Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-27
THE MISSING BALLOON.

The Parting Words of Newton q.
GrimwOOd with a Brother Jour.
naIfst.
By E. E. Wood. Of the Chicago journals Ed
itorial Staff
| Lake Michigan is calm and serene to-
day. The gale that ragged so madly on
that terribleThursday night has subsided.
The high-dashing waves, tired of agits.
ton, have laid themselves down to rest
in their mothers bosom, and the winds
and clouds and dashing spray have
shrunk back into the caves oil their ma
tivity. Aawe look out over her wide ex-
panse Of waters, Lake Michigan, to-day,
does not seem like the treaeborous thing
she is. Her aspect is that of peace and
gentleness. Her blue face shines like a
mirror in the summer sun. 1t is as
smooth and silent as vast meadow.
You would not suspect that but yester-
day that face was an expanse OF aque-
GUS hills and mountains-that her great,
deep bosom, now so quiet, almost mo-
tionless, was but few hours ago heav-
ing and tumbling aud dashing in very
madness. An uncertain and deceitful
thing is this great lake-as changeful as
the whims of coquette; as quiet as a
sleeping infant when at rest, but as tu-
multuous as a battlefield when aroused
by the tempest And the tempests that
awake her from her placid slumbers, and
lash her every atom into fury, come upon
her sometimes as suddenly as the light
nings flash.
On that evening when Donaldson and
Grimwood assembled from Chicago 8
Dearborn Park, il a g eat balloon, gem
tie wind was moving eastward and upon
its wings they sailed off over this great,
wide lake. They feared no i'll; they had
confidence in their aerial ship. That
which the daring Donaldson had accom-
plished so often, they felt could be done
again. And so they few away, and at
that hour neither they nor we had any
misgivings Of their fate.
only care to 60 this once, just for
the experience" said Mr.. Grimwood, as
| approached him standing in the
shadow of that fatal air ship, and-must
say it, in the shadow Of death.
The wind is unfavorable, but per.
haps an upper current will make that all
right" said |, encouragingly, for I saw
by the resolute expression on his quiet
face that it would be useless to urge him
to give up the trip.
| guess they are trying to frighten
the reporters into showing the white
feather" he remarked, after short
pause, "by saying that Donaldson ex.
poets to be carried into Michigan, with
the chances of being gone two or three
days"
Then the trip will be more interest
ing" was the reply | made, land you
will have a good report to give the
Journal"
Yes" he said, that's what l hope;
| would like to land in Michigan; but,
he continued, {" guess | ought to have
little more money if am going so far
from home"
And pulling out his pocketbook, which
had only one bank bill and some small
change in it, he accepted an extra ten
dollars from Mr.. Adams, a brother re.
porter who was standing near by, say.
| lHRt L guess budJ Will QOs
The writer then gave Mr.. GrimWood q
field glass, with which 10 aid his obser.
vations while in midair, the glass having
been kindly placed in my hands by Mr..
Manasse, the optician, for that purpose;
and fearing that the brass cup to the in,
strument might be troublesome, or gel
lost, it was retained and to-day remaint
with US as a memento Of that sad parting
hour.
"If l should see that we are settling
into the lake" said Mr.. Grimwood; dur
ing the conversation which followed
"the first thing that | shall do will be tC
pull off my boots, and, being perfectly
at home at swimming, / think | could
then adjust my life preserver and staud
good deal"
At this point other friends crowded
around, and while the concourse Of curl
GUS people grew momentarily greater
and more unmsnageable, Professor Don
aldson, the aeronaut appeared, and be
gan giving his orders, preparatory t
cutting loose for the ascent.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Grimwood was receiv
ing the good-byes of friends and instruc
tions from the city editor of the Journal
Mr. W. X. Sullivan, whose ambassador
he had volunteered to be in the pending
perilous journey. When all was ready
three newspaper reporters we're prepared
for the ascent, bst the balloon seeming
to be overburdened, first one and ther
another of the press representative
climbed from the basket, at the reques
OF Professor Donaldson, and none wer,
left but Grimwood, whose strong deter
mination to 60 would not let him yielt
, the opportunity to remain behind,
, At this last moment, prompted by al
interest akin to brotherhood, the write
.. Of this made another effort to gain pc
J sition where he might say parting, en-
couraging word to the intrepid yeunI
journalist, new being thrown around b,
the laboring air-ship, and succeeded il
pressing his way through the jamminl
: mass Of humanity to the side Of the bal
. loon. BE saw me, and while he held b,
i the ropes of the basket with his righ
J. hand to keep from being thrown out, h
reached out his left and grasped mine.
bon voyage"
d "Adieu" said he, and soon he was be
a yond the reach of all friendly hands AM
voices below.
v;s;tad tho scano of the asoension