The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-05-15
Ocean BallOOning.

Ocean Ballooning.
A CORRESPONDENT of the New York
World has been interviewing Donaldson,
the aeronaut, and thus writes.
He said he had made but one ascension
with basket, and that was his first and
his last in that manner. The very flrst |
time he had witnessed balloon in mid-air |
he delighted in the thought of performing
on the trapeZe-bar under it. In reply to q
question concerning fear he smiled and
stated he was not acquainted with 1t. "lt
had known what fear was" he contin-
ued, 81 should never have had sufficient
courage to perform for the first time the
drop act" He had reference to lying ex
tended on his back on the bar, head and
feet extended, and then to drop head first
and catch himself by the toes, and in this
position, hanging head downward, sail
through the air hundreds of feet above
the earth. "For," he continued, cit must
be borne in mind that in performing the
act my weight, $50 pounds, is taken off of
the balloon from the time | drop until |
catch myself by my feet. Taking off this
weight from the balloon naturally causes
| it to shoot up with great velocity, and
therein is the great danger. The balloon
rises with force when no weight is at
tached, and if care is not practiced the
bar will shootup and be very apt to sweep
past any distractions like a mans feet,
and thus throw him from the bar and send
him tumbling headlong toward the earth.
Before L tried the experiment | had no
means of ascertaining what the result
would be, but as had no fear as to the
consequences l went up and successfully
performed what no other man in the world
has yet DONE"
asked him why he was engaged in such
reckless and dangerous business, and he
told me that at first he did it in profess
sional way as matter of business, to adj
vertise his entertainments as a magician
finally he inaugurated system of lee
lures. He would make an ascension and
afterward tell the story of his aerial jour-
ney from the stage in some hall, to an
audience at so much head.
Now he states he desires to aid science.
In a few days he will ascend in a paper
balloon, glued together, for the reason, as
he says, to satisfactorily demonstrate to
men of science the entire safety in bal
looming in the original manner. "Men OF
SCIENCE" said the aeronaut, "cannot be
induced to visit cloudland, and as long as
they remain away the vast resources OF
that undiscovered country will remain
idle and useless forever" | found
this daring man also thinking
at length of the unwise expenditure o.
money in examining ocean beds and the
like, when a great natural highway in the
air needed immediate attention. He dis
approves of the present method of gen
Grating steam, because the weight of ma
chinery is too great for the power re
ceived. Air contains all that is required
moisture from which steam can be gen
Grated, and pure hydrogen for buoyancy
, and electricity for additional power
These natural agencies in the air can bt
gathered as they are needed, thereby
averting the necessity of carrying fuel
&C., as is at present the custom will
steamships and locomotives. He say
: these things are all lying idle and waiting
the visitation of practical scientists to eX
anime and put them into use. He con
tinued: 81 would perfect and patent
I flying -machng, but have not the time
People are afraid of height, but, seeming
. ly, not of depth. They cross the ocean
brave water, storm, and drunken sea cap
l tains, but they would shrink in holy hor
ror at the thought of crossing the oceal
in balloon"
This led the conversation to the subjec
of ocean ballooning. Donaldson has hi
I plans, specifications, and arrangements al
a finished; and by letters in his possession
i his project is approved of by Professo
A Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute a
e Washington and other scientific men
e Donaldson is positive of reaching Europ
: by balloon, and as firmly believes that tn
$ constantly blowing current of air tron
west to east, at an altitude of somethin!
d less than mile high, was specially crea
: ted by Providence for aerial navigation.
I The current that Donaldson speaks Q
[ is a continual blowing from west to eas
a when at certain altitude, and by this b
i is confident of landing on the coast Q
;. Ireland in about two and half days
: He will start. however, when the lowe
I current of air is blowing toward the eas
j and continue in it so long as it blows il
e that direction. If it changes he ca
, ascend to the upper current and still g
i on towards the east. His plans, he thinks
are eXcellently arranged, he having thor
oughly provided for every conceivable &C
| cident or misfortune. In conclusion h
! remarked: "Some day the people vii
1 assuredly hear of ocean ballooning, an
e it will be regarded as ordinary thing a
t deep-sea telegraphing. Passengers vii
I be transported back and forwards. acres
r the Atlantic in one-fifth the time and a
half the cost of the present steamer fares
e Mails will be transported by balloon, an
e thus ocean steamers will be only used fo
;, the transportation of freight and mel
1 chandise."