The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-22
The Lost AreOnsuts.

whether D0naluS0n ana df1mWU0Q
ever return or not,--and we are not
without hope that they will yet be heard
from-the universal interest in their
fate, and the expressions OF regret at
their tragic taking of, il it is such, Is a
credit TO the hearts Of the public. Th
interest manifested in these voyages,
however, is not all born of personal ad-
miration, nor are the regrets expressed
prompted alone by sense OF the loss
Which society has met in the death OF
the persons concerned. 1t is the uncer-
Jaiuty that attracts; the strange and
unusual manner in their di sappearance
which keeps alive the interest SO in
tense and almost painful. Had Donald
son died in his bed at q hotel, the an
nouncement would have been read and
noted simply, and the busy world would
have passed ON. The death OF the same
man, dashed TO the earth from "a bal
loon, or dragged by the blind fury of the
winds through lonely forest whose
strong branches reached out cruel arms
TO tear him in pieces, would hold a CON-
munity' almost breathless while they
read and sbuddered. Aud 80 with his
companion. A week ago his death
would have been regarded only in the
small circle where he was personally
known. To-day the whole country awaits
with deep concern the details OF his de-
structlon or escape, and his MAMIE is
known from one end OF the land to the
otner. Oi course it Is idle to speculate
OF the manner in which the two aero
nants met their fate-whether byldrewn.
ing in The lake, by being dashed 10 death
amid forest trees, or by being precipi
tated headlong from a fearful height by
the collapslng OF the air sh p. Either Is
feal full enough TO contemplate, but there
is something about the iali from great
height that appals and sickens the imag-
inatlon. We can imagine the agonizing
moments preceding the catastrophe.They
knew the danger. The tornado buffets
the huge bail above them as though II
were play thing balted by the hands ol
giants, Every Stroke strains the frail
canYas and cracks the slight cords
which hold them suspended. Below all
is blaekness-a profouna and bott0mless
gulf, into which they may be hurried
without pity, helpless and hopeless.
Above anu around the victims the furid
lightning CLEANS and plays as ii mock
ing ere it destroyed them. A sudder
ana more fearful blow, a sharp oract
above them, a second Of suspense, afC
then the huge bubble bursts, and into
That black void beneath down :
dowu--two forms are plunging into eter
niiy.
Inc actual pangs Of death vary little
perhaps, but the peculiar horror of a
midnight leap from the clouds upon the
unreo0guizable earth beneath has 1
dread beyond expression. Whether il
this manner Dolildson and his oompan
ion met their fate, or whether they dice
more lingering but less appalling death
in the water or the forests, can only bt
surnised. -
There is vet another theory regarding
them which we have not yet seen men
toned, Dut which 1t seems to us de
serves attention. suppose, as has beer
| intimated, they descended in the night
| time in one of the great forests of Mich
tiean or Wisconsin. Would they not b,
| lost in those wllds, and would they NJ
lrun the risk OF meeting by starvation th,
death they had escaped by storm an,
| water? Not infrequenlly we hear o
persons comparatively familiar witt
those forests being lost in their recesses
aud year or SO since gentleman liv
ling In close proximity to one W then
became bewildered While hunting, ant
| for j. week was sought by his neignbors