The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-14
THE DONALDSON MYSTERY.
The PrepOsterOus story of His Pos
sIble survival Once More Revived.

The PrepOsterOus Story of His Pos
sIble survival Once More Revived.
From the Chicago Tribune.
Pictures of two men struggling in the
basket car of balloon, which have APP
peared on billboards in Chicago recently,
have recalled to the minds of the city's
older residents one of the most mysteri-
Gus tragedies of Chicagos earlier days
one which never has been rid of the haunt
ing question: WAS 1t accident or crime?
/ The death of two, or the murder of one
and the escape of the other?"
Whichever may be the case, the claim
is made that Washington II. Donaldson,
aeronaut. has been seen alive within re-
cent years. If this is true, there is ad-
ded argument in support of the theory
of crime.
However, only one of the active partici-
pants in the events that led directly to-
the cousummation of that tragedy is
known 10 survive, and his name, for OBJ
vious reasons, is not given, since by rea-
son of contradictory theories and opinions,
injustice might result to an estimable
man.
Donaldson was the most noted and dar-
ing aeronaut of his day. He had made
numerous ascensions prior to his appear
ance in Chicago, and claimed a familiarity
with the air and its currents 10 which no
other balloonst had attained. He was
also an accomplished gymnast, and as a
| tight-rope and trapeze performer had ex-
hibited great nerve and skill. In personal
appearance he was not particularly pre-
possessing, except in the matter of mus
cular development, his countenance being
dark and saturnine.
On the l4th of July. 1876 he made his
initial ascent in this city In company with
| several persons, his intention being to
make a stralghtaway trip of considerable
| length. But he alleged that the currents
were battling and changeable and the bal
loon not properly inflated, in consequence
of which he returned to the starting place.
When rebuked by his manager he replied:
'Never mind. Wait until tomorrow and
l will so far enough"
On the next day the balloon was repre-
pared, fresh gas added, and everything
made ready for long voyage; but when
the time for the ascent arrived, 1t was
| found That the buoyancy of the balloon
was seriously impaired, as Donaldson
probably correctly--alleged, by reason OF
penetration of atmospheric air to the In
terror of the balloon, and the consequent
| increased gravity of the gas therein.
The plan had been 10 have two report
ers-James Maitland and Newton S. Grim
wood-accompany him, but it was found
that the buOyancy of the balloon would
warrant the presence of but one. Accord
ingly, lots were prepared. and on Inc first
drawing Maitland drew the slip emitting
him to go. What further occurred is
given In Maitlands own words:
After 1 had drawn the first time ana
won, Grimwood claimed that he had I'M
derstood that the best two out of three
was the form of drawing to be used, and
after considerable argument 1 agreed that
a new drawing should be made. Grim
wood then drew first, and. as was after
ward admitted by the man who prepared
the dots, both slips of paper had the word
| Go written on them.
Late in the afternoon the balloon rose
and fioated away to Inc northeast, and
was gradually lost sight of by those on
shore, but just before the sun went down
it was seen by people on board small
craft some distance away, and it appear
ed as If the basket or car was trailing
along the surface of the water
THE boat was headed toward the bal
loon with the intention of affording assist
! ance to the aeronauts should II be needed
| but before Inc spot was reached the bal
| loon seemed to be lightened of some con-
! sidera bic weight, for II rose rapidly ana
| scared away again, taking a northeasterly
| course.
THE occupants of the craft on reaching
| shore reported what they had seen, and
| at the moment ] heard of it | turned to
-, who had been one of the participators
| in the arrangement which had ended in
| Grimwoods going, and said to him; Grim
wood will never come back.
/ Il felt as certain as l ever did of any
! thing in my life that he had been thrown
| overheard, although l was willing to give
| Donaldson the benefit of the supposition
| that the instinct of self preservation was
| the motive for throwing him out and thus
! Tightening the balloon Some other people
/ limited at robbery as an accompanying, IL
not a principal, factor in the case.
Il felt as If l had been delivered from a
! great danger; so strongly, indeed. that
! when I learned the deceit that had been
! practiced on me in the preparation of the
/ lots I did not feel the anger which that
| knowledge otherwise would have provok-
! ed in me.
"That was the last seen-so far as the
/ public knows-of Donaldson. Grlmwood' $
! body was found on the eastern shore of the
! lake, In such a condition as rendered il
I impossible to determine whether he had
! been the victim of robbery and violence.
/ There were bruises and cuts on his per-
/ son. but these may have been received
/ by the action of the waves in throwing the
! body against floating wreckage or against
rocks.
"But the great puzzle to me has always
been how Donaldson and the balloon both
/ so utterly vanished from mortal ken.
/ some time afterward It was claimed that
/ a portion of the balloon wreckage had
/ been discovered in the woods in the North
4 ern Peninsular of Michigan, but investiga-
| ton failed to verify the report But, so
| far as Donaldson is concerned. there never
| has been the slightest trace found of him
at least not to my knowledge.
1.-The peculiar feature of the case, to the
! minds Of some, and the one that caused
! the darkest suspicion in regard to the man
4 ner In which Grmwood lost his life, was
! the sudden buoyancy of the balloon when
/ the boat started to its assistance. From
/ that fact many have argued that there
was something in the car which Donald
son did not wish to be seen, and he sud
| denly lightened the balloon Of ballast in
! order to get away from prying eyes. 9th.