OnNovember18th,1908,threemenwentupinaballoonTheystartedearlyinLondon.TheheadmanwasAugusteGaudron,andtheothertwomenwereTannarandMaitland.Theyhadabigballoon,andtheywerereadyforalongway.
Soontheyheardtheseabelowthem.Theywerecarryingtheusualrope,anditwashangingdownfromthebasketoftheballoonAttheendoftheropetheyhadtiedametalboxThiscouldholdwater.Oritcouldbeempty.Sotheywereabletochangeitsweight.Theywerealsocarryingsomebagsofsand.
Afterthesunrose,theballoonwenthigher.Itwentupt03000meters,andtheairwasverycold.Thewaterintheballoonbecameice.Snowfellpastthemen'sbasket,andtheycouldseemoresnowontheground.Therewasalsosomesnowontheballoon,andthatmadeitveryheavy.Itbegantogodowntowardstheground.Thementriedtothrowoutsomemoresand;butitwashard.Theytriedtobreaktheicysandwiththeirknives,butitwasnoteasy.Theworkwasslowandtheywerestillfalling;sotheyhadtodropsomewholebagsofsand.Oneofthemfellonanicylakebelowandmadeablackholeintheice.
Atlasttheypulledtheboxintothebasket.Itwasstillsnowing;sotheyclimbedtogetawayfromthesnow.Theyroset05100meters!Everythingbecameicy.Theyweresocoldthattheydecidedtoland.TheycamedowninPolandheavilybutsafely.Theyhadtraveled1797kilometersfromLondon!