back to one’s mind the singular adventure which befel the bridegroom ten years ago during the siege of Paris. M. Holier was an engineer, but during the war turned aeronaut, and in November, 1873, departed for the besieged city in a balloon, taking with him a number of dispatches from Tours. He quitted the northern railway terminus in the car of the Yille d’Orleans, with one com panion, and 250 kilogrammes of precious paper destined for the delegation of Tours. The wind was blowing strong, and the ship of the air was carried along with amazing rapidity towards the sea. They heard the distant sound of the waves beneath them, and to add to their difficulties an impenetrable fog enveloped the balloon, which prevented them from distinguishing anything. After a time the fog cleared off, and they discerned below them a sea and ships. But what sea? The situation was critical in the extreme, the wind rose again, the balloon was whirled through space at a frightful rate, and the travellers gave up all hope of their lives. At this juncture a carrier pigeon was sent off, bearing the dispatch “ Lost, but Vive la France .” Suddenly the Yille d’Or leans begpn to descend till it all but touched the water. Death seemed waiting for them, when hope was again revived by the sight of a strip of land, A sack of letters and journals was thrown out, and their balloon, thus lightened, rose , again, towards terra firma. Some trees were beneath it, and by the aid of a rope M. Holier and his, friend reached, the ground, bruised, exhausted, and ; half insensible. When they came to themselves they looked around, to see nothing but snow. Something moved in the distance over the spotless . plain, and on approaching this. “ something ” they found it to be three wolves. After walking many hours in silence and solitude they reached a hut, from the chimney of which smoke, issued, thus revealing the presence, of human beings. Two men presented themselves, who, when asked by Holier where they were shook their heads to intimate that they did not understand the language used. One of them, however—guessing perhaps the scene of the question addressed to them by the strangers—drew from his pocket a box of matches anil pointed to the word Christiana, written thereon. They were in Norway, and the voyage had been accomplished iu 15 hours.