Year: 1872

/


/ Young Donaldson, the daring aero
naut, who made u balloon ascension
| at Reading, Pa, on the 3Oth of August
| last, and performed 4 series of trapezc
feats when II mile or more from the
earth, repeated his thrilling perform
ance in Norfolk on Monday last.
There was no basket to the balloon,
| but its place was supplied by II trapeze
similar to those used by circus perform


ers and above the trapeze was placed
q hoop, secured to which was suit of
heavy clothing to be used by the serial
voyager when he encountered the cold
currents. The Norfolk Journal in des-
cribing the ascension says that when
the balloon was released from its
moorings and reached a great altitude


Donaldson suddenly and apparently


with little effort threw himself into n
sitting posture on the bar, kissing his
hand to the crowd below. Suddenly,
pretending to lose his balance, he fell
backwards, sliding head downward
until he caught by his toes on the side
ropes that suspended the trapeze bar.
In this perilous position he swung to
and fro several SecOndS-a time which
seemed an age to the awc-strickcn
crown below. 1t was curious to OBJ
serve the varying emotions of the
crowd-as varying aS the dispositions
of each individual. Some We're thrilled
with admiration of tho courage of the
daring man and kept their eyes riVet


ed on him. Others Shuddering with
horror, turned away with pallid face
and beating hearts, and covered their
eyes with their hands to shut out the
dreadful sight. Faint shrieks were
heard from the ladies, and some turned
to leave the spot but true to the char
actcristic of their seX-curosity-con-
cludcd to take one more look ,and look
ing once, looked again. Throwing
himself back in his scat on the bar the
acronaut sat astride the same. Then
began series of gymnastic cvolutions
balancing himself on horseback turn
ed over and "Skinning the cat" by
the side ropes, &c. Upwards grandly
and steadily rose the balloon, clcaving
the air like Il mighty bird. At length
it looked like II mere speck in the
clouds. Opera glasses and telescopes
were brought into rcquisition, and by
their aid Donaldson could still be seen
performing his gymnastic feats. After
rising to IL tremendous height the bal
loon hung for fow moments seeming
ly suspended in mid-air, and then
sailed of in Il II southeastern direction.


When the balloon was Il mere spcck in
the distance, invisible to the naked eye
and almost through powerful tcle-
scopes, the man with nerves of steel
and the heart of lion repeated his
daring trapeze feat by hanging head
downward, suspended by his toes.
Such ii scene was never before witnessed
in Norfolk, and seldom anywhere in
the world. The description of such n
scene reads like romance, but the re-
ality far surpasses the most vivid pow
ers OF "word painting" and we dcsist
from the vain effort to depict it. When
the ;erial ship had reached an altitude
of about half IL mile, and struck the
colder current of air, the acronaut was
observed to climb up to the hoop, and
get his suit of thick clothes. Descending
to the bar he dressed himself, and their
resumed the gyInnastic display-eXer-
cising himself to keep warm. Those
who were fortunate to have telescopes
saw the balloon gradually descending.
Occasionally the aeronaut would throw
down Il bag of sand to enable the bal
loon to risc-the country probably not


being suited for Il descent. Late in the
evening it was rumored that Donald
son had descended safely near Kemps-
willie, in Princess Anne county.