The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-10-30
with, and we again returned to the won.
derful panorama beneath Us.

4 attractive suburbs for which Cincinnati
? is noted. Over the eastern part Of th,
! city hung dense cloud Of smoke whicl
', completely obscured the view, but II
, every other direction the atmospher,
! was marvelously clear, II was evident
! that we were drifting in a northcastcrly
direction. In the southwest could bt
seen the Ohio winding about like a
silvery ribbon. Farther to the north
, was Mill Creek, coursing through the
valley Of the same name. Turnpikes
and roads were as tiny threads, and We
hicles passing along them mere dots.
Almost beneath us was Mt. Auburn and
from our elevated perch Walnut Hills,
Avondale, Cumminsville, Spring Grove,
and several other points Of interest were
clearly discernible. About this time a
breeze from beneath appeared to spring
up, and the Professor informed us that
we were rapidly descending. lie per-
mitted the descent to continue until the
end Of the drag rope struck the ground,
when bag of sand was emptied and we
again scared skyward. The descent and
subsequent rise afforded us a practical
demonstration of the leveling of the
hills by distance; for at the highest
point no elevations whatever were per-
ceptible, the ground presenting the ap-
pearance of a level plain. We must not
neglect to mention the absence of all
feeling akin to dizziness. With most
people look from the top Of high
building is sure to produce giddiness
! but Mr.. Donaldson informed US that no
sensation of that kind is ever produced
by ballooning. lie thought it could be
accounted for by there being no inter.
vening object between the earth and the
eye.
During all the time we were over the
city, the streets below were thronged by
thousands of interested spectators, many
of whom, no doubt, were taking their
first look at balloon. Early in the voy-
age, We observed three horsemen, who
followed us throughout the trip, and so
well could we distinguish objects below
that we were able at all times to discern
and point them out As We neared the
city limits the crowd pcrceptibly dimin-
ished, but we were not at any time with
out hundred or 30 Of followers.
1t was interesting to note the fall of
light objects dropped from the balloon.
Several newspapers were opened and
thrown out, their descent being timed,
and varying from a minute and half to
three minutes. They scared about very
nicely, seeming to be in no hurry to get
back to earth. OF course they were Ca
gerly scrambled for by the crowd below.
To the occupants of the basket it was
hard to realize that the balloon was above
the clouds, and it was only after the Pro-
fcssor had pointed out its shadow appar-
emily suspended in the air at some dis
tance beneath, that we could be made to
believe it. This was most interesting
spectacle and completely absorbed our
attention for several minutes.
As the sun dropped below the horizon,
it seemed to be difficult matter to keep
our air-ship afoat. Ballast was emptied
several times, when the balloon would
rise for few minutes and again decline.
"Our trip will not be long one" said
Donaldson; "the gas is contracting
rapidly, and we will have to 90 down !"
and he set about looking for a suitable
landing place. Immediately below us
were great many trees, with which our
guide did not seem to desire nearer ac-
quaintance, 80 another bag Of sand was
poured out upon the heads of the rabble
below, and We again shot upward and
dritted farther out. Presently the Pro
fessor deserted an open field, which he
thought would offer us safe anchorage,
and he said, ave will go down there"
and down We went, until the drag-rope
struck the ground, and was eagerly
clutched by the leaders of the crowd who
had so enthusiastically kept pace with
us. BY heaving out small quantities of
sand occasionally, the balloon was kept
about two hundred feet above the sur
face, and Donaldson gave directions
to the crowd to tow us out to road a
quarter of mile distant, for he knew
by past experience that it would be no
no light task to carry the empty balloon
and its trappings over those hills to
place where ir could be loaded upon a
wagon. A perfect babel Of noise and
confusion was kept up below all the
time, and il was not an easy matter to
make the crowd comprehend exactly
what was wanted, and, through their zeal
to render us service they came near
landing us in the tree tops several times;
but, by a iudicious Use of ballast, we
managed to keep well up, and were
finally safely brought to ON a sloping
hillside near Avondale, ON the ground of
a Mr.. Talent, six miles from our start
ing point II required about an hour
and half to exhaust the gas, which was
all done through the valve, when the
canvas, netting, ropes, and other traps
were carefully separated, the balloon
neatly packed IN It's basket, loaded on
wagon, and started to the city.
After partaking Of lunch, which one
of the party had the forethought to bring
along, the excursionists set out on foot
for Corryyille, which, after a moonlight
ramble Of a mile or 30 over the hills,
they reached, not however without many
falls and much putting and-blowing.
Here they took the Mt. Auburn street
ears and returned to the city via the in
clined plane.
Thus ended Prof Donaldson's ninety
ninth ascension and your reporters first
During his experience as an eronaut the
Professor has taken up one hundred and
fourteen passengers, and has. never met
with an accident of a serious character.