Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-12
D0naldson's Death.
Vivid Version Of ths Daring Shy-Scrap-
 eE's Last Voyage.

Vivid Version Of ths Daring Shy-Scrap- er'ss Last Voyage.
 (From tue Philads lphia PrsSs.I During 8 late spiritualistic seance at Read ing, Pa curious story was told by the medium, which is of great interest to the public, inasmuch ss it professes to be a cor rsct account of the manner in which Profes sor Donaldson, the mronaut, lost lis life. Eleven people had assembled in the parlor and formed circle about the medium, who was delicate girl, sixteen years of age. She sat upon hassock, and it was at least three minutes of silence before she spoke. The measured tick of the clock, the low hum of the gas the cracking of coals in the grate, the hurrying, creaking footsteps on the pave ment in the icy air of night alone broke the stiffness.
 q sse mans face coming toward me" said the young medium. ''ae has black, waVy hair, velI-rounded head, large, short neck dark complexion and black mustache. As he comes nearer to me I see that one of his eyes is dark and the other light. On one of his cheeks I see 8 black mark. It is 8 mole or birfh-mark of some kind. He looks It me as if seeking some one he cannot find This is the eleventh time I have seen his face. He seems to want me to speak to him, and appears to be in trouble because I did not speak to him before. I now speak to him and his eyes light up and sparkle with delight. He smiles and says: I glad you spoke to me. Do you know me? My name is Donaldson. I was called Professor Donaldson Here the circle of friends were astounded and became doubly interest ed 'TeIl your father and those people near that want to clear up the mystery of my strange death.
 Every body who remembers will re- member that never was heard from after I went up in the balloon at Chicago. That was my last ascension. Our balloon was caught in & terrible windHstorm in the upper current. It blew our baioon-basket to pieces. My friend was blown out of the basket car, leaving me up in the rigging sit ting on ths hoop of the balloon. I ga everything below me blown to shreds. Then the gas chamber of the balloon made fear full plunge and careened to one side, and threw nae and the hoop upward, and for a few moments I was sailing through the air on top of the balloon. That was the strangest ride ever indulged in by mortal man. The few minutes seemed like an age I had the presence of mind to grasp hold of the net ting, so that it would not slip down and r5- lease the gas chamber. Then the gas began to escape from the mouth of tho balloon, and it would have suffocated me had not the storm hurled us through the air at terrible pace I was far above the clouds, but how far could not tell. 1 tried all l could to have the balloon right itself. I got way down on the side of the balloon and pulled st Ihe hoop and rigging, but it would not come.'
 Then went back and tied myself to the end Of strong rope around the body and fastened 1t to the iron hoop, so that if should be blown of I would not drop to the earth. Then l crawled out on the side of the balloon again further than before. Just SIS had fnished this the balloon gave anoth- CT awful plunge, and I was thrown off into space, but held by the rope. The bal loon then lighted, and 1 was dangling In mid-air nearly out Of breath. because of the sudden Jerk and the rope tightening around nay body, severely cut me How long hung that way I conid not tell, because 1 vas nearly dead with terror, exhaustion and cold. The air extremely light and could scarcely breathe. 1 then eraWled up hand over hand and when nearly dead and just as had reached the iron hoop again, suddenly the gss-chamber split with loud noise from top to bottom. God help me, thougkt, be- cause this was the most perilous position or my life. Then one-half the balloon was blown into the other, and quicker than can tell you the two halves now wedgad together, bulged up and out in the hurricane and formed 8 parachute, OF sort of ah umbrella, leaving me swinging below.
 s' I realized for a moment that God had answered my prayer. Then the truth flashed upon me that WAS going down so last that it nearly took my breath I was too heavy for the parachute Then saw that the can- vas had split again. and suddenly another frightful sweep of the storm tore my para chute into tatters, and was hurled head long down through the clouds. I closed my eyes, prayed and died going down, thinking of loved ones at home. My poor body fell into . wild, lonely and bleak swamp, ten miles north of the northern shores of Lake Superior, where it was slowly severed, sepa. rated and scattered by the ebb ard flow of original esrth.'
 Now" continued the medium. ''the face vanishes with smiles. He must have been good man earth. see that he never drank or swore, but led. an exemplary life He was brave, warm hearted and generous.
 The lecture at the Stsrrs school, Mansfield, by Dr. George Austin, of WoodstocIwas one of great inter- est to all heard it. Dr. Bowen gave great deal of good advice which will be of importance to the