The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-21

The thirteenth of the series of IIpDo-
dromc balloon ascensions by the distin-
gushed eronaut, Mr.. Washington II. Don
aldson (and the fifth that has taken place
in Boston,, formed prominent feature in
Tuesdays proceedings at Mr.. Barnum's
great show. The fact that the wind was
blowing from westerly source rendered it
inevitable that the aerial craft would bring
up in or about the harbor, and there was
less enthusiasm than usual among the
Journalists who had been awaiting an op-
portunity TO soar hcayenward with Mr..
Donaldson. The list Of applicants for
once was reduced to a minimum, and no
one was cleft OUT
The "Barnum" was again brought into
requisitlon, the enormous rents made in the
cloth covering at Woonsocket last Friday
night having been repaired. The lifting
capacity of the machine was unusually
good, as the weather Daring the seward
direction of the winD was very favorable.
-Four or five passengers could probably have
been taken by Mr.. Donaldson, but two gen.
tlemen only manifested desire to 90.
These were Mr.. William l.. Balch of the
Ne'cs and Mr.. c. II. Baldwin. representing
the SATURDAY Ecening Gazette.
The work of initiating the balloon occu.
pied the early and middle part of the after
noon, and preparations were made in order
that the ascension might take place soon
after the conclusion of the regular enter
talnment within the Hippodrome. In ad-
ditlon to the large audience within the
pavilion, an immense concourse of people
was content with an outside view, while
all the neighboring thoroughfares were
crowded with vehicles of all descriptions.
AS there was fresh wind it became
necessary to give the balloon good, buoyant
power at the start, and Mr.. Donaldson ac.
cordingy had sufficient amount of ballast
removed from the car to cause the s'Bar-
num- to tug impatiently at the tether
which held it down to the earth There
still remained, however, several hum
bred pounds of sand which would
have served to prolong an inland vow
age Tor at least the space of thel night.
Atpreclsely two minutes before five o'clock,
Mr.. Donaldson severed the rope which
held the balloon down, and quickly sailed
aloft IN an east southeast course The
wind at the surface had been blowing at n
rate OF eight or ten miles an hour during
the afternoon, but it was made evident that
the current was several times stronger at n
little elevation.
Although the eXpectant voyagers had
tried to gather comfort from a belief or
hope that the few clouds to be seen were
travelling toward the south shore instead of
directly seward, Mr.. Donaldson viewed
the matter with practised eye and coolly
prepared for emergencies. An examine
ton OF map and close observation of the
direction of the wind, made just previous
to the start, showed that Long Island would
probably be crossed, and to this narrow
chance for landing he determined to
stick if he could. If he got by it Hull
might serve him. Beyond these two places
there was naught but the broad Atlantic,
and the intrepid aeronaut had no desire TO
start upon voyage of discovery upon the
ocean, unless better prepared for the trim
than he then CHANGED to be.
The balloon rose TO considerable heirbt
at the outset, passing over the new Art
Museum, across Columbus ayenye. south
of its intersection with Berkeley street, and
about over the line OF the Boston and AL
bany Railroad across fremont street.
Shawmut avenue, Washington street
and Harrison avenue, Mr. Donald
son hung out his drag-rope soon
after leaving the Hippodrome, and
must have worked with alacrlty, for it was
soon apparently hanging its entire length
of 800 feet from the basket The great
ball grew less and less rs it entered the
haze, which seemed thicker toward the
ocean than elsewhere, and after passing
South Boston was seen to descend quite
rapidly. In eleven minutes after its de-
parture from the Ilippodrome, or at nine
minutes past five O'Clock, it sank behind
the buildings and was no more seen by
those who were watching lis course from
the starting point.
The particulars Of the voyage and the
thrilling descent we learn from Mr.. Don
aldson The balloon made very rapid pro.
gress from the city and toward the ocean.
which was, of course, plainly in view
from the start. Mr.. Donaldson had little
time to scan the city or the interior of the
country, for he was busy in getting out the
drag rope and keeping lookout ahead. A
descent in the harbor seemed inevitable.
ana he informed his companions that they
might have occasion to use their life pre- |
servers. by sighting the Hippodrome he |
was convinced, however, that Long Island |
lay directly in his course, and he laid his
plans to land there if possible. The hal,
loon had reached n height of about q. O00 |
feet when Mr.. Donaldson pulled the valve |
cord in order to descend. AS it an.
preached within a few hundred feet of the |
surface it appeared to encounter current |
axh Ia