The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-09-26
WISE AND sTIEER DID IT.
Who are Responsible for the Failure
of the Graphic's Gas Bag.

of the Graphic's Gas Bag
To the Editor Of the Sun.
SIR: As ycu have been very friendly
toward me . 2 sonaIly, and have omitted
o charge the late failure Of the Gr0phic
balloon to any Intentionally humbuggery
en- the part of myself or the managers,
| shall take pleasure in giving you q few
facts concerning the disaster
On the day previous to the first at
tempted influtlon Mr. Wise asked me if
l intended to begin the imitation en- the
next Wednesday morning. Upon my
answering in the affirmative he and his
friend, Mr.. Stiner, expressed their salts,
faction, and promised to be on the gr und
early on the following morning and re-
lieve me. At 3 u. In on the 10th inst ,
| began the imitation, with only four mcr
to assist me, there having been q mis-
understanding by the superintendent OF
construction regarding the force required.
at about : a. II. the wind rose, and the
balloon having then about l25, 600 feet
Of gas within 1t became unmanageabIe,
and l was forced by sheer lack Of asslstIH
ance and advice to rip up the bag and
allow it to collapse.
| consider this failure to Initiate ana
the consequent disappointment OF the
public entirely due to the failure OF
Messrs. Wise aud Stiner to keep 5helr
promise Of assistance, and my firm con
viction is that they purposely delayed
tboir canning in order that the great Dag
yDigEt either receive damage or escape
altogether. Mr.. Wise arrived at II
O'clock and Mr. Stiner did not come at
all.
The balloon was repaired on Thnrs'
! day and Mr.. Stiner was sent for to SD
perintend the next initiation, which he
undertook to do upon the express cCndl-
| tan that | should not interfere In any
manner. This was agreed to, and at a
| n. on Friday last MIR. Stincr began the
! last imitation, and | soon noticed tha
| there vas a twist in the top OF the bal
! loon owing to the netting not being prop
erIy adjusted l spoke to MIR. StInel
| about this. but be paid no attention K
my warning, and some time atterward
mentioned my anxiety on this subject t
! Mr.. Charles G oodsell, who again spoke t.
! Mr.. Stfuer, but was told that 1t WouI(
"Gome on; all right"
Later in the day MIR nunt, the uavi
! gator. came to me with his glass anI
| asked me to look NJ the disarranged net
/ ting on the ton of the valve | did sc
and said that had already spoken sew
eral times concerning 1t and could no
| interfere again. lie then went 10 MT
| Stiner and pointed out once more the eV
ident lault, bat was informed that It wa
Of no consequence.
At about Q. m, when the bailOo
| was about three-fourths full and tn
| crowd of spectators were ell expectation
the netting gave way at the point by tn
valve where it was subjected to the i
! regular and tremendous strain caused b
the faulty adjustment, the cloth OF tn
bag buiged through, and, after reslstln
for some time q greater strain than eve
saw cloth Of any description bear, bug
open and the balloon collapsed.
do not wish to make any accusatio
of foul play unless l can bring proof
bat the above circumstances, couple
with the following facts, are at least su
piciOas.
Mr.. Stiner Is and has been I
years a firm friend of MIR. Wise, and
was by the latters agency that he vi
placed in charge of the Initiation.
,. 1t was patent to everybody, tn
Wise was afraid to 90 into the balioo
and was making strenuous efforts to fiji
f something to which he might take exec
? ton and back out, and to this end "
characterizi0g as rotten q bag VIII
| pronounce the strongest | ever saw
/ ,. John Stiuer has had three tim
| more experience IN balloon matters tn
myself, and | do not think that he cot
underestimate the danger Of the IN
quail strain anon the netting.
4. He stated to the managers not
D hour before the collapse that he was c
I tain to complete the initiation successh
" and laughed at their fears, and att
, ward-to the reporters-that he belieV
. it an impossibiliCy to raise so large
u balloon.
p WASHINGTON Ii. DONALDSON