A BALLOON ADVENTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2400, 26 November 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A BALLOON ADVENTURE.

A startling balloou accident occurred the other day at Asmeres, near Pari?, where the summer fair was in full swing. The groat attraction of the fete was M. Alfred Godard’s captive balloon Victor Hugo. The balloon was fastened to the left bank of the Seine by a cable, aud during the afternoon numbers of holiday makers hud made short aerial excursions without accident. About a quarter to six three gentlemen paid thcirtenfrancsapicooaudatepped into the car of the Victor Hugo with M. Godard, As they entered their attention was drawn to the thinness of tho rope by which tho balloou was secured. But although they made some comment on tho risk they might run, the protective pleasure of the ascent outweighed their prudence and they decided to venture. “It will be the best trip of the day,’’ remarked M. Godard, as ho took his seat beside them, aud tho balloon rose. Next moment as they hovered in raid-air over the Seine, a sudden squall struck tiro Victor Hugo, a scream of terror rose from the crowd which wars watching them, and tho cable parted. There were only two small bags of ballast in the car, and no barometer. The situation was serious. The balloon wont over almost on its beam ends for a moment; then up, up, up, with a rush, till, according to tho calculation of M. Godard (who has made over seoenty ascents, and should be a good judge) the travellers had reached the tremendous height of 8,000 foot. The temperature foil rapidly and all were suffering fiora the cold. All sign of the people had disappeared, and the trains rushing along the railways looked more specks in the landscape. The sky seemed tolerably clear ; there were no thick clouds, but all round above the horizon line stretched a dark Hue. The balloon seemed to bo drifting gradually south-east. The silvery Hue of the Seine could be followed in all its windings, and from time to time a town or village was made out, which showed the currents were takiug them towards Brunoy. From time to time M. Godard threw out some cigarette paper to ascertained whether the Victor Hugo was rising or falling The great fear was that it might descend with a run, and smash the oar with its human freight to atoms. About seven tho balloon began to descend at Choisy-le-Roy, near Villemare, St. Geuges, and in a few minutes tho anchor and the loose trailing rope attached to the car wore dangling among the branches of a clump of trees. The shock was sharp, but some ballast promptly thrown out enabled tho balloon to rise, aud for an anxious ten minutes or more there it hung, about fifty feet above the fields, dragging its anchor through the wheat. Curiously enough, no peasants were about in the neighbourhood at the moment, but very shortly the unseemly sight of the distressed giant attracted the notice of four men at a little distance, aud they hurried to the rescue. With the help of the peasants aud a butcher the monster was at length lauded. Ou reaching term fir mu the Victor Hugo collapsed—a sharp, clean split from top to bottom—aud it toppled over a wreck. By great good fortune none of the passengers were injured, and a couple of hours later they wore safe in Paris, and the remains of tho Victor Hugo were beiug packed to follow them,