Year: 1875

some of the Theories Set Afioat-A Sad


Mystery.


From the Daily Graphic. July IS.


A number of very wild theories seem to
be getting into circulation in regard TO the
fate of Donaldson and GrimwoOd and the
conditions of balloon travelling. For in
stance, some persons are asserting that
the balloon was dashed to pieces in mid air
by the storm, and the aeronauts precipi-
tated into the''lake beneath them. Now a
very little consideration will show that
such an accident is impossible. People
never seem to dissociate in their minds the
idea ofa balloon sailing in the air from a
ship sailing on the ocean but nothing
can be more unlike than the two things.
A ship sails on the surface Of resisting
medium. A balloon is enveloped in a
current, the impetus of which it can no
more resist than it can resist the force of
gravitation and the 'eed at which it is
borne along makes no difference whatever
either in the way of strain upon The ma
terlals of the balloon or the condition OF
those who occupy the car. And as to its
dashing itself to pieces, what is there TO
ash against? There are no rocks, as in
tn ceean; and counteT-currents, smash
ing the balloon fiat as it were with their
opposing forces, are an impOssibility.
The air currents lie in strata, couehes, as
the French call them and between all
these various air currents there are gener-
ally pretty wide neutral zones. 1t was
one of the many curious ideas that filled
DOnaldson's mind that he could construct
a flying machine which would operate in
the neutral zones. Although he generally
held pretty strongly to the belief that
Il
was possible, yet there were occasionally
times when he seemed to think that the
best chance of making flight with an
aerial machine was in taking advantage Of
those wide spaces of perfectly calm air
which lie between all great currents.


The fact is, the only time of real safety
in balloon is when she has reached mid
air. One knows not what accidents may
attend the ascension. There is always the
danger of striking against buildings or
steeples or tall masts. And as for the de-
scent, nobody who is coming down in a
balloon can be sure of his neck or his limbs
until he is safely standing on terra fy1na.
The dragging of a balloon, in even a
moderate wind, is something that may
well try the stoutest nerves. When it
comes to a gale the operation is really
alarming; and if the anchor should snap
in the sudden jerk Of catching any object
the position of those in the car would be
well-nigh hopeless.


The only possible accident that can oc-
cur whill balloon is aioft is that of ex-
plosion. The heat of the sun striking on
the bag might cause the gas to expand so
rapidly that it could not escape quickly
enough from the neck, and hence it would
cause a rupture, which, however, might
or might not be fatal. Sala has given a
most humorous account of "Coming
Down in a Balloon" in this way. He
thought his life was ended, but the bag
flew up to the top of the net and acted as
a parachute, and he and his two COM
paniOns landed in perfect safety. This is
an accident, however, which could not
possibly occur at night, as the cold air
would condense the gas, and if rain
storm came on this would not only con-
dense the gas still more, but by soaking
the netting, cOrdage, and balloon with
water would add greatly to the weight OF
the machine, and increase the danger OF
the situation.


This was what caused the wreck of tine
DaiLv Graphie balloon in October, 1873
and this no doubt was what caused the
death of Donaldson and GrimwoOd. The
balloon, it is clear from all accounts
started from Chicago in an excellent
breeze, blowing to the northeast at the
rate of from ten to fifteen miles during the
evening. In all human probability the
balloon had actually reached the northern
border of the lake, when it was met by the
storm, which all observers agree came
from the north. What follows it is moi
difficult to conjecture-we have had it all
vividly described and pictured for us by NJ
Duruof, who, with his wife fell into tht
North Sea; only that Donaldson would
never have made the dreadful mistake thai
Duruof did in opening the valve and let
ling out gas. Donaldson had an almost
superstitions repugnance against opening
the valve, even in the ugliest looking de
scents; and it was only in the very gravesl
emergencies that he could be induced to
pull the valve rope. 1t is this very habit
of his which gives some color to the hope
that he and his companion may still be IL
existence, for whatever might be the force
of the storm we cannot see how the bal
loon could be destroyed, even though
bounding with terrific speed from wave tC
wave. Sink it could not; burst it wa;
very unlikely to do under the circum
stances. The gas was in a condensed state
exerting no extra pressure upon the Dag
and as long as the net held taut the occu
pants of the car had only to hold on tight
iy to the rigging, and were in danger OF
nothing more serious than good wetting
We think, therefore, there are still pretty
good grounds for holding on to the hope
that Donaldsona and his companion are
alive. They have probably dropped some
where into the pineries distant from tele
graphs and settlements; and as, wher
theV landed. they were suffering greatly
from exhaustion and bruises received il
their perilous voyage, they are, perhaps
now reposing under the care of some rougf
but hospitable woodmen far away from
the cares and troubles of the world.