The Portland daily press., 1875-06-01
NILE n,,rnoN ASCENSION.

| The balloon ascension Whcn took piaoo vi
| rectly after the afternoon performance was
| grand success. The ascension was maze Dy
| Prof w. H, donaldson in the air-ship L: q
| Barnum, No T. 1t was expected Ito3Delapie I o
take large party, but the balloon was!no'.sui-
| ficent 1t was decided to take representatives
from the three daily papers. Mr. Higgins was
| the man selected from the Argus, MI uosse
from the Advertiser, and Mr.. Mayo from the
| PRESS Just before starting it was feared that
| only two could go. Then lots we're drawn anu
Mr.. Gosse was the unlucky person. AFTER TAX
ing out several bags of sand it was found that
| the balloon was still too heavy, and Pro1. Don
aldson said the two morning papers wouiu nave
to draw lots as only one man could 60 WIFI n'iii
This time the Argus man got the uliuchy
numter and had to leave the basket leaving
| Prof. Donaldson and the PRESS representative.
| At just T. 20 p. M the rope was let go, ana tbe
| air-ship shot into the sky. The ascent was very
| sudden, but when it had reached about zOOO
| feet from the ground it appeared to STOP anu
slowly drfted towards Back Bay. When ABOUT
half way over the bay it took nortneasteriy
current and went back near the Aims house.
Here it hung for some time. At last the fro-
fessor let off little gas, and the balloon ascenoeo
to about 1900 feet and touched southerly cur
rent, which carried it directly over Fore hlver.
From there it passed to the left Of the Rolling
Mills and appeared to stop. A bag OF sano was
thrown out, and the balloon shot into the air,
Then it drifted in the direction of Old Orchard
Beach and stopped little west of the Metno-
dist church at the Cape.
At this point most delightful sight was
seen, and Prof. Donaldson said he never saw
one more charming in all his life. The horizon
was to be seen in every direction. Casco bay
with its 365 islands was very pretty 10 look
upon. Away out to sea were the ships which
could be plainly seen, although the clouds
looked to be shutting down over them. The
two lights at the Cape and Old Orchard Beach
looked to be but stones throw. The air was
clear and objects could be seen quite plainly.
At the Ocean House was seen man out in
surf-boat.
The new park at Deering looked to be but
few rods from the city, while the city itself re-
sembled lot of children's play-houses, with a
stream of water running nearly around them
The Professor is excellent company, and al
though very quiet when watching for partic-
ular current of air. he enjoys joke as we'll as
most motionless at one time, directly over
road, he got bag of sand upon the side of the
basket and amused himself in letting it drop
on the passers by beneath. While remaining
there the air pressed ON the ca rs making rather
an uncomfortable sensation at first After
hanging over the Cape for some little while, a
slight quantity of gas was allowed to escape,
and the balloon fell to about 1000 feet. Here it
struck current of air which would take it di- |
re;ty to the Hippodrome and it was decided to
take it and land on the grounds where it had |
left. But ballooning is very uncertain business, |
and when the air ship had got near the Rolling |
Mills it was found it had got ino current of |
air from the water which was driving the bal |
loon back the same way it had come. More
sand was thrown out and the balloon went up
some distance. Here it reached current blow |
ing directly up Fore River and Up the canal. |
At this point it was expected to and near the |
Reform School, but the wind changed and took
the balloon to this side of the river. Just be- |
fore reaching Stroudwater Village the Profess
BOT let off sas, and the drag rope 300 feet in |
length dangled in the water. Still more gas |
was allowed to escape and the rope dragged for |
some distance A humber of men were hailed |
and told where it was desired to land The |
place selected was large smooth field with |
nothing to interfere After leaving the water |
the current took the balloon directly into the |
field selected. One of the men fastened the |
drag rope to post and at just rs p. M the |
balloon struck the ground, having been up one |
hour and five minutes.
A large number of the neIghbors and pe,sons |
-
crowded into the basket. But the Professor
knew how to scatter them, and pointing one
middle-aged woman, asked if she was th one
who wanted to 60 up little way. Tbs was
enough. They knew the thing was still alive,
and the majority of them gave it wide berth.
After resting a short time several ropes were
attached to the car and thrown out the
crowd. They eagerly gathered them Up and
fairly pulled the car through the air inc the
city and up on the show grounds, Professor
Donaldson, PRESS man and all. By this means
neither of them got out from the time they left
the Hippodrome until they returned. 3
The asoonsivu was considered the most sue
cessful one ever made from this city Thebal.
loon was in sight at all times, and it furnished |
a great amusement to the large numbers inthe
city, to say nothing of the pleasure the P#ss
representative enjoyed during the "sky Wit"
1t was Prof. Donadson's Hath ascension ind
his passenger was the 194th he has taken.