Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-03
THE EVENING STAR.
FRIDAY. October 3, 1879.
A Veteran Aeronaut Lost.
PROF. WISE BELIEVED TO have MET TIE FATE
DONALDSON


OF DONALDSON.
telegram from st. Louis, Oct. Is, says:
Pro1 John Wise made an ascension In ms large
Dalloon Pathnnder, from Lindell Park, on
sunday evening, intending to remain in the air
as long as the sustaining power OF the balloon
ned out. The ascension was made solely In
Inc interests OF science, particularly meteor
ology.. A brisk breeze was blowing when the
fastenlngs were cut loose, which carried the
balloon In northerly direction for perhaps two
miles, at an elevation Of from 200 to 800 feet
1t then turned due east and sailed away out OF
sight. Prof. Wise expected to enter what he
calls permanent eastern wind current at an
elevation OF about 1900 to 1000 feet, which
he desired to keep in If possible and
make observations; and to effect this more
surely, his ballast consisted only OF three
quarter inch rope, soc feet long, which trailed
from the balloon. When the gas Is exhausted
the balloon was to descend, and the end OF the
rope dragging on the ground was TO relieve the
balloon of part OF Its weight and hold II steady
in the current. Mr.. Geo. Burr, teller OF the st.
Louis National bank, who has made three as
tensions and takes much interest In the subject
OF air navigation accompanied Prof. Wise. No
tidings have yet been received OF the where
abouts OF Prof. Wise and his companion, and
the opinion is growing very strong that they
have met the same fate as Donaldson an
Grimwood, who assembled from Chicago two o.
three years ago. The balloon was new and ha
made only few ascenSions. The last was at
Sterling, H., on the 18th ult., when John Wise
ir. grandson Of Prof. Wise, reached an alti-
tude of over three miles and made voyage O.
Is miles. Pref. Wise Is Il years Of age, and
ballooning with him has been a life study. He
has made i62 successful voyages.
Later dispatches say: 1t was the intention
OF Prof. Wise to stay up only a few hours At
81 in the afternoon the balloon passed over
Alton, twelve or fifteen miles northe tst OF st
Louis. sailing rapidly eastward and toward
threatening clouds. in which it soon disap-
Ieared on Monday morning report came TO
the Globe De mocrat Office that a landing had
been made in thick forest near Fort Wayne
Ind, but at 1l:14 pm. Of Monday the balloon
was reported as passing over point twenty
of Lake Michigan, and still drifting rapidly to
the northward. ON receipt OF this news the
most gloomy conjectuneS were made concern
ing the fate of the aeronautS, and the death OF
four years ago was recalled. Downey, the Pro-
lessons nephew, became very anxious.
THE PRISON LABOR QUESTION: committee
OF five appointed by Governor Mcclellan, OF
New Jersey, under joint resolution of the
subject of prison labor aud its relation to other
labor, met in Newport Wednesday. twas de-
cideG to have more extended conference at
New Haven on October 9, when New York,
New jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts,
will be represented. Governor Mcclellan has
appointed DR.. sanford b. Hunt, an editor OF
Newark, to fill the vacancy In the commission
to inquire into convictS' labor caused by the
resignation OF Speaker Jackson. The commits
sion is now hard at work gathering information
next Legislature. The principal question Is
shall shoemaking be aboli he'd in the state
prison? The ShoemakerS and matters OF New
ark and other cities agitated the subject SO
much last winter that the legislature deemed it
expedient to have the commission appointed.
ANOTHER COAL CoMBINATIoN.-Th officers Of
all the coal companies except the Lehigh Valley
and Pennsylvania Railroad Companies signed
an agreement yesterday to regulate the coal
trade. The agreement provides for the reStrlc-
ton of the production to the demand A two
third vote Is necessary to determine the time
that mining shall be suspended aDG the amount
to which tonnage shall be reduced. The decrease
In the outputs to be divided between the COM
pan,es according to their business from october
! to the time or restriction. Each company is
permitted to sell the coal In any manner 1t
pleases, and to make It's own prices except that
to advance prices the unanimous consent or
the companies is required. 1t Is provided also
that the agreement shall not be binding unless
IL shall have been signed by all the companies
tinue in force three and half years. The prln-
cipal feature of the compact Is the restriction
of tonnage. Any company which has accumu-
lated surplus Of coal may call meeting OF
the companies, and IL these are unwilling or
unable to take the surplus, the company may
its surplus has been exhausted. If the compa-
MES refuse this demand The company has nc
relief except to sell its coal at any price II
pleases. No penalties for violation OF agree
ment are prescribed. Prices are left to be gov
eTned by the demand, and public sales may be
made. To be effective 1t needs now the consent
of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania Rail-
| road Companies, and grave doubts Of their con-
| sent are expressed, President Gowen, of the
| Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company,
| telegraphs from New York: agreement signed
| by Hoy t, Lathrop, Sloan, Dickson and myself.
| Strong probability OF advance Of prices at
once"