The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-02-10
NUMBER 81
= Egan With Nerves 81 steeg.

= NAstEs W EtEa nerves Sk SlGSz.
Young Donaldson, the daring aeronaut,
who made balloon ascension at Reading
Pa. ca the 3Oih of August last, and per-
formed a series of trapoze feats wh.n a milo
or more from the earth. repeated his thrilling
performance in Norfolk on Monday last
There was no basket to the balloon, bUt its
place was supplied by q traptzs similar to
those used by circus performers, aod above
the trapeze was placed hoop, secured to
which was a suit of heavy clothing to 10
used by the aerial voyager when lie eTcouu>
tered the cold currents. The Norfolk Jour
nal, IN describing the ascension, says that
when the balloon was released from its moor
ing and reached a great altitude Donaldson
suddenly and apparently with little effort
threw himself into a sitting posture on the
bar. kissing his hand to the crowd below.
Suddenly, pretending to lose lis balance, he
fell back ward. siidju- mead down ward until
he caught by his toes ca the side ropes that
/ suspended the trapoze bar. In this Yerilous
/ position be swung to and fro several seconds
! "a time which seemed an age to the awCS
. stricken crowd below. IL was curious To Oh
: serve the varying emotions of the crowd-as
/ varying as the dispositions Of each iudiv!Gu-
/ al. Some were thrilled with admiration Of
the courage cf The daring man. and kept
+ their eyes rjveted on him. Others sEudGoT~
ing with horror turned away with palid
! faces and beating hearts and covered their
eyes with their hands to shut cut the dread
, ful sight. Faint shri,ks were heard crOm tie
. ladies, and some turned TO leave the spot, but
/ true 10 the Characteristic Of their sCX-CuTi-
. osity-copclu3ed to take one more look, and
! looking once locked again. Throwing him
! self back in his seat on the bar the aeronaut
sat astride the same. Then began a series
of gymnastjc evolutions; balancing himself
co his back; turning over aud '.skiuniug the
cat" by the side ropes, sc. Upward grand
" and steadily rose the balloon, C'caviug tho
air Ike a mighty bird. At length 1t looked
like a mere speck in tie clouds. Opera
glasses and telescopes were brought into re-
QUESTION, and by their aid Donaldson could
be seen still performing his gymnastic feats.
After arising to a tremendous hight the bal>
loon hung for few moments seemingly sus-
pended In mid air. and then sailed eff in Il
/ southeastern direction. When the balloon
was mere speck in the distance. invisib.s
to the naked eve aud almost through power
full telescopes, :he man with nerves of steel
and the heart of a lion repeated his daring
tra3ezs fat + hanging head downward, sUs-
pended ly his toes. Such scene was new. r
before witnessed IN Norfolk. ard seldom auv-
where 10 the world. The description of such
a scene r,a!s like romance. but the reality
lar sur !lit>S, Tue i'Sl Wv III sN al Il
painting and We desist FROM the vain effort
to depict it. When the aerial ship had
reached an altitude of about half a mile. and
struck the colder currents Of air, the aero~
uaut was observed to climb mp to the hoop,
and get his suit of thick Clothes. Descend
ing 10 the bar he dressed himself. and thsu
; resumed the gymnastiC isplay-oxercisiug :
himself to keep warm. Those who were for
tunate to have telescopes saw the balloon
gradually descending. Occasionally the aero~
uaut would throw down a bag of sand to
enable the balloon to arisc-the country prob
! ably not being suited for a descent. Late IN
! the evening it was rumored that Donaldson
had descended safely near Kempsville, Prin-
cess Anne county.
The coming down Of the alive aerCnaut is
given 10y an exchange as follows:
. Professor Donaldson, the daring aeronnut
: made auothcr balloon ascension from Nor
folk. Virginia. on Monday last. which came
: near being his last flight 20 the clouds. When
2 a the hight Of one mile from the earth, and
: while performing upon the tr1pcze. Donald.
q son concluded that he would descend, anc
4 for this purpose pulled the valve cord tc
= allow the gas to escape from the balloon
: The valve did not open. ana he pulled again
? It still remained closed. and there being NJ
:, time to lose he pulled with both hands. Age I
=. a failure, and for the third time he gave
a strong, steady icIk. There was a sharp
a Kissing souud as If made by the tearing o
It cloth. followed by a rushiCc noise, and he
! knew that the balloon had bursted. 1t did
! not collapse, however. but closed up at the
1 sides. At this time the aer0uaut was seated
= in the cross pieces above the traprze bar.
= The balloon leaned over 10 one SIDE and de-
1 sceudcd with frightful velocity. During thj.
: awful period the aerOnaV;'s feelings may bt
J imagined, bat cannot be described. He says
1 for The first time in his life be was frightened
g To q short time, which seemed to him an
r. eternity. the balloon struck the branches c
S a tree. and went crashing through the limbs
, Tie ropes and trapcze bars catching in the
r limbs somewhat diminished the rapidity oI
I the descent. but still the velocity was terrific
} Crushing through the branches the balloon
} fell to the ground. the aerouant landing or
his back in a heap OF briaTs. His pants were
, torn. and his legs laCeratCd by tie bTiars.
but beyond this he escaped without injury,
His escape from a f:ishtEul death is simply
, rniraculous. Rising from his tboruy couch
Donaldson, still cool and nerves little shat en-
by his terrible mjshap. took a survey oi the
! situation He had fallen on the edge Of a
swamp near a field FIVE miles from norfolk.
On examining the balloon he found large
rent extending from the top to the bottom
RcIing it up be started for assistance. secur-
ug which he next procured conveyance
aud returned to Norfolk.
\ MtsTAKE.-"M Man wants but little hers
Il Tiftle lgrcr - he. .