Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-02-26
AMAN WITH NERVES OF STEEL.

Young Donaldson, the daring aeronaut,
who made balloon ascension at Read
ing, Penn, on the 18th of August last,
and performed series of trapeze feats
when mile or more from the earth, re-
peated his thrilling performance in Nor
folk, on Monday last There was no
basket to the balloon, but its place was
supplied by trapeze similar to those
used by circus performers, and above the
trapeze was placed a hoop, secured to
which was suit of heavy clothing, to
be used by the aerial voyager when he
encountered the colder currents. The
Norfolk Journal, in describing the ascen-
sion, says that when the balloon was re-
leased from its mornings and reached
great altitude, Donaldson suddenly and
apparently with little effort, threw him
self into a sitting posture on the bar,
kissing his hand to the crowd below.
Suddenly, pretending to lose his bal
ance, he fell backwards, sliding head
downward until he caught by his toes
on the side ropes that suspended from
the trapeze bar. In this perilous posi-
ton he swung to and fro several seconds
"a time which seemed an age to the
awe stricken crowd below. 1t was curl
Gus to observe the varying emotions of
the CROWDS varying as the DISPOSE
lions of each individual. Some were
thrilled with admiration of the courage 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 charac-
teristic of their sex-curiosity-conclud-
ed to take one more look, and looking
once, looked again. Throwing himself
back in his seat the aeronaut sat astride
the same.
Then began series of gymnastic evo-
MISUNDERSTANDING himself on his back
turning over and 'skinning the cat" by
the side ropes, &c. Upward grandly
and steadily, rose the balloon, cleavins
the air like a mighty bird. At length
it looked like mere speck in the clouds
Opera glasses and telescopes were brough
into requisition, and by their aid, Don
aldson could be seen still performing hi
gymnastic feats After rising to tire
mendous height. the balloon hung for
few moments, seemingly suspended il
mid air, and then sailed off in a south
eastern direction. When the balloon
was mere speck in the distance, invisi
BILE to the naked eye and almost throug
powerful telescopes, the man with nerve
of steel and the heart of lion, repeate
his daring trapeze feat of hanging hea
downward, suspended by his toes. Sue
a scene was never before witnessed /
Norfolk, and seldom anywhere in tn
world.
The description of such scene, reaC
: like romance, but the reality far SUI
u passes the most vivid powers of ''wor
: painting, and we desist from the val
:, effort to depict it. When the aerial shi
u had reached an altitude of about half
/ mile, and struck the colder current
air, the aeronaut was observed to elm
e up to the hoop, and get his suit of thiC
n clothes. Descending to the bar, he dres
/ ed himself, and then resumed his Cyl
n nastic display-exercising himself
IS keep warm Those who were 50 fortuna
"a as to have telescopes saw the balloon gra
re ually descending. Occasionally the aer
naut would throw down bag of sand
G. enable the balloon to riec-the count
d probably not being suited for a desocr
II Late in the evening it was rumored th
l. Donaldson had descended safely ne
e' Kempsville in Princess Anne county.