Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-07
Up IN a BALLOON.
The Deatb-Daring Professor Don.
aldSOn.

Professor Donaldson has been inter
viewed 10y reporter If the Reading
Eagle, with the following result:
DOnaldsOn's first ascension was made
in Reading last August, and since then
he has visited the clouds twenty-four
times in various parts of the South
and West. He has lost several bal
looms: been bruised, scratched and
in ured i'll many ways: has been
dropped into the Atlantic and ducked
i'll Lake Michigan; has been thrown
against chimneys and landed i'll trees
has been lost, given up as dead and
found again has put on his citizens
clothes while two half miles ,naii
las bursted and >cuT his bal1oo4i When
6vrr mile frot4 the earth; has per
fotmcd on the trapese for the benefit
IF All eagle, mile above the clouds,
and has won the distinction of being
the most reckless and daring perform
ing seronaut in the known world. He
was we'll pleased on meftina tha eagle
representative, and entered into con-
versatou very readily. After giving
the detailed accounts of his perform
ances above mentioned, the reporter
inquired
'.What is the most daring thing you
DO, ProfessQr3" Donaldson replied.
well, ~ my lAin,i, have d9ne moth
ing daring Or reckless: ! little trick
which is amusing. ANA which l intend
to do, will be done in this manner: Il
always 60 up without basket. on the
bare trap,ze bar. In the act where |
fall backward and catch myself by my
toes, | will have the bar arranged so
that it breaks AS I fall allowing me to
fall some twelve feet toward the earth,
when l shall be caught by "a rope. will
also have it to break and catch myself
with my right hapf,. This viii be
wl:en IN hall Il tinila Il Ugh, and il viii
be calculated to atriiisc' tho people, ',' :
Reporter What DO You call rcck
less performing
Donaldson. II should like to anchor
two balloons il tie air about htalf a
s high pA AfRf Il $ spa a54a$hs% e
BY A.lery9Hs PeoP@e, HoWeAet, dis
like the business of frightening people.
l shall Hereafter pay moro attention
to scientific ballooning.
R.-How about yonr proposed ocean
trip? .n,u cro.. tno Atlantic, oco,,,
by balloon neyt E,I,l,l3..;., Il ), >aii say,
1:taetorl ,t;f3 H., t, Ry f as Tt am
erh2i'nIea ta A&it: it|'|''}'pg nS I!liai,.
tea sSHfnsGSe s.; III ss:ts5!asl! i NAYS
asaettalhsa - int 'h:%aa' t''-' 49,. .-nuer i,
my mint that the voyage
can be successfully accomplished.
Shall construct three balloons, have
them joined together, with boat, bal
last, provisions and all The necessarj
requirements, and tt..s,.a s,lufpped
sn,,.l start Ills a calm 81 ason; and per
!. t}r1n ths journey i'll about two day!
and half. l shall j make voyage
first, however, from ST. Louis to Bos
R-How do you navigate the air
D-This is one of the discoverie !, .
eronauting. u is an established fac
tbaA al q ,sbrtain altitude, SHY two. ant
aihalf miles, there is current of wine
blowing from west to east. I shall
ascend ttj that current, and with i
travel 1000 miles in two days and
half.
R-Rat is there not q q Pc: saitFi=fi 2
!, p44None that + can discover.
. shall be above the ocean as I AWAY
feel above the land, Just as secure as
feel at this moment sitting in this chair
: OF course ! shall have a basket attaehe'
: to the balloon on the aeeai. voyage.
:. R-What is the ocean trip to cost
p-About 5000.
. R-How high have You been, Pro
fessor
3 D-My barometer has indicated owe
: three miles, / ascend and perform o
The har in my performing clothes, an
: when out Of sight, above the clouds,
= pnt my citizens clothes on while stant
n ing on the bar.
Every person on the staff OF til
:, London Times has held his place nil