Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-10-15
UNSUCCESSFUL.
The Second Attempt to Cross the
Ocean In O Balloon.

| VIVIAN IN n0llOOR.
New YORK, October 6.-The favor
able weather of yesterday was taken
advantage OF by Mr.. Donaldson. the
aeronaut. to prepare his great traus-
atlantic balloon for the proposed at
tempt to cross the ocean. Two hund.
red thousand feet of gas, two-thirds
the required quantity, was let in before
dark, when the imitation had to be
stopped on account of the diminished
pressure, caused by the illumination
Of the air. A strong watch, divided
into three reliek, was kept on the
ground all night. and shortly after 4
o o'clock this morning the process of in
fation was resumed Much difficulty
was experienced in conducting this
operation e,sseessfulIy, on account of
frequent viefeht gusts of wind, which
several times carried the workmen off
their feet, and once necessitated a
frantic call for volunteers to the occu-
pants Of the surrounding fence. Short
ly after 9 clock, 10000 feet Of gas
had been successfully let into the mon
stcr. The life boat Chicago, with
forty days provisions, number of
scientific instruments. llfs-preservers,
etc.. were attached, aud Messrs. Do
MADISON, Lunt, and Ford took their
places inside it.
At min steen minutes past, the huge
cable was cut, and the balloon arose
with immense velocity. The drag
rope, depending from the concentrating
ring, had been stretched out along the
ground, aud as the great air ship soar
ed skyward, it ripped the drag rope
through the grass with motion that
can only be compared to an infuriated
whale dragging harpoon- rope. The
crowd cheered Justify, the aeronauts
correspondingiy waving their hats,
and blowing foghorn. The balloon
went directly north, clearing the houses
ses on that side of the grounds, until
it had reached an apparent altitude of
5000 feet. 1t then DETECTED sharp.
ly to the east, with the boat pointing
constantly In the direction of the wind.
Eighteen minutes after the balloon
had left the earth its course was due
northeast. From that time it steadily
worked toward the east and its course,
when last seen from the Capitolins
| grounds, was northeast by east At
9:55 it was observed that the balloon
was rapidly rising, aud its altitude at
10 O'Clock was full one mile. The
surface current was blowing from the
soath. The balloon remained in sight
from the Capitoline grounds about
forty eight minutes, but from the high
er points it was visible for half an
hour longer. At twenty minutes past
10 o'clock the signal-service officer at
the Equitable building was enabled
by the use of powerful glasses to get
one last look at the balloon. At that
time it appeared like a dark spot in
the clouds, and Immediately afterwards
disappeared from sight. The balloon
was heading in northeasterly di-
rection. and was rising higher. The
officer estimates that at this time it
was about mile from the earth, forty
miles from the City Hall, New York
At 10 o'clock the balloon passed over
Rye, Westchester county going due
east at good rate of speed. At Ii
it was sighted two miles southeast OF
Bethel, Conn, travelling rapidly ocean
ward. Bridgeport was passed at 10 :35,
and New Haven at IL 40. 1t beat
the train from Ansonia to Seymour
and was seen at Waterbury at noon,
and at Watertown at II 80. After
passing over Waterfowl, its course
changed toward the northeast, and it
sailed slowly over Li:chfeld, where it
was low enough to enable the occu-
pants to hail man who was working
in the field. Two carrier-pigeons were
dispatched, bearing the following mess
ages
1t is now twenty minutes past 9 o'clock.
we are I,OUo leet HiBu. Luut Is raising
the Old Harry with the horn, and we all
| feel oily. The sun shines splendidly, and
Donaldson has just been singing 'Do they
Miss Me at home 7" Mr.. H. Fl. Wheeler,
of Brooklyn, was the last man we could dis
tlnguish aloft. FORD.
IN THE CLOUDS, 10 :o5 a. m.-We are
400 feet high, going northeast. We all
feel very happy. Donaldson says: ''The
dream Of my lite is now realized Lunt
has been doing something with the ballast
and stopping every moment 10 admire the
surprising grandeur of the scene. 1t is
hazy all around US, and light clouds are
floating below. We have just heard three
cheers below, and have given a toot-toot
with a fog-horn in reply. We are now at
an altitude OF 5000 feet, or just one mile.
We have just struck the lower portion of
the eastern current. We. have just passed
over Norwalk,
Afford FORD.
The little messengers arrived to-
gether at their home IN Rivercliffe
shortly before Ii o'clock. but were