Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-11-04
Up In a Balloon.
FtG's cf Tight Rope Performer an!
Nogic,an al a Height Of Three Ina
Grs! fest ia Ms .4,r.
p,,.-,-.. p,,,., ~ u,
Up Ia a Balloon.
READING. BERKS Co, Pa.


One of the most extraordinary and al
most incredible exhibitions of human in
ucpidity and daiag WAS last Monday
Witnessed 10y the c;tiznuS of this place.
1t seemed TO me % o4aal itrot surpass
in thrilling au,, Notwithstanding
ever attempted by sam Patch or Blon-
din in their widest Ell, +. AninGivid-
ual named DonaldSou-a t;ght-rope
walker and "maSiyian, rs he styles
him>e,t-who had, on the prev i9gs
"Wednesday, made balloon ascou>j5n
in the ordinary way uhe inst b:-,oon
ascent of any kind he had ever r,'ac in
his litcl repeated his performance On
Monday last, bat this time with no baS-
kct attached II lis bal,oou-nothng
whatever. in fact, bat a common tr&-
pcze. Upon this hc seated himself with
ihr greatest coulucSS and compoSure,
and went floating away into >pace,to the
a>;onishmcut OF the large crowd which
had Gathered to see him, but few cheers
greeting him. A. the spectators seem
Spcll-bomd with fear and apprehension.
.Nttcr assembling 10 considerable dis
t.ncc hc commenced throwing ont =
number of circulars which he had at
tachcd 10 4 liu'c hoop below the bal
loon. aud which.in the clear atmosphere,
appeArcd like twinki.ug Stars surround
inc the balloon, producing most nov
cl and pleasing effect But this was
nothia1 to what followed At the
hciyht OF some three huud.cd feet Ee
CONNER ccd balancing himself Ca has
b.ck on the bar ot the trapc1c, and 60
inr through other fearful cvolutionS.
He then deliberately sid From the bar,
head downward. aud, cliJhug hImSclT
by the feet. remained suspended for sew
rrll seconds In that awful position. The
applljiug Slght WIS one never to hc for
~oltpu hy those who witnessed H. y
thrill aud low murmmot honorpaSscd
through the immense multitude who
wee looking on with Intense interest,
and many hurried aw.y from the sight,
oiddv ana faint. The daring cIonaui,
however. wen, through Win ID, cNolu-
ti,us successfully. and rcg.iIiag bis
seal. wet ~oa iug ap.d,y ;ui steadily
upwaus. when Sc, thc height OF three
ouarlc,s Of a mile he had the a>Ioumd-
ing nerve 10 repeat lis performance,
which. AT 50 Great a distance. could on
Is be- clearly visible by the AID oi gi..ss-
-. What made tniS ascent all Ia, more
haz,riou, !, Shat the balloon ~ a very
small one. carving but lidlc aallaStand
with nothing but a iight anchor attach
eel to tn" hoop.
am Glad TO say tIlt the wronaut
completed his voyage safely, although
nc once or ;Ni,c seemed 10 bc in con-
siderable danger. The ,rapolc struck
the root of Henry Conrads residence,
on Firth street when Nj Donaldson
made skillim leap { ON the tra9czc,
aud prevented 4 col'Is on. The balloon
th,l asccudcd aud came down IA field
ON the other side of the road, aud WIS
aboHt striking tine top ol 4 tree when
Mr.. Donaldson turncd a somcrsault On
the trapclc rope and prc'cntcd the bar
from catching in the tree. There -
some t..ik ol oar having repetition Of
! this painful exhibition during our fair
up.t week. il the authou,ics dO not IN
tc..,rc 80 prcycutIt. 1t really seems to
me that they shold, end that II u also
the duty oi the leading press Of the
/ count,v 10 dcnouucc such reckless and
unnecessary Iisk Of human bic for the
mor, qualification y. morbid excitement.