Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-10-15


Jeffries was a Swedenborgian, an
odd chap who acted as reporter for the
Leader, this city, but subsequently
went out West to keep hotel.
During Barnum's exhibitions here in
1874 Mr. Donaldson made many as
tensions, including one with a basket
load of schoolmarms, including Miss
Mulhatton, recently elected to a posi-
ton at the High School A number
of newspaper men took trips with the
bold aeronaut, who won all to him by
his manly, cool and gentlemanly bear
ing. Donaldson's last ascension was
his one hundred and thirty-ninth, and
was made at Chicago, July Is, 1875.
The balloon was the p Il. Barnum.
She carried $4,000 cubic feet of gas
and 800 pounds of sand. Mr.. Grim
wood of the Journal and Maitland OF
the Post were to go with Mr.. Donald
son. Maitland was at one time en-
ployed upon Pittsburgh paper.
Mr.. E. e. Wood, brother reporter,
approached Mr.. Grimwood a few mo-
ments before he entered the basket
Il only care to go this once, just fol
the experience" said Mr.. Grimwood
"The winds unfavorable, but per
haps an upper current will make that
| all right" Mr.. Wood remarked
Grimwood laughed. at won't
work." he said with shake of the
head. "They're trying to frighten the
reporters by saying that Donaldson
expects to be carried into Michigan
with the chances of being gone two OIL
three days 1t won't work"
"Well, +" replied Mr. Wood, "what's
the difference E? If you should fly
over to Michigan the trip would be al
the more interesting, and you'd have
a chance to spread in the Journal"
"That's So" said Grimwood
"Come to think of it, I'd like to lane
in Michigan. But if Pm going so fal
from home l ought to have more
money"
He borrowed ten dollar bill from
a Mr.. Adams, another reporter, saying
III guess that'll do"
Mr.. Wood then gave Grimwood
field glass to aid his observations
while in mid-air A life preserves
was thrown into the car GrimwooC
said: "If [ should see that we're
settling into the lake, I'll pull off my
boots and slap on the life preserver
Pm a good swimmer, and can stand ;
good deal"
The two reporters stepped into th'
basket. Donaldson followed. Th'
balloon was overburdened, and he sale
that only one reporter could accom-
pany him. He called for voluntee1
to remain behind. Neither reporte
moved. Maitland pulled a coppe
from his pocket and Tipped it in tn
air, and Grimwood shouted "head.
Maitland won, and Grimwood was re
luctantly crawling frem the car whel
Mr. Donaldson's agent interiered
Gentlemen" said he, "the lots mus
be cast in the usual way, under m.
direction" He wrote "lirst choice
and "second choice" on slips of paper
and shook them in police officer
hat. The hat was held aloft, and tn
officer drew the decisive slip. 1t wa
Grimwood's death warrant. He step
ped back into the basket with Donald
son, and Maitland despondentlt with
drew.
The doomed balloon sped out o
sight. A terrific storm swept owe
the lake (Michigan) and the balloo
was seen no more. On the 18th c
August the body of Grimwood wa
found on the east shore of Lake Mich
gan, near Stone Creek. The bod.
was fully identified. 1t was com
pletely clothed, except that the ha
and boots were missing and aroun