The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-08-19
THE FATE OF DONALDSON.
Some Of t1e Theories Set ARoat-A So,
Mystery.

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Some Of the Theories Set ARoat-A So,
Mystery.
A number of very wild theories seen
to be getting into circulation in regard
to the fate of Donaldson and Grim
wood, and the conditions of balloon
travelling. For instance, some persons
are asserting that the balloon wal
dashed to pieces in mid-air by the storm
and the seronauts precipitated into the
lake beneath them. Now a very little
consideration will show that such an
accident is impossible. People never
seem to dissociate in their minds the
idea of balloon sailing in the air from
ship sailing on the ocean but nothing
can be more unlike than the two things
A ship sails on the surface of resist
ing medium. A balloon is enveloped
IN a current, the impetus of which il
can no more resist than it can resist the
force of gravitation and the speed al
which it is borne along makes no differ.
ence whatever either in the way of strain
upon the materials of the balloon OF
the condition of those who occupy the
car. And as to its dashing itself tC
pieces, what is there to dash against
There are no rocks, as in the ocean
balloon fiat as it were with theil
opposing forces, are an impossibility.
The air currents lie in strata, couohes,
as the French call them; and between
all these various air currents there are
generally pretty wide neutral zones.
1t was one of the many curious ideas
that filed DOnaldsons mind that he
could construct flying machine which
would operate in the neutral zones.
Although he generally held pretty
lstrongly to the belief that erial naviga
tion, currents or no currents, was pos
sibie, yet there were occasionally times
when he seemed to think that the best
chance of making fight with an aerial
machine was IN taking advantage OF
those wide spaces of perfectly calm all
which lie between all great currents.
The fact Is, the only time of real
safety in a balloon is when she has
reached mid air. One knows not what
accident may attend the ascension.
There is always the danger of striking
against buildings or steeples or tall
masts. And as for the descent, nobody
who is coming down in a balloon can be
sure of his neck or his limbs until he is
safely standing on terra firma. The
dragging of balloon in even q moder-
ate wind, is something that may we'll
try the stOutest nerves. When it comes
to a gale, the operation is really alarm
ing; and if the anchor should Snap in
the sudden jerk of catching any object,
the posit tiOn of those in the car would
be well-nigh hopeless.
The only possible accident that can
occur while a balloon is aloft is that of
explosion. The heat of the sun striking
on the bag might cause the gas to ex-
pand so rapidly that it could not escape
quickly enough from the neck, and
hence it would cause a rupture, which,
however, might or might not be fatal.
Sala has given a most humorous ac-
count of =" Coming Down in Balloon
in this way. He thought his life was
ended, but the bag few up to the top
of the net and acted as a parachute, and
he and his two companions nded in
perfect safety. This is an accident,
however, which could not possibly oc
cur at night, as the cold air would con-
dense the gas, and if rainstorm came
on this would not only condense the gas
still more, but by soaking the netting,
cordRge and balloon with water would
add greatly TO the weight of the ma
chine, and increase the danger of the
situation.
This was what caused the wreck oi
the monster Daily Graphic balloon in
October, 1873, and this no doubt was
the cause of the death of Donaldson
and Grimwood. The balloon, it is clear
from all accounts, started from Chicago
in an excellent breeze, blowing to the
northeast at the rate of from ten to tif-
teen miles during the evening. In all
human probability the balloon had actu-
ally reached the northern border of the
lake, when it was met by the storm,
which all observers agree came from the
north. What follows it is not difficult
to coDiecture-we have had it all vividly
described and pictured for us by NJ.
Duruof, who, with his wife, fell into the
North sea only that Donaldson would
never have made the dreadful mistake
that Duruot did in opening the valve
and letting out gas. Donaldson had
an almost superstitious Tepugnance
against opening the valve, even in the
ugliest-looking descents and it was
only in the very gravest emergencies
that he could be induced to pull the
valve rope. It is this very habit of his
which gives some color to the hope that
he and his companion may still be IL
existence, for whatever might be the
force of the storm we cannot see how
the balloon could be destroyed, even
though bounding with terrific speed
from wave to wave. Sink, it could not;
burst, it was very unlikely to do under
the circumstances. The gas was In q
condensed state, exerting no extra pres
sure upon the bag, and as long as the
net held taut the occupants of the car
had only to hold on tightly to the
rigging, and were in danger of nothing
more serious than a good weiting. We
think, therefore, there are still pretty
good grounds for holding on to the
hope that Donaldson and his companion
are alive. They have probably dropped
somewhere into the pineries distant
from telegraphs and settlements; and
as, when they landed, they were suffer,
ing grea ly from exhaustion and bruises
received in their perilous voyage, they
are, perhaps, now reposing under the
care of some rough, but hOspitable
yunndman far azuav frnm the naraa and