The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-08-28

and landing were safe"
FIFTH ASCENSION.
This ascension wss to have taken place
az Norfolk. Va, Saturday, January, 18th,
1872, in the balloon "Fissco," but when
filed it did not have power to raise. Great
was the disappointment, and the crowd
seemed inclined to rebel, but the disap-
pointment was no fault Of Donaldson. 1t
only illustrated the poor quality Of Nor
folk gas. However, nothing seemed to
discourage him, for he Immediately an
nounced that be would FL his large bal
loon, the "Gymnsst" on Monday, the
18th. True to his announcement, short
" after o'clock on Monday the Gym
mast was full and eager to leap into the
skies. The people seeing his cool deter,
minatiOn, were convinced that he would
really ascend, and large crowd gather
ed to see him off Shortly after o'clock
he grasped the ring and up ne went, amid
an almost desfening applause. As ne
rose. some looked with admiration, 9TH
ers were agitated, while some cynical
fellows contented themselves by remark
ing. Hell go up once too often. THAT
feller ain aferd of nothln'. His trap
eye bar WAS twelve feet below the ring;
fitting himself backward, he grasped
the rope and slid head downward until
he caught by his toes on the side ropes.
This thrilling feat sent excitement to the
crowd below, who were totally unpre-
pared for il. Mr.. Donaldson writes;
The balloon darted up high, the air
was intensely cold, and | was compelled
to climb to the ring and dress myself;
and then was compelled to exercise to
keep warm. Some thoughtless fellow
had the good grace to shoot at me but l
was too high for his missile. Being car
ried rapidlv toward the ocean, he came
in lit If Cape Henry Lighthouse and
on Point, while in the distance he
could see the white winged messengers OF
commerce. All OF n sudden ne found
that he must descend quickly or be would
be over the water. Ho pulled the safety
valve but it would not open. Again
and again ne pulled with the same re-
suit. Recognizing the desperate
coalition that he would IN
few moments be in, he threw his whole
weight on the valve rope and it opened
and the gas escaped rapidly. He found
that the difficulty Of opening the valve
was occa,ioncd by the freezing OF the
water above the valve, put there
t. soften the matter with which the valve
was coated, to prevent the escape of gas.
The gas escaped rapidly, and he gradu
ally descended and landed upon the farm
of \ MIR. Gregory, in Princess Anne
county. at > Z. NJ, having been IN the air
only twenty minutes. As he was de-
scendiug he saw boy, and hailed HIM to
know III there were any men about, but
the boy, palid with fear, ran to the
house and procured his gun, and 1t took
all the efforts of his sisters strength 10
keep him from shooting
After this hazardous trip number Of
Donaldsous friends had medal pre-
pared to present to him, As light testi-
monial of their admiration of his intrep
ditv a. An aeronaut. andio their regard Tor
him as "a man. The medal was of the
size of silver half dollar, made Of solid
god eighteen carats fine. 1t was OF
circular shape, with four IT angular, pro-
iectiug points, on each of which was
depicted rising sun. On the diverse
side. upon groundwork Of chased gold
wa, representation of baIloon-the
nettiu, blue enamried, and every cord
distinctly visible. Near the top OF the
balloon The word Comet WAS engraE ed.
70 tho right of the balloon and near its
mouth Was the picture OF comet.
Hanging 20 the trapeZe bar, head down
ward. WAS representation of the aero
naut in his thrilling drop act EncIr-
cling the whole WAS u blue ensmcled
rim. On the rcverScside WAS the follow
iug inscription:
"Presentcd to
WASHINGTON II. DONALDSON
"By the Citizens of Norfolk, Virginia,
A. a Testimonial for his Daring Balloon
Ascension upon q Single Trapeze,
January 10 1872.
The medal depends from ribbon by u
loop of wrought gold. We can say for
n" noble Donaldson that he cherished
tni, souvenir @. his visit to Norfolk As
one of the dearest possessions he had on
Garth. and never alluded to It without
conscious pride
SMITH AsCENSIoN-THE BALLOON HURST
WHEN ONE MILE HIGH.
In describing the thrilling and blood
rurI.lug event that occurred in AN ascen-
,ion made from Norfolk Va, on the 18th
day Of January, 1872, We will simply
quot" Donaldson own words.
Vt 40 the balloon being full, the
acronaut stepped forward and grasped
the traprze bar, gave his order 10 cast
loose the ropes, when the balloon went up
and of very rapidly: The balloon AS
cerdrd with calm, steady motion.
When about three hundred feet high |
went through with my performances.
After being IN the air about fifteen min
ut,- | thought il time to dccrnd, and
pulled the valve rope TO allow the sas TO
escape. The valve did not open aud |
pulled again; II still remained closed; |
lad no time 10 lose, the ocean WAS near.
| pulled with both hands; again failure.
then gave strong, steady jerk. There
WAS a sharp, Kissing sound, rs if made by
the tearing Of cloth, followed by n rush
inc noise; then knew that the balloon
mad burst. The balloon did not collapse,
being prevented from doing so by the
ru.n Of air from beneath, but closed
No at the sides; the balloon swaying from
..d. To- side descended with frlghttul We
lucity. chung with all my strength /"
the hoop; could not tell how bad | was
frightened, but felt rs though my hair
had all been drawn out | scarcely had
time to realize that was alive-l was
so frightcacd, but with crash, tearing
and crushing, | was projected with the
velocity OF catapult into bur chestnut
tree. The netting and rigging, catching
in the tree, checked my velocity, and |
had NV grasp ierked loose, and was pre-
cpi,atcd through the limbs, and landed
.lt. ON my back, with my tights nearly
torn oh, and my legs, arms and body lac
Grated AID bleeding.
After his fall he soon rallied, and was
himself again, and proceeded TO immcdl-