Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-17
The Balloon.

The much advertised transatlantic balloon
voyage for which preparations were made by
the Daily Graphic has " gone up" The
balloon in which it was to have been
made has done nothing of the kind, how
ever, and is mass of cotton rags waiting for
briuy deep.
The whole aff4ir has been sensational from
beginning to end. Tee publishers of the
Graphic determining to do something new uu-
dor the sun and to surpass the African DIS
coverIes of the HeraI / engaged Mr.. Wise,
who Is an experienced aeronaut, and adver-
tlsed their enterprise as a scientific under
taking. The balloon was made of cotton
and at a late day Wise began to complain of
its being unsafe. He wanted silk. The
public knew OF no trouble though until after
the great gas bag was exhibited on the Capt.
toline grounds IN Brooklyn on the 9Th of
September.
Then it came out that Wise claimed the
cloth was rotten and that there WAS discord
between him and his assistant Donaldson.
Wise is steady going, modest sort of person.
age and does not long to 60 up without
knowing bow he is to come down. Donald
son has been in the habit of making sensa
tional ascensions, eng ,gins 10 performance
on the trapeze and the like. There were two
other gentlemen booked for the voyage. MIR.
Lunt OF Boston and reporter of tn e Graphic.
1t came to be dJu 5red before the 10 b, the
day first fixed for the ascension, whether
Wise would 60. d madison would 90 any,
way and seemed to be rather pleased at the
Thought OF getting rid of his slow-going COM
panlon and having charge of matters himself.
An attempt Was male the 10Th to inf4t,
the machine - but the wind rose and
threatened Co destroy the canvas Thereupon
Mr.. Donaldson used the apparatus construct
ed Tor tearing out piece of cloth when the
valves did not exhaust the gas with sufficient
rapidty. The enterprise Was given up for
the day and it was soon annou nced that the
infation would take place on Friday. Wise
concluded to go if the balloon could be in
hated.
Friday the infation proceeded under the
direction of Donaldson and a " balloonist -
from Albany. The weather was fac aud an
immense concourse of people was present to
see the imitation and the start. Many people
believed there would be bona tide ascension,
but others were sceptical, as it was stated
that morning, that Prof. Wise had decided
not to embark-leaving Donaldson and Limit
two daring adyentuTers-tog go alone. This
incredulity was strengthened when it was
learned that Prof. Wise and his son, on an
pearing at the gate of the grounds, were de-
MED admittance, and driven away by orders
of those in charge of the balloon.
At 10 minutes past the balloon suddenly
swayed to the north, ripped half way around
with great tearing sound and fell fat upon
the ground. The immense volume of gas
which had been pumped into it-nearly AGO.
OOO ieet-escaped at the same moment, near
ly sufocating those who stood on the lee side
So ended the balloon voyage of 1873.
The publishers of the Graphic have lost
nothing in pecuniary point of view. for the
entrance money from those who visited the
Capitoline grounds has amounted to a very
large sum. They say they will yet send a
balloon across the Atlantic if it has to be
made Of silk. Perhaps they will.