Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-05-28
rgRRoR In THE CLOUDS.


A sJtfCIDIsT IN A BALLoON-HE AT
TEMPTs TO UPSET THE PARTY A MILE
UP IN THE ARA THRILLING sITUA-
TON,
&C., &C., &c.
On Friday last MI. Church E. Gates, a
lumber merchant of Mott Haven, N. T.,
was found sitting in chair in his room at
the Knlckerbocker H ouse shot through the
head, the pistol with which the deed was
accomplished still remaining in his hand.
The fact is d tragic explanation of terri
BILE scene which occurred IN balloon That
left the Capitoline Grounds at New ork
on the 10Th ult. with party OF journal
lists. There were seven passengers IN the
car, all newspaper men except Gates. Mr.
Alfred Ford, one of them, writes the fol-
lowing thrilling account of the voyage to
the New York s'Graphic::'
When we first cast off from the Capito-
line Grounds he behaved in d quiet, gen.
tlemanly manner, and although it was the
first time he had ever made an ascension,
he was by no means demonstrative i'll re-
gard to the sublime spectacle beneath and
around him. When we had reached the
upper part of Manhattan Island, however,
he leaned over the car and pointed out q
sslittle bundle OF straws,'' as he called it.,
and said. THAT is my lumber yard at
Mott Haven" AS soon as we were well
over the Hudson river, out OF danger from
the houses, and floating comfortably over
the Hackensack Valley, Samuel McKeever
pulled out u flask OF whisky, and all took
a drink, including the deceased. He then
pulled out some. cigars, and, after handing
them around proposed to light one. The
novices in the car were alarmed at this
proposal, but we assured them that there
was not the slightest danger in smoking,
and accordingly MI. Gates lighted his
cigar, from which several OF us obtained
lights, and for awhile everything went
merrily. We were presently buslly en-
gagged in putting out the drag-rore, under
the instructions OF Donaldson, who had
fixed up a novel appendage to the concen-
trating ring, by means OF which he could
walk about above us, and direct us what
to do with ropes and ballast. AS soon DIS
the rope was we'll over the side Of the bal
loon, and it's curious phenomena began to
manifest themselves, McKeever called my
attention to MI. Gates, and | must say
that his attitude struck me instantly aS
that of person who meditated
THROWING HIMSELF OUT OF THE BAL
LOON.
The.whole of his body was outside of the
car, his left leg loosely resting on the edge,
and his arm thrown in the most careless
manner around one of the connecting
ropes.
/ was really very much alarmed at his
tn
'sPerhaps, after all, he does not realize the
danger he is in" So said, MY dear fell
low, if that drag rope catches around one
of those trees below, the violent concus-
sion will throw you out, for certain" Said
McKeever: ''Beside the destruction of
your own life, consider the danger you are
exposing us to. A man Of your weight
falling out of this balloon would send us
ub, God knows where We should all De
suffocated like those French eronauts. y
Ellie Adams, OF the Newark advertiser, y
also entreated the man to come in; and as
at that moment the guide rope snapped off
Il branch OF a tree, with report like a
cannon. and gave the balloon violent
shaking, Mr.. Gates was induced to put
himself in Il more precautionary position.
He was, however, dreadfully restless and
ill at ease. He stood between myself and
unconscious of our presence, for when Nc
Keever remarked to me, ''ThiS mans con-
duct really alarms me-" he did not seem
to realize that we were speaking OF him,
bnt went on smoking his cigar as if he did
not hear us
ALLOF A SUDDEN HE SHOUTED
out to Donaldson, when are you going
to let me come up there with you?2' ooh,
now you be quiet" replied Donaldson in a
soothing tone, 1--WE will talk about that
presently ooh, but you promised me
that should come up there, and intend
to. come" Whereupon he jumped on the
side of the car. and began clambering up
the rigging to the ring platform. Here
was pretty stuation-a maniac with our
lives in his hands. We shouted to him to
cone down; Mckeeyer got hold of one of
his legs and | of the other; Donaldson
drove him back with his hands, and finally
we got him back to the car. 1t waS in
vain to demonstrate with him; he was deaf
to everything. II know what [ am
about he said, DONALDSON promised me
| should go up there and go l WILL 'sAs
far as you yourself are concerned it would
not much matter, perhaps, if you did fall
out" said the reporter; but 1t is the rest
of the fellows that | am thinking about;
you ought to know better" He remained
stolidly Indifferent to all that was said.
Donaldson called out to him, Il wish |
had you down below, would give you the
- licking that you never had in your
life ooh, | don't know about that: per-
haps YOU couldn't" replied the maniac
sOh. YES, could, and I'd let you know it,
too"
Shortly after this Donaldson came down
into the car to take a survey of the re-
naming ballast and the condition of guide
and anchor ropes, and while our attention
was directed to him, Mr.. Gates
SUDDENLY JUMPED UP ON THE OUTSIDE
of the car, climbed up the ropes with the
platform, waved his hat in idiotic triumph
above us. 'sThere! 1 said 1 would do it, -
he cried, land / have done itl'' What
added to the danger of the situation was
that there were three OIL four large bags of
ballast lying loose at his feet, and that
with simple kick he could haye sent
them overheard, and sent us, Heaven
knows where. Donaldson shouted to him
in the most peremptory manner to come
down, and he presently caught hold of the
ropes, and clambering down, swung him.
self back in the car. 1t was useless to say
anything to the unfortunate man. He
was eVlQonGly Gne NlCtlm OF omOIlOnal
insanity. OF course these occurrences
married all the pleasure of the aerial trip.
We were passing oyer the Orange Noun
tains, AMID singuiarly beautiful and diver
sifed scenery, but we could pay but little
attention to what Was around us, in CON
sequence of Mr.. Gates extravaganza beha-
vior. To add to the discomfort of some of
the party Though not to mine, for l want
ed to repeat my wonderful experience of
last Year, it became probable that we
should have to pass the night in the bal
loon. We had called repeatedly to parties
below to- haul us down, but without sue
cess, and finally Donaldson said, swell, /
guess we shall have to stay up all night. "
1t was now nearly dark, and Donaldson
opened small package Of provisions he
had the foresight to bring up, and shared
out to us as much as would go around. 1t
began to rain slightly, and the prospect
was that the nocturnal trip would be by
III II