South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-09-03
The Death of Donaldson the
Aeronaut.

Aeronaut.
About the middle Of July last, Mr..
Washington A. Donaldson, the we'll
known aeronaut. in company with Mr..
Grimwood. newspaper reporter, start
ed on balloon ascension from Chica-
go. The trip was intended to be one
Of the many which constituted part OF
the attractions OF Mr.. T.. T. Barnum's
travelling show; and accordingly, after
an afternoon performance OF the circus,
Donaldson and his companion assembled
amid the usual cheering OF the multi
tude. All accounts agree TO the state
melt that the balloon and its appurte-
nances looked dangerously weak. The
globe itself was of cotton, and old and
weatherbeaten, while the netting show
ed frequent marks OF halfmade repairs
Shortly after the balloon had departed,
violent storm arose, the track Of which
intersected that OF the air ship, "a indi.
Gated by the direction in which the lat
ter was swiftly borne over lake Michigan.
No tidings Of the aeronauts were OBJ
tanned until after the lapse Of several
days, when the captains of arriving ves-
sells reported sighting the balloon. close
to the surface OF the lake and apparent.
ly dragging its car in the water. Re-
ports of q similar nature followed, not
unmixed, however, with conflicting sto-
ries of the safe landing of the travellers
but the latter on investigation proved
untrue.
As the public is familiar with Mr. p.
I. Barnnm's ingenuity in converting all
sorts OF phenomenal circumstances into
useful advertisements for his show,
very large number of persons, ourselves
included, suspected that the disappear
ance of Donaldson was intentional, and
that in due time after the excitement
had ibated, he would return with some
marvellous yarn, emiuently attractive to
the curious and guillible The recent
discovery of the body of Grimwood OH
the shore of the lake leaves no question,
however but that the daring aeronant is
actually lost, and that ut last, after sru-
viving voyages in paper balloons, and i'm
balloons filed with hot air, after indul-
ging in his taste for blood .curdlirg gym.
nastics on the trapeze while above the
clouds, at HbhtR, he at length has fall
len victim TO the dangers which he had
grown to despise.
In certain sense, Mr.. Donaldson's
death is loss to Science for although
his proclivities tended more toward the
sensational. aud his achievements were
accomplished more by sheer rashncss
and pluck than through any desire for
scientific investigation, still he posses.
ed many qualities which eminently fitted
him to be n pioneer in branch of knowl.
edge regarding which so much remains
to be practically discovered. He had
considerable inventive ability, and cour-
age enough to attempt tasks before
which the majority ofmen would shrink
and these qualities, coupled with IN ex.
tended experience, gave fair promise that
in the future his efforts might result in
useful data toward the solution OF the
problem Of aeralnavigation.-Sci. Amer.
~ The case of Westervelt, accused
of connection with the Charley Ross alb
duction, was commenced on Monday
last st Philadelphia. The prisoners
wife, also indicted for similar compiled.
ty, but who had cluded arrest, presented
herself in court and demanded to be
tried with her husband.
10 The pacing race at Boston, OH
Monday hast, for $4,000 and the champ
ionship of the United States, was won
by SLEEPY George" "Sallie" second,
Copper Bottom" third. Time 2.275,
2.26, 2.2i, 2.27l. "Sallio" took tho first
heat.
~ Several fine young horses are at
Grim's stables, Winchester, in training
for tho trials of speed" ut the Fair
next month.
i-VA Saratoga philosopher says q
single woman, 20 q general thing, can
be told from wife. and we. he has
known many girl to be taken for
wife.
iS This is the way they do it i'm lie.
fore county, Ga: Dis prar meetin'
called togeder for dc purpos ub hcarin'
Brodcr Stays splane dose dings which
am necessary fur cur salvashun, mani
mously resolbs dat Jake Smif am fit
and proper pussun to represent dis sec.
shun at d Board ob Supervisors.
OVER THE RIVER.
PUBLISHED NJ REQUEST.