Year: 1872

Young Donaldson, the daring aeronaut.


who made a balloon ascension at Read
ING, Penn. on the 30th of August last.
and performed a series of trapeze feats


when mile or more from the earth, re-
peated his thrilling performances in Nor
folk. recently. There was no basket to
the balloon. but its place was supplied by
a tral eye similar to those used by circus
performers. and above the trapeZe was
placed hoop, secured 10 which was a
suit OF heavy clothing. to be used bv the


aerial voyager when he encountered the
colder currents. The Norfolk journal
/ in describing the ascension, saws that
when the balloon was released from its
mooringS aud reached a great altitude.
Donaldson suddenly and apparently with
| little effort threw himself into a sitting
posture on the bar. kissing his hand to the
crowd below. Suddenly, pretending to
lose his balance, he tell backwards, Slid
ing head downward, until he caught BY


his toes on the side ropes that suspended


from the trapeze bar. In this perilouS


position he swung to and fro several
seconds time which seemed an age 10
the awe->tricken crowd below 1t was
I curious to observe the varying emotions Of
the crowd varying as the dispositions
OF each individual. Some were thrilled


with admiration of the courage of the
daring man and kept their eyes rveted on
him. Others Shuddering with horror turn


ed away with pallid faces and heating
hearts and covered their ewes with their
hands to Shut out the dreadful sight. Faint
shrieks were heard from the ladies, and
some turned t. leave the spot bat true to
81 ,.l,. =, = Il
concluded To take one more look and
looking once, looked again. Throwing


himself back in his seat on the bar the
acronaut sat astride the same


Then began series of gvmnastic evolu-
tions-balancing himself on his back ;
turning over and skinning the cat. bv the
side ropes, &c. Upward grandly and
steadily rose the balloon, cleaviug the air
like a mighty bird. At length ii looked
Ike mere >peck in the clouds Opera
glasses and telescopes We're brought into
requistion, and by their aid Donaldson
could be seen still performing his gym
naStic featS. After rising to a tremendous
height the balloon hung for few mo-
ments seemingly suspended in mid air.
and then sailed off in a southeastern
direction. When the balloon was Il mere
Speck in the distance, invisible to the eve
and almost through powerful telescopes.
the man with the nerves of steel and the
heart of a lion repeated his daring trapeze
feat OF hanging head downward suspended
by the toes. Such scene was never be-
fore witnessed in Norfolk. and seldom
seen anywhere in the world


The description Of such scene reads
like a romance, but the reality far sur
passes the most vivid powers OF word
painting" and we desist from the vain
effort to depict it. When the aerial ship
had reached an altitude of about half 4
mile, and struck the colder current OF ait.
the aeronant was observed to climb up to
the hoop, and get his suit of thick clothes
Descending to the bar he dressed himself.
and then resumed the gymna,tic display
exercising himself to keep warm. Those


who Were fortunate enough to have tec-
scopes saw the balloon gradually descend
ing. Occasionally the aeronaut would
throw down a bag of sand to enable the
/ balloon TO rise-the country probably not


being suited for descent Late in tie
evening Donaldson descended safely neal
| kempsville, in Princess Anne County.