Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1892 — Caught a Ballooner. [ARTICLE]

Caught a Ballooner.

"I used to make balloon ascensions in connection with Warnor’s circus/’ said an old and retired aeronaut the other day, ‘‘and one day I went up from Pekin, Illinois. _The balloon was new and light, and I got a much longer ride than what I expected. I finally descended in a farmhouse y ard about ten miles away, my anchor having caugnt in a cherry tree. The f armer was an old fellow, about 6(j years of age, and he sat reading on his door step as I came down. He removed his glasses, put them in their case, .put the case in his pocket, and then came forward and carelessly observed: “ ‘That a balloon?’ ” “ ‘Yos. Help me pull it down,’ ” •• ‘Are you a ballooner?’ ” “ ‘Yes. Pull hard.’ ” " ‘We got tho air ship down, and I wanted him to take me to town In his wagon. He had none, and I had hired a rig of a neighbor, and was about to depart when the old fellow stepped forward with: “ ‘I have a little bill here, sir.’ ” “ ‘Bill! What for?’ ” ** •Damage to cherry tree. 2 shillin’s; akcetring mv poultry. 60 oeafe; skeering my old woman, the same; services of myself. sl. Total, $2.25, which is mighty cheap considerin’ the times.” •* ‘But I won’t pay it!’ ” I protested. •• ‘Oh, you won’t? Well, I’m a Justice of the Peace, and I'll issue a warrant. My nay bur is constable, and he kin serve it. The old woman is out of hnr fit by this time, and she’ll be witness, and I sort o’ reckon I’ll fine you about $25 for disturbin’ of the peace and contempt of this court!’ ” ‘‘And I was made to realize that the best way out of It was to come down with the amount of his bill, and luckily I had it, and a quarter to spare.”