A BALLOON FIGHT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 749, 13 December 1870, Page 2

A BALLOON FIGHT.

(From the London Times, October 7.) The following extraordinary statement appears in the Nouvelles du Jour, a Belgian paper. The intelligence was conveyed in a note to that journal, from one of their correspondents at the seat of war, which note was conveyed to Brussels by a carrier pigeon : Pabis, October 1. " Nadar returned yesterday to Paris. His return was not, however, effected without much trouble, although his balloon was directed by a good wind and favorable currents since hia departure from Tours. But let me relate the particulars of his voyage in chronological order. He Left Tours at 6 o'clock in the morning, and the bold aeronaut arrived in view of Paris at 11 o'clock, floating about 3000 metres above the fort of Charenton. At the same time aB the Xntrepide—which was the name of M. Nadar's balloon—appeared in sight, a second balloon was seen in the horizon. M. Nadar was observed to display a long streamer with the French national colors. ' Immediately afterwards a national flag floated from the car of the other balloon. -Vigorous hurrahs and cries of O'est Durouff, from the garrison of the fort; greeted the appearance of the two aeronauts, whose balloons gradually approached. . Suddenly, and when a short distance from each other, a loud report was heard in the air, which report was followed by a series of explosions. These wereat first supposed to be victorious sig. nals of domonstraliouß, until M. Nadar

Was" seen to fling himself into the netting of the balloon, and to cling to its sides. During this time the other aero. naut continued discharging shots ''at M. Nader and his balloon. The Intrepide was descending rapidly, and it appeared evident to the spectators below that some incomprehensible event had happened above. But mark what the French flag of the neighboring balloon came to. It was withdrawn, and a black and yellow standard was observed to be floating in its place All was explained, ' Treason !' llt is a Prussian balloon !' ' He has fired on the Intrepid!' were the cries that burst simultaneously from the French people. Nadar was supposed to have been lost He was seen to descend rapidly in his car, and his balloon had once more nearly reached the earth. He, however, casts out his ballast and again ascends. M. Nadar, again clambers up the network of his balloon, and, by a marvellous effort, he succeeds in stopping the hole made in his balloon by the shot of his adversary. The Intrepid© then became the assailant, and several shots were fired from the car into the Prussian balloon, which suddenly whirled about and fell to the ground with giddy velocity. As soon as it reached the earth a party of Uhlans, who were on the plain, and who had been following the aerial combatants through this exciting struggle, rushed forth and, surrounding the balloon, received their champion— G-od knows in what condition. They then hastened off at full speed to the Prussian advanced posts. In the meantime M. Nadar descended safely at Charenton, where he still is at this moment."

One of the gentle sex says that the heaven of the strong-minded woman is " where buttons grow in their places, and where men cease from bothering, and needles are at rest." Few men would attempt to dry dampened gunpowder in the kitchen stove. A man in Canada did. His afflicted family would be glad of any information as to his whereabouts. The young teetotaller, who, in an unwary moment, allowed himself to be intoxicated with a lady's charms, has since been drowned in the sea of love.