The New York herald., 1874-07-25
UP IN A BALLOON.
Mr.. Donaldson and Five Friends on .
Mid-Air Voyage in the New Balloon



1Iid-Air Voyage in the New Balloon
Barnum.
Curiosity to witness the ascension OF MI. WASH
ington II. Donaldson in the new balloon drew an
immense throng 10 the Hippodrome yesterday
afternoon. TINS new vehicle lor experiment IL
aerial havlgatlon is Of large size. and has been
constructed with great care, OF selected materials,
upon Mir. Donaldson's own plans and under his
drect supervision lie has made the gas holder
from strong, line muslin, expressly
Manufactured Tor the purpose, light, close
ahd strong. In its ascent 10 sustained
wicker basket, strong but light. eight ieet long
w hVe broad and iour ieet nigh, arranged to com
iortaby seat SIX persons and TO carry stores ample
LOT tWo days subsistence besides all requisites
lor the convenience and safety OF the mid.air
Journey.
THE START OVER TIE sTEEPLEs.
At tle close OF the regular performance the i'm
mense poach oeinS iully inflated With Illuminating
gas irom street pipes. Mr. Donaldson stepped
h2Hty INTO tue basket accompanied by Eve jour-
Ia1!sts' "heh MS guests were properly seated and
prepared FOR their upward exit the bold aeronaur
gave tAc requisite directions to the assistants for
severing the ties which had bound the balloon to rho
eartn ~ quarier past IOur oclOck, and the nayI
Instant the vast machine. with It's load OF daring
men. rose smoothly, easily but with considerable
rapidly AMI with no hitch o. entanglement
straight above toe 1907 Of the Hippodrome. the
dealenlng ana as the vehicle cleared the Hippo.
III ONE walls, Urn2ng IL INC view RON all the
uelgnDOrlng streets. Inc shouts and Wild huZZas OF
mans thousands who crowded ever open space in
the vicinity greeted The aspiring vUyagers. AS
ceuding qulchiy ABOVE all the surrounding roofs
ana spires the balloon was at once caught Dy the
brisk current OF a southeast wind blowing mod
crate breeze.
on THE WINGS OF THE WIND.
This swept ii rapidly, as 1t ascended In the direc-
tin OF Washington Heights, ana as it sailed over
the upper portion OF the city 1t appeared to attain
an attitude OF 1900 u 5000 feet. Con ,inulng its
Night toward me northwest, IL was watched with
interest TIL, after about iteen minutes its rapidly
increasing distance rom its starting place reduced
its apparent size 10 hardly perceptiDle speck IN
the blue SKY, twenty degrees above the horizon.
Long alter the eye Coud no longer lOllOW the voy.
ayers the crowds fingered IN the streets gazing In
tently after them, rs though expecting tnat some
chance would again Drng them into view.
DIRECTION or THE VOYAGE
MIR. Donaldson was provided Tor staying in tho
ar iorty -egAt hours, when he wishes to do In Or
der to make certain observations winch may assist
to solve the long veXcd problem OF an aerial
cation IN when the voyager may expect to control
the direction vi his ni2ht. Saould the wind con.
unua to blow III the same direction as when the
balloon started IL would carry the party over
pretty much the route oi the New York Midland
Railway, and take tGem By dark into the
neghporhood OF Delhi, Cooperstown or Nor
wicu, and, later IL the evening". Will give
them Il sight Oi the twinkiing lights OF Utica,
syracuse or Oswego. folding the same range,
they Will ny over tie Dlue waters OF Lake ontario
aud be able TO survey the wllu forests and fertile
fields OF tie i'rovince uT ontario on the way
toward the great reservoir IRON! VIII ch Lake Su.
perior sends never-lalllng currenL to fail madly
over Niagara and nov tnrough the wide ST. Law.
renee TO the sea. There Is small PROBABILITY that
tie aGronauts VIII De directly heard from beioro
tomorrow morning, unless some uueX expected 0c-
currence should hasten their return To the earrn'0
surface.