The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-26
A Man with Nerves OF Steel.

Young Donaldson, the darling pronaut,
who made balloon ascension at Read.
ng, Pa, on the 3Oth of August last, and
performed series OF trapeze feats when
mile or more from the earth, repeated his
thrilling performance in Norfolk on Mon.
day last, There was no basket To the bal.
loon, but It's place was supplied by ira.
peZe similar 10 those used by circus per.
formers and above the trapeze was placed
hoop, secured to which was IL suit Of
heavy clothing TO bc used by the prial
VoyAger when hG encountered the cold
currents The Norfolk journal in dCS.
cribipg the ascension says that when the
balloon was released from its mOoring and
reached great altitude Donaldson sud.
denly and apparently with little effort
threw himself into n sitting posture on the
bar, kissing his hand to the crowd below.
Suddenly, pretending to lose his balance,
lie iell backwards, sliding head downward
until he caught by his toes on the side
ropes that suspended the trapeze bar. In
this perilous position he swung To and fro
several scconds-a time which seemed an
age to the awe.stricken crowd below. II
was curious to observe the varying emo.
lions Of the crowds varying as the
dispositions ol each individual Some
were thrilled with admiration at the cour.
age Of the daring man and kept their eyes
riveted on him. Others, shuddering with
horror, turned away with pallid faces and
beating hearts, and covered their eyes
with their hands to shut out the dreadful
sight Faint shrieks were heard from the
ladies, and some turned TO leave the spot,
but, true to the characteristic Of their sex
-curiosity-conCluded 10 take one more
look, and looking once, looked again.
Throwing himself back in his seat on the
bar the Tr0nNut sat astride the same.
Then began series Of gymnastic cvoln.
tiOns-balanclng himself on horseback,
turning over and "skinning the cat" by
the side ropes, &c. Upward grandly and
steadily rose the balloon, cleaVing the air
like a mighty bird. AT length II looked
like mere speCk in the clouds. Opera
glasses and telescopes were brought into
requisiNon, and by their aid Donaldson
could still be seen performing his gymnas.
| Wv ASNto' 4hlNSl IlotuB " lIClllCHIUub
height the balloon hung Tor lew mo.
ments seemingly suspended in mid.air, and
then sailed off in Il southeastern direc.
ton When the balloon was n mere spcck
in the distance, invisible 10 the naked
eye and almost through powerful tcle.
scopes, the man with nerves of steel and
the heart ola lion repeated his daring
trapeze feat by hanging head downward
suspended by toes. Such a scene was
never before witnessed in Norfolk, and
seldom anywhere in the world The
description OF such scene reads like Il
romance, but the reality FIR SURPRISES the
most vivid powers Of word painting"
and we desist from the vain effort to de.
pict 1t. When the serial ship had reached
an altitude orabout half a mile, and struck
the colder current Of air, the Ironaut
was observed 10 climb up to the hoop
and get his suit Of thick clothes. Descen.
ding to the bar he dressed himself, and
then resumed the gymnastic display-ex.
ercising himself to keep warm Those
who were fortunate to have telescopes saw.
the balloon gradually descending DC.
casionally the eronaut would throw
down bag Of sand to enable the balloon
TO rise-the country probably not being
suited for descent. Late in the even.
ing it was rumored that Donaldson had
descended safely near Kempsville, in
Princess Anne county,