The Osceola times., 1879-11-15
THE PATHFINDER.
A Partial solution Of the Mysterc-George
Durr's Body taken Charge OF by
Relatives NJ Chicago-The
Theories OF Mr.. Chas.

2 Relatives ., Chicago-The
4 Theories OF Mr.. Chas.
T.. Wise.
st, Louis Times.
The report of the finding Of the body
of George Burr, the companion OF froi'
Wise, In the lats disastrous balloon voy-
age, as detailed in yesterdays !sm's,
proves to be entirely correct; Young
burr's body was found on the beach oi
Lake Michigan, near Miller's station, on
the Lake Shore and Michigan railroad.
The station is about thirteen miles east
of Chicago.
The body had been cast up by the
waters Of the lake, and was found on
Friday morning. 1t was very much de-
composed, and was recognized only py
the clothes and jewelry which the de-
ceased wore. AZ already stated rne
cuff buttons bore the letter "B." The
collar button lad engraved on it the let
tiers 'G. B." The underwear Of the de.
ceased was marked with the initials Of
Mr.. Burr. Some doubt was felt at first
"A 10 the identification, but the reports
received from Miller's station yesterday
settle the matter beyond all question.
The body found was that OF young
Burr.
On Friday afternoon Mr.. VIM. Burr,
brother of the deceased, received a pri-
vata telegram relating TO the finding OF
the body. Friends Of the family in Chicago
were Immediately notified. and at the
REQUEST of Mr.. VIM. Burr they visited
Miiler's station. Mr. Burr has kept up
telegraphic communication with these
parties, and when called on last evening
bv the Times reporter said his informa-
tion was positive as to the body being
that of his brother. Mr.. Burr refused
10 allow the Times man the privilege OF
urnp the kilograms which lie had re-
ceiyed. but said the coroner had held an
inouest Yesterday, and the body had
been forwarded to Chicago, and was now
in the possession Of the friends OF the
family. -
Mr. Geo. B. Brand, brother-in-law Of
Mr.. Burr, left the city last evening for
Chicago, and will take charge Of the re-
mains. II has not yet been decided by
the family whether the body will be
brought 10 ST. Louis for interment, or
sent TO the old home Of the family in
Kentucky. If brought 10 st. Louis II
will arrive here on either Monday or
Tuesday morning. tr
After the finding of the body Of Burr
search was made for miles along the
lake shore in expectation of finding
traces of the balloon and body of Prof.
Wise, but without successupt 70 the latest
reports. II is quite probable that the
balloon came down in the lake, in the
vicinity of Miller's station, but it may be
that Burr was thrown from the basket
by some accident and that the balloon
oF xra,..lt aaann1A1 4,
and passed on further out into the lake
or probably passed safely over the water
and was finally wrecked in the Michigan
forests.
In the case of Donaldson and Grim
wood, the body of the latter was found,
but that of Donaldson not. II may be
that no trace of the fate of Prof. Wise
will ever be discovered, and ii no the
/ voyage of the ill-fatcd Pathfinder will
bear. in all of its details, n stricken SINH
:larity 10 that met with by Donaldson
and Grimwood.
The fate OF rhe 9ronauts was II theme
of general conversation yesterday, and
the deepest regret is felt that the voyage
should have ended so disasterous.
Those who witnessed the asccntion
from Lindell Park, September 2S, will
mol bOOIl lOIktt ttit tptihSc' WIN
,young Burr Jumped into the basket and
bade his friends merry goodbye, nor
how after the balloon had assembled up
wards above the trees he stood upright
and paily waved his hat in answer to
the cheers Of the crowd Nor will they
forget the last appearance Of the vener-
able Prof. Wise, whose gray head could
be seen above the basket by the crowd
lol ., rl ,.,asval bfa hat with
the enthusiasm of boy.
1t was unfortunate that the balloon
took course over the fair grounds. 1t
was there the frail rope was caught by q
number OF persons and held on to until
the occupants Of the balloon were forced
TO cut 1t loose or be dashed 10 pieces TO
the ground. 1t is quite likely that if the
trail rope had remained to the air ship
no accident would have resulted to the
.eronauts. BE this as it may, there can
be no question that the voyage could
have been made with greater safety by
having such an appendage. 1t would
have been Of great assistance in making
landing. n
As the balloon came down the rope
would have dragged on the earth and
checked the rate of speed II was doubt
less u RTtut Lllirtdhc oh shV l'oAs VI VIZ
eronauts not to have provided them.
selves with grappling hooks or other
means Of cffecting safe landing. After
the rope was cut loose they were entirely
without anything that could assist them
in making landing with safety. Under
these circumstances the best thing the
p yoyagers could do was TO remain up un-
til daylight, when they could see the
character Of the country they were pass
ing over and select place for descend
ing. Itis always dangerous TO make a
descent at night, and in the case OF
Wise and Burr il was made extremely so
by reason of their being unprovided
with the usual means for landing.
The finding of the body Of young
{ Burr has set at rest the intense anxiety
which has been felt regarding the fate OF
the Pathfinder.
{. A close watch will be kept along the
beach ut Miller's station for some time to
come, in the hope of finding Professor
Wise, and 1t is quite likely that the
waters will give up the Professors re-
mains within short time.
The Times has held since the discovery
of the circulars at Girard and lllipolis,
that were dropped from the Pathfinder,
that the balloon passed on and probably
came down in Lake Michigan. This
prediction has proven only too true.
A Times reporter found Mr.. Charles 4.
Wise and Charley Gontcr talking to-
Rether yesterday afternoon in the latter's
Office. Mr.. Charles 4. Wise is son OF