Year: 1874




followed us throughout the trip, and so
well could we distinguish objects below
that we were able at all times to discern
and point them out. AS we neared the
city limits the crowd perceptibly dimin-
ished, but we were not at any time with;
cut hundred or SO of followers.


1t was interesting to note the fall OF
light objects dropped from the balloon.
Several newspapers were opened and
thrown out, their descent varying from
a minute and half to three minutes.
They scared about very nicely, seeming
TO be in no hurry to get back to earth.
OF course they were eagerly scrambled
for by the crowd below.


To the occupants of the basket it was
1 hard to realize that the balloon was above
the clouds, and it was only after the Pro-
fess0r had pointed out its shadow appar-
emily suspended in the air some distance
beneath that we could be made to believe
it. This was most interesting spectacle
and completely absorbed our attention
for several minutes.


AS the sun dropped below the he rizon,
it seemed to be difficult matter to keen
our air-ship ahOat. Ballast was emptied
several times, when the balloon would
rise for few minutes, and again decline.
"Our trip will not be long one" said
Donaldson; "the gas is contracting rap
idly, and we will have to 60 down." And
he set about looking for suitable land
ing place. Immediately below us were q
great many trees, with which our guide
did not seem to desire nearer acquaint-
ance, so another bag of sand was poured
out upon the heads of the rabble below,
and we again shot upward, and drifted
further out. Presently the professor des-
would offer us safe anchorage, and he
said: owe will go down there" And
down we went, until the dragrope struck
the ground and was eagerly clutched by
the leaders of the crowd which had so
enthusiastically kept pace with us. By
heaving out small quantities of sand oc-
casionally, the balloon was kept about
two hundred feet above the surface, and
Donaldson gave directions to the
crowd to tow us out to road
a quarter of mile distant, for
he knew by past experience that
it would be no light task to carry the
empty balloon and its trappings over
those hills to place where it could be
loaded upon wagon. A perfect babel
of noise and confusion was kept up be-
low all the time, and it was not on easy
matter to make the crowd comprehend
exactly what was wanted, and through
their zeal to render us service they came
near landing us in the tree-tops several
times, but by a iudiciOus use of ballast
10 I'd
finally safely brought to on sloping hill
side near Avondale, on the ground of a
Mr.. Talent, six miles from our starting
point. 1t required about an hour and a
half to exhaust the gas, which was all
done through the valve, when the canvas
netting, ropes and other traps were care
fully separated, the balloon neatly
packed in its basket, loaded Oh a wagon
and started to the city.


After partaking of lunch, which one
of the party had the forethought to bring
along, the excursionists set out on foot
for Corryville, which, after a moonlight
ramble of a mile or so over the hills, they
reached, not however without many falls
and much putting and--blowing. Here
they took the Mt. Auburn street cars,
and returned to the city via the inclined
plane.


Thus ended Prof Donaldson's ninety
ninth ascension, and your reporters first.
During his experience as an aronaut,
the Professor has taken up one hundred
and fourteen passenye gers, and has never
met with an accident of serious char
acter. True, he has had many thrilling
adventures, and at times all his resources
have been called into action; but he
has always proven himself equal to the
emergency, and no one entrusted to his
care has been suffered to come to harm.
This is why ladies manifest so little diff
dence in making ascensions under his
guardianship. He is fairly in love with
his calling, and goes into the most en-
thusiastic rhapsodies on ballooning while
entertaining bis passengers among the
clouds. He has several balloons, of
carrying capacity ranging from one to
eight persons, but his ambition is to build
one that will carry thirty people, with
which he predicts that he will sail safely
across the continent, if he does not in
deed span the ocean itself. We heartily
hope he may live to see his wishes con-
sim matpd