Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1874 — SAILING SKYWARD. [ARTICLE]

SAILING SKYWARD.

A Notable Balloon Experience—Twenty Moura In Mid-Air. On the afternoon of the 26th of July, Donaldson, the aeronaut, made a grand ascension in the balloon “ Barnum” from New York, which is thus described in the New York Wwld of the 28th: At precisely quarter-past four Mr. Donaldson gave the order “ Let go all.” The ropes were loosened, and the balloon sprang upward in a straight line from the Hippodrome, gaining an altitude of 500 feet in about two minute?. I p one minute more she had reached a height of 700 feet above the'sea-level, and the metropolis was spread out before the voyagers like a picture of vast dimensions, but perfect in all its details. At twenty minutes after four the balloon was hovering above Forty second street and Seventh avenue. It.had bean rapidly rising since the start, and the Colosseum looked like a large-sized brown paper collar. An altitude of 1,800 feet had been reached at that time, and the air-ship had been going directly northwest. In four minutes more 400 feet had been gained in the ascension, and the voyagers were directly in a line with a mass of white clouds (tinted by the declining sun) which was forming in the west. Still upward and still onward to the west the balloon held its course. The bottom of the basket was as steady as the floor of a parlor, and the large globe of gas scarcely moved in the light breeze. At twentyfive minutes past four an altitude of 2,450 feet had been reached, and the airship was directly over the middle of the Hudson River. At twenty-seven minutes past four the North River had been crossed, and the balloonists found themselves hovering over Weehawken, just opposite Fiftieth street. This distance had been accomplished in exactly twelve minutes. The scene at this time was magnificent. To the north, west and south stretched the cities and villages of New Jersey.

Paterson, Hackensack, Newark, and the hundreds of villages which are clustered in inextricable confusion in the Hackensack Valley were in full view; to the east the noble city of New York. The'North River was a spiral line; the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers were smaller spiral lines stretching far away in the distance. Since the ascension was made and up to this time Donaldson had been seated upon the ring of the balloon above the basket. The balloon was 1,800 feet above the level of the sea. Donaldson now came down from the ring and stepped into the basket. He said: “ Boys, we have given the spectators their fun and now I am going to give you yours. Out with the drag-rope.” The drag-rope lay in a coil in the bottom of the basket. It was 350 feet long and fastened to the ring of the globe. Slowly it was let out. When the last coil had been let out the air-ship began slowly to settle. She settled until the end of the rope touched the ground. Still she went down, and at length about 100 feet was trailing upon the earth. Then the balloon remained stationary with the rope trailing behind. At eleven minutes after five the balloon was within 250 feet of the land. The noise of the drag-rope passing through the trees was like that of the waves in a stormy night dashing against the sides of a ship. The balloon was within speaking distance of the land, and as she passed over the voyagers exchanged salutations with the farmers and citizens who congregated from all directions to gaze upon the monster. At this point a picnic party was passed near the Erie Railroad. It was composed mostly of children, and they waved their handkerchiefs and shouted to the aerial voyagers until their voices were lost in the distance. The salutes were returned by the travelers. All this time the balloon was traveling at a great speed at about north by west. The scene below was beautiful. The balloon settled to the altitude required, and the green fields and greener forests of New Jersey were skirted within speaking distance. Donaldson stood at his post in the stern, ready at a moment’s notice to drop ballast if required. As the monster passed a neat little farm in Acquananock, a little girl Was seen running to a woman near a huge tree. The balloon was so" low that every word could be heard. The little girl shouted, “Oh, mamma, come and see this big umbrella! ’’ This exclamation was greeted by loud shouts from the exultant air-travelers. At the next bouse, which was in Bergen County, Saddle River, near Munsey, Donaldson spied a man mowing. He called down, “ Have you any milk? ” “ I guess so,” was the answer. “Take hold of that rope, then, and pull us down.” In an instant a dozen willing hands had seized the rope, and six gaping mouths were looking up at the monster. The balloon came gently to the ground. The party drank some excellent milk and departed once more on their voyage among the stars. This was at eight minutes to five. At half-past nine the balloon was directly over West Point. It was the intention of Mr. Donaldson to land here and pay his respects to. the officers; but the barracks were quiet and nobody was in view to lower the balloon. The air-ship sailed directly over the Hudson, and for an instant it was believed that the eastern shore would be made; but suddenly she took a turn up the river, and continued to follow its course, hovering over the middle until Fishkill was reached. Cold Spring ana Newberg were passed, and still the balloon hung over the river, The travelers began to resign themselves to an all-night’s trip over the Hudson, when suddenly the balloon made for the shore, which she skirted for about a mile. Then she struck a current which was traveling about north by east, and started inland toward the west. By this time the moon was shininz in all its splendor, and the peaks of The mountains were radiant with silver hues. The balloon, which had now been floating about seven hours, sped bravely on its course, leaving the river behind it, but this time Donaldson began to complain of fatigue, and stretched himself in the basket and was soon fast asleep. The “Barnum” moved on, steadily and surely. A gentle breeze wafted her swiftly over the mountains, and the voyagers took watch and watch in looking out ahead. The drag-rope trailed over the mountains and caught in the trees of the forests, jerking the balloon at times in-a lively manner, but still Donaldson slept peacefully. He had given orders to dispose of no ballast unless absolutely required, and to wake him whenever trouble was anticipated. But there was no trouble with the "Barnum.” She sailed steadily on, rising above the mountains and sinking into the valleys. The rays of the moon cast a feeble shadow upon the broad fields and the waving trees. The travelers who were not on watch stretched themselves in the bottom of the basket and slept, or pretended to sleep, until called to take their turn at the “forecastle.’’

The balloon still kept a northeasterly direction, and at midnight Wappinger’s Falls, a manufacturing village, was reached. The air-ship was then about 200 feet high and the drag trailed at least 150 feet. Over the tops of the houses that heavy rope dragged its length,awaking the inmates with a noise like thunder. Suddenly the balloon stood still*; there was a tremendous strain upon her; then she suddenly bounded forward and the sound of falling bricks was heard. The rope had become entangled with a chimney and the chimney had to give way. The reporter looked down, and Donaldson, who had been awakened, looked down too. A light suddenly appeared in a window of the house, the door opened, and then there was the report of a pistol. Whether it was the ownei*shooting at the balloon or somebody else it is hard to say. All night long the ..“Barnum” pursued her course directly northeast. At length the day broke. Then an observation was taken. The travelers found themsMyes among the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, very near the State line of New York. ' Donaldson began to look out for-a good place to land. He chose a little village in Columbia County, and called upon two men to haul the balloon down. They grasped the rope, which ran through their hands owing to the high wind. They succeeded, however, in taking a turn ' around a board fence. There was a sudden jerk of the balloon, and about twenty yards of the fence was torn away, the ropebecoming free again. The two men looked up in amazement. Then recovering themselves they shouted, “Hotel in sight; boys! Well saWyou yet I ;’' and startea on a dead run

for the rope, which was then some fifty yards ahead of them, and trailing rapidly through the grass. The humane expression was greeted by loud laughter from the occupants of the basket, who did not seem to think themselves in much danger. The balloon shot upward and went about two miles further, when the drag rope caught in a large tree. The occupants were nearly thrown out by the tremendous shock of this suddeh stoppage. The balloon was too much for the tree, however. The limb, a large one, snapped off, and away went the air-ship again, rising rapidly toward the heavens. Donaldson was anxious not to lose any gas, as he wished to continue his journey as long as possible; but after this failure he decided that the only hope of landing on this side of the Hudson was in sacrificing some of the gas, so the anchor was thrown out and the valve opened. Down came the balloon. The grappling-irons caught. There was a thump, then another, and then the huge globe swayed to and fro and the basket was stationary upon the earth. Disposing of a portion of his crew, Mr. Donaldson reascended with the rest and, after varied experiences, finally landed near Saratoga, N. Y., having traveled about 300 miles and continued in the air nearly twenty hours.