Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-02
Prof. DOnaldsOn'S Ascension st Chi
cagO in 1872.

THE Cincinnati Enquirer gives some ex-
tracts from a diary left by Mr.. Donaldson,
among them the following:
The next record that have of Don
aldson Is at Chicago, ILL.,, July 4, 1872,
filling his balloon in Green's Garden, pre-
paratory to giving the Chicagoans blood
curdhng sensation, as they never feel sat
isfied until they kill some one, or have an
explosion or confagration that will startle
the world:
&c had no trouble said the aeronautr
in filling, and all was ready by half-past
eleven; the ropes were cut and wentupr
performing my feats upon the trapeze bar
At the height of one and a half miles [
was surrounded by large bodies of clouds,
and beginning to suffer from the intense
cold. Upon reaching the higher strata
was carried eastward over Lake Michi-
gan. Not knowing the geography of the
country was afraid to cross the lake. l
pulled the valve open quick and tied it to
the ring. 1t was fully twenty minutes
after | pulled the valve before the balloon
began to descend and struck the water A.
heavy breeze was blowing that dragged
me through the water rapidly enough
to keep pace with an outward-go
ing passenger train. Not knowing
whether they saw me or not, | took out my
pocket-handkerchiet, squeezed it as dry
as l could and waved it at them, and in
stantiy it was responded to by hundred
q L infc f1I1ft fho
dows. [ since learned that the interest
manifested by the passengers was heart
felt and intense. AS the cars ran into
kenwood Station the balloon approached
the shore, driven at perilous speed. | was
finally brought up against a stone pier,
striking with fearful force, and bounded
up only to come down again in the surf,
where | was dragged like bullet skip
ping the water to the shore, and landed
upon pile of stones, nearly breaking my
ribs. was numb and senseless from cold
and could not speak. I was picked up by
the kind people and placed in a bed,
rubbed with dry towels and kindly cared
for. | soon rallied and was enabled to
reach Chicago that evening.
"'The force Of the water tore my travel
ing bag open that had tied to the ring,
and new suit of clothes and $3.50 in
money were lost in the lake. I passed a
propeller, and had / not been waist-deep
in the water [ would have far eclipsed
the train in speed"
The Cincinnati Commercial has an &C
count Of balloon trip with Donaldson,
during which he told the writer the fol-
lowing story:
Perhaps you remember my adventure
ON Lake Michigan two years ago. Imade
the ascension alone. My balloon was
full and light, and I had plenty of ballast. |
Everything was in good shape I went
alone purpOsely, so as to do what I did |
An immense, crowd saw me off, The air
was favorable, and sent me off over the
lake. There was light sea on. When I
got so far up and away that my move
ments could not be detected, I pulled the |
valve rope and came down to the water. I |
knew the effect on that crowd What I |
was after was a sensational advertisement |
There was pretty good surface-current of |
air. AS the basket touched the water the bag |
of course jerked at it and pulled it up, and |
Ilet out little ballast from bag And in
this way skipped along for some time
1t was nearly dark and clouds were gath
ering. Through their glasses they could |
scarcely see me clinging to the basket and
being dragged through the water at a fear
full rate, as they imagined. In this way [ |
passed out of their sight, as I learned aft |
er, into certain death, as they supposed. |
Then let out ballast enough and rose to |
good height, and kept on. I got my SEN
sational advertisement of Perilous Ad- |
venture-Hair- Breadth Escape and so on
and didn't get my feet wet"