The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-03
HOW DONALDSON DIED.
The Alleged Spirit OF the Balloonist
Describes His Last Voyage
from Chicago.

A Young Girl of Reading. Pa, has
lately developed remarkable powers as
n spiritual medium, it is said, and last
Saturday, with n circle of Spiritualists
about her, she took trip to the spirit
world. as she called it, and related
what she saw. Among the people met
there was Professor Donaldson, who
has never been heard from since he
started on that perilous balloon voyage
from the lake front, this city. The
Professor was considerable enough to
clear up the mystery, and told the
young lady all about his perilous yoy-
age and the terrible experiences accom-
panying it.
THE AERoNAUT's STORY.
The young lady's story, as given by
the Philadelphia Press is as follows:
The fact is that for the past ten
DAYS have seen the face of the same
man every day. | was in the spirit
land. call it spirit land ii is so much
prettior, think, than the clairyoyant
State; the latter is SO vulgar and com
mon, and, am told, there is so much
.humbug in it."
BY this time eleven people had as
sembled in the parlor and formed
circle about the girl. The gas was
turned down just a triile, and in very
short time the parents nodded and
pointed to their daughter, whose face
had turned slightly upward. Her eyes
closed and her hands rested together
on her lap: She sat upon a hassock,.
and it was at least three minutes OF
silence before she spoke again. The
measured tick of the clock, the low
hum of the gas, the cracking Goals in
the crate, the hurrying, creaking foot
steps on the pavement in the icy air OF
night alone broke the stiffness.
II see the same mans face coming
toward me again" said the young me-
dunn. .He has black, wavy hair, well
rounded head, large, short neck, dark
complexion, and black mustache. AS
he comes nearer to me / see that one
of his eyes is dark and the other light.
On one of his cheeks / see black
mark. 1t is mole or birthmark OF
some kind.
A SPIRIT s FRUITLESS SEARCH
'He looks at me as if seeking some
one he cannot find. This is the
eleventh time have seen his face. He
seems to want me to speak to him, and
appears to be in trouble because did
not speak to him before. | now speak
TO him and his eyes light up and
sparkle with delight. He smiles and
says;
al am glad you spoke to me. You
are The first to greet me from the world
below since left it. Why did you not
speak to me beforeP Do you not know
meP No, you do not. You were too
young when l lived in your city But
no doubt you have heard of me. My
name is Donaldson. | was called
Professor Donaldson. Here the circle
Of friends we're astonished and became
doubly interestedI Don't you remem-
Der my namep went up in balloons
in Reading and gave entertainments,
with presents to all the little children
and the grown folks too. Tell your
father and those people near you who
| am they will remember me. Also
tell them that want to clear up the
mystery of my strange death.
'Some say that / am not dead, and
will come back to my old home and
friends once more. That is not so. |
am now out of the earth and flesh and
am in the spirit world.
DONALDSON LAST ASCENSION.
Every body who remembers mo will
remember that was never heard from
after went up in the balloon at Chica-
go. That was my last ascension. Our
balloon was caught in terrible wind
storm in the upper current. | never
experienced such storm on land. 1t
blew our balloon basket to pieces. My
friend, or friends, were blown out Of
the basket car, leaving me up in the
rigging, sitting on the hoop of the bal
loon. l saw everything below me
blown into shreds. Then the gas
chamber Of the balloon made a fearful
plunge and careened TO one side, and
threw me and the hoop upward, and
for few minutes was sailing through
the air on top of the balloon. That
was the strangest ride ever INDUCED in
By mortal man. The few minutes
seemed like an age. | had the pres
ence of mind TO grasp hold of the net
ting, so that it would not slip down
and release the gas chamber. Then
the gas began to escape from the
mouth Of the balloon, and it would
have suffocated me had not the storm
hurled us through the air at a terrible
pace. was far above the clouds. but
how far l could not tell, because all
our instruments had been blown into
the lake. tried all could TO have
the balloon right itself. l got way
down on the side of the balloon and
pulled at the hoop and rigging, but il
would not come.
STRUGGLES FOR LIFE DESCRIBED.
..rhen | went back and tied myself
to the end OF strong rope around the
body, and fastened it to the iron hoop.
30 that il should be blown off would
not drop to the earth. Then erawled
out on the side Of the balloon again