Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-29
From the Chicago Tribune.

Donaldson Nervous and Graoe-IHe Las
Seen of the BalIooas-Lost in the Lake.
From the Chicago Tribune.
There Is every reason to fear that
Prof. Washington Donaldson and his
hapless companion, Mr.. Grimwood, Of
the Journal, psrished In the hurricane
Of Thursday night Of last week.
The departure of the balloon was full
of evil augury. A frail bag of cheap
cotton, harnessed by wresths of old
cordsge to crazy wicker-basket, there
were no signs OF care or precaution in
the process Of making ready. On the
contrary, half q dozen indifferent fel-
lows in the hippodrome service hung
to II ia a lstless way, and the srsnaut
himself paid 30 little regard to the
swelling globe that ono might have
been excused for suppoeing that he had
no concern with 1t whatever. 1t was
impossible to avoid noticing the rents
and patches, some OF them very elum-
silly repaired, which dishgured what
should otherwise have been Its unbro-
ken contour. The ropes BY which the
ear was attached were knotted, spliced,
and tangled In fashion more fndica.
tive of hurry and economy than Of a
proper regard for the safety Of the Pro-
lessor and his companions. Altogeth-
er, the balloon wore an air Of shabbi-
ness and debility, not to have detected
which, In the light Of present evidence,
seems unaceountabIe.
THE DARING ERONAUT.
Donaldson was evidently very ner-
vous about the start. He Whistied va
cantly to himself, and took frequent
observations OF the wind and the prom
ise Of the sky. Sunburnt, dusty, and
restless, he formed picturesque con-
trast with the apethetic eanvasmsn
who kept the balloon to Its moorings.
The two reporters who entered the car
together held no conversation with
him, and while they were in the heat
of An inaudible d aIogue, he swung
himself, monkey fashion, to platform
Of wire netting just under the neck Of
the balloon, In which unfragraht neigh
borhood he remained until the machine
became . speck In the upper blue. The
crowd had a good ehasce to serutini1s
him as he leaned, In the attitude of an
auctioneer, over the upper hoop and
exchanged some sharp and nervous
raillery with an acquaintance down
below. He looked short and very
square shouldered, with gymnast's
breadth of chest and big,jointedness.
His coat collar was turned up to shield
a large, muscular neck from the sun,
and silk hat was drawn down over
his fsce. This latter was brown rs q
berry, with hair cropped short, thick
dyed moustache twisted up In an in
quisitive point at each end, and pair
Of bright eyes which roved hither and
thither. Just behind him the brasses
and the reeds and the drums Of the
band were braying and banging cheer
lily. A hundred wags shot their squibs
nj him, and once In q while somebody,
with lungs stronger thanths resi-, caught
his attention and won reply.
DoNALDsoN SERIOUS.
Just before the balloon began the Sc
ries Of short bumps and jerks which was
the prelude of its departure, Donadson
covered his eyes with his hand and
Rszed .teadfAstly over the trsachsrous
lake. One Of the wags sung out: Don
sldson, you'd better get OUT Thel
was silent for moment, then
he muttered: Il wish to Christ could!'
Girmwood OF the Journal was in that
dingy wicker car, peering through the
network Of ropes like q Gagged bird.
wire perch was fully three
feet above him. While the Professor
played at being captain Of the sir-ship,
the sole passenger made himself at
home, and upraising q bundle of sireu- |
lars, meant for erial distribution, ask
ed II they were provisions. Everybo-
dy laughed at the lightness of the fare
except Donaldson, who had his arms
turned around q pair of the main ropes,
and whose face was like copper mask.
The Journalist looked to be a slender
young fellow, with 8 plain, honest
and wSe serious enough
for one on the eve of such fatal voy-
age as that which, little recking, he
was about to take. That he realized
,orne Of tho perils Of his situation was
evident In the extreme gravity OF his
which were In marked con-
trast with the. reckless and moeking
faces of the mob.
UP INTO THE AIR.
1t would be hard to define the exact
moment Of the start. Half . dozen
men held to the cable, and the balloon,
slowly mounting three or four feel, reel +
ed TO and fro as lift were some mon
.ter caught In trap, and franticaiiy
bent on escape. Now rolling us hugs
bulk this way, now that, With Donald
son swinging from the upper hoop. and
jerked back and forward In |
the basket, 10 frightened the crowd In |
TO Q succession Of stampedss. Then
Donaldson gave an order, and Grin.
wsod ssissd . sand beg and pcar0d Nh