The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-08-27
THE ILL.FATED BALLOONISTS.
Recovery of the Body of Grimwood on the
East shore OF Lake Michigan-The I'm
fortunate Reporters Last Written Words
A Curious Message from the Air.

III Will Dt live Ntthb lO-ilAOiAON pilIt
the ill-fated balloon carrying Donaldson
and Grimwood went up from Lake
Park, from the midst of thousands OF
excited spectators, who cheered the two
men as they rose into the air and started
on their voyage into eternity. There
were many who envied Grimwood his
place in the basket under the air-ship,
and who eagerly sought the chance to go
in his stead should such chance offer
itself. Only the day before the same
balloon went up, carrying four repre-
sentatives of city papers. They sailed
around over the city for couple OF
hours and then came down. 1t seemed
like a gay and exciting episode in a mans
life, this going up in a balloon, and many
sought to experience it. But Grimwood
regarded the opportunity too highly to
relinquish it, He did not look upon it
as an idle adventure, but as adding to
the experience which he regarded valua-
BILE to him in his ambition to become a
thorough journalist. And when he said
good-by to his friends there appeared
not the slightest indication of a wish or
intention to abandon the trip. The
balloon rose high above the
earth and appeared to float east
ly out over the lake i'll n northeasterly
direction. 1t started at about half
4, and was watched by many people until
it went out of sight. Even while look
ing at it, a mere speck in the sky, many
people began to talk uneasily about its
being fearful thing to hang suspended
over the treacherous waters of Lake
Michigan with such frail support. But
others said Donaldson knows all the
currents aud counter currents he has
not made 137 ascensions to be lost in the
138th. But at midnight came that fear
full gale that was terror to those VINO
were safely housed on the land. What
must must it have been 10 those two
entirely at its mercy over the water
The next day there were no tidings, and
friends of the two voyagers began to
entertain gloomy apprehensions concern
ing their fate. But others said they
were all right, little patient waiting
would be rewarded with the intelligence
of their safety. At noon that day was
received the first and only actual intel
hgence eyer received of them up to yes
terday. The officers of schooner, the
Little Guide, saw the balloon on the
evening before, at first near the surface
of the water, then it shot up into the
air. They followed for short distance,
but were compelled to turn back, it
being evident that schooner could not
compete in a race with q balloon.
AS the days passed on, the interest in
the fate of the two men became uni
versal, not only in this city, but in all
the surrounding country. The most gen.
eral feeling was, probably, that they
went into the lake, though there were
many who chung to the theory that the
balloon rose above the storm and landed
in the wilderness. Prof. King, the
aeronaut, was firm in that belief. So
were the managers of the Hippodrome.
The most of the lake Captains whose
opinions were obtained seemed TO take
the same view, especially as no traces of
them were to be found on the water.
And those who advanced this view were
were quite certain that they would return
safe and sound. Even within a few
days, from intelligent sources, there
have come predictions that they were
alive, and would after time come out
of the wilderness. But while these pre-
dictions were being advanced, the scien-
tifc men, some of them, averred that
the storm of that night was not confined
to the surface--thatit extended high into
the upper atmosphere, so high that the
balloon in all probability was not able to
go above it. With the facts we now have,
that theory seems to be the true one. In a
few days so intense was the interest
I k1,1
Imagination of the people, that balloons
were reported as being seen floating in the
air everywhere. From Minnesota, Wis
consin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois
and Canada came reports of these bal
looms. Every speck i'll the sky was mag
nifed into balloon, and no one could
look upward steadily for short time
without apparently seeing Donaldson
balloon, for they all believed the one
seen was his. And it is significant as
showing that they existed only IN the
feverish fancies of the people, that not
one OF these balloons has ever landed or
been heard of since. Then came the
period of bottles, found on the lake
shore, containing letters; also pieces of
cloth which were Immediately trans
| formed into scraps of the balloon. 1t
has been a period of intense anxiety and
suspense to the public, and if so to them,
how much more so to the immediate
friends and relatives of the missing men,
who were bound TO them by the ties of
affection and kindred, as we'll as by the
ties of humanity. And the discovery of
the remains of one of them, however
sad, is infinitely more satisfactory than
the suspense and anxiety OF the past few
weeks.
The body of Grimwood was found on
the Michigan shore, near Stony Creek,
which cmpties into the lake in Oceana
county, about fifteen miles from White
hall. When found, the body was flat on
it's face on pile of old foodwood. The
information which has been received
states that the hair was nearly all worn
off, and the face sadly disfgured. Fo.
clothing, he had on all except the hat and
boots. This indicates that he had notice
of the squall, and had taken the pre-
caution to divest himself of his boots.
The life-preserver was also found on him
bursted, with hole two inches long.