Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1873 — Up In a Balloon. [ARTICLE]

Up In a Balloon.

The old saying, “go up iike a rocket and come down like a stick,” was never more strikingly illustrated than in the case ot the Graphic balloon, which came to such a final apd ridiculous ending on Monday. The aeronauts rose with their provisions, with their boats, with their blinkets, with their European guide-books, with everything necessary to a long and pleasant or rough and uncomfortable voyage- across the Atlantic. The carrier pigeons were aboard, and the gushing young men who accompanied Mr. Donaldson had their note-books and pencils in hand. They soared away amid the loud cheers of the multitude, and, like sensible mariners, struck directly out for “the continent.” Donaldson was happy; Lunt and ford were feverish; the pigeons were scared. Ford wrote dispatches and dispatched the pigeons with them. The notes were hopeful, even exuberant They told of Donaldson singing “Do They Miss Me at Home,” and declaring that the “dream of his life was realized." They announced that the “easterly current" had been struck, and that everybody was happy. But about noon the balloon began to ' encounter difficulties. It rained; it blew; it knocked the big bag around as a wellswung bat would toss a ball. The monster descended; it swept over the trees and ditches, and hedges, and finally Ford and Donaldson leaped out, and fortunately gained the ground uninjured. Lunt went up again, but finally jumped from the car into the top of a tree and fell through to the ground belqw, suffering n<r injury, however, barring a few : scratches. The adventurers landed in New Canaan, Conn., and having secured the remnant of the balloon returned home by rail Thus collapses this Graphic bubble, that has in all respects proven the greatest fiasco of the day. As a fitting finale to the whole thing, we append the following verses on the subject, sent to us by some lunatic who has evidently watched the progress and culmination of the affair with much care and interest. A OBAFHIC TALK. Mr. Wise he wouldn’t go, And he thus Broke up ihe show; When up Hepped bold Donaldson accordin ; Saying: "Give me plenty gas. And I promise yon to pass, Like a streak, to the other side of Jordan. So they fnrntsbed Lunt and Ford, And the hero stepped aboard. When the thing arose as though ’twas etherialized. And says Donaldson: “My boys, Toot your horn and make a noise; Oh! the dream ot my manhood now is realized,’ And from the upper regions. By the frightened carrier pigeons, Mr. Fold he sent dp-patches light as Eden; Saying: “We have done our errant. We have struck the eastern current. And we’ll write you the particulars from Sweden.” Oh how the monster sweeps Over rivers, and over streets— And the grandest view ’twas ever seen affordin’; RL-ing upward to the moon— This bu»xiu’ blg balloonG.,ing straight to the other side of Jordan. But the' weather so seraphic Wouldn't last; and that ’ere “Grapitic” Got a blow from old Boreas, as he roar'd on; Got wind and raiu and bluster. Till the big inflated buster • Kind o' paused in its passage over Jordan. Said Donaldson to Ford, As the monster pitched and roar d: “I have left some earthly business unattended; And I think I’ll slop to see If the Graphic Company Are possessed of any gases not expended. Said the other daring fellers: “We forgot our nmberellere, . .. And we cannot go to Europe while tis ralnin ; Let us jump.” And so they did— And their legs were almost hid In the marshes of the “happy land of Canaan. I am ready here and now ‘ To put up my band and swow '* ' ’ I will not be fooled by any more Sach lingo. Let the “currents” and the breezes Blow whichever way.they pleases,: I'm fur common modes of traveling, —Octodsr 8. Minnesota farmers who sowed winterthresbed wheat have been the losers. One man, who last vear raised 32,000 bushels, 3aps but 11,000 this year, a difference hich he ascribes to the use of winterthreshed wheat as seed.