The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-08-10
DONALDSON REPORTED ALIVE.
HIS Disappearance Said TO be an
Advertising Dodge,

The Philadelphia HViciH says
Since Washington IL. Donaldson, the
aeronaut, aud his companion Grlmwood,
made their ascension from Chicago in q
balloon, on July Is, from which time
they have not been seen, there have been
various rumors and conjectures regarding
their probable fate. While many be-
licvc Donaldson and his companion lost
there are many persons who believe
that it is all an ingenious adyertis-
ing dodge and that Mr. Donaldson and
his companion will make their appear
ance again. There have been various
rumors since his disappearance. One
WAS that his balloon was seen passing
over Lake Michigan dragging through
the water. Another that the balloon
had been seen passing over the land in Il
northcrlv direction. Then his body was
said to have been found, but it turned
out TO be the body of "A German sailor
who had been washed from some
steamer. Another report states that II
bottle was found floating IN Lake Michi-
,rsn containing memorandum signed
wv. :. g." Donaldson COmpanion)
dated July l6 stating that the gas was
escaping. and that they could not stay
I'D more than an hour longer.
The latest sensation comes from Al
ronac, Michigan, II town on the st. Clair
river. in the shape of letter from j. Ii.
Stan wood to we'll known professional
in this city, who emphaticIy declares
that he saw Donaldson in company with
a Young man in that village last Friday.
He was positive as to DonaIdsons iden-
,i,y. having frequently seen him at
Barnum's Hippodrome in New York
hast winter. He says: "Donald>on had
no mustache but the scar on his check
rendered recognition All easy matter.
The mysterious Disappearance and pro-
louged absence of Donaldson, in view of
the letter received yesterday, is con-
.ldrrcd by many rs II revival of Donald
son, alleged advertising trick, irtroduc-
ed by HIM recently in Philadelphia,
where, after making an ascent from that
city, false dispatch WAS published an
nOuncing that Donaldson's dead body
had bcen found in the basket OF hi
balloon near a small village in New
Jersey. This dispatch was signed DIR.
Fuller Attcrward all investigation
developed the tact that the dispatah
emanated from Donaldson himself.
\ paper printed in Allentown Pa,
tell. the following: "Two years aye
Washington II. Donaldson resided in
this cit, for several months and made
several a,ccusions from Centre Square.
While there he told Mr.. Kramer, at
whose hotel he boarded, that II notion
hid entered his head which would real
ize him pile of money if carried out.
/ 1t was this. He would make an ascen-
sion, i'll favorable opportunity offered,
accompanied bya ready writer, who was
to ia Ike notes while in the air OF the
experience they met with rs it appeared
to him (Donaldson). For this purpose
they would ascend to an unusual aitl-
tude, and remain up as long rs possible.
After having gained the desired kncwI-
edge of aerial travel, they would de-
scend at place where they were not
likely to be seen, and repair to some
quiet AID undi,turbed nook, and the.
the ready writer was to enlarg" on his
notes, which would be printed in book
form and distributed to the world