A Thrilling Spectacle.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 116, 30 January 1872, Page 7

A Thrilling Spectacle.

A Pennsylvania:* correspondent of the Xtw : ! York World describes how an individual I j named Donaldson—a tight-rope walker and I magician, as he styles himself—had on the previous Wednesday made a balloon ascension, with no basket attached to his balloon ; nothing whatever, in fact, but a common trapeze, j Upon this he seated himself with, the greatest I 1 1 coolness and composure, and went floating away into space, to the astonishment of the i 1 large crowd who had gathered to see him. At the height of 300 feet he commenced! balancing himself on hi 3 back on the bar of the trapeze, and going through other fear- i ' | ful evolutions, lie then deliberately slid from the bar head downwards, and catching i j i himself by the feet remained suspended for j 1 j several seconds in that awful position. The ] • appalling sight was one never to be forgotten ' by those who witnessed it. A thrill and a ! low murmur of horror passed through the '■ multitude who were looking on with intense " interest, and many hurried away from the sight, giddy and faint. The daring aeronaut, however, went through his evolutions successfully, and, regaining his seat, went soaring rapidly and steadily upward. When at 3 the height of three-quarters of a mile he had , the astounding nerve to repeat his per- . formance, which, at so great a distance, , could only be visible by the aid of glasses. ) When descending the balloon struck the roof 3 of Henry Connard's residence, when Mr - Donaldson made a skilful leap from the - trapeze, and prevented a collison. The balr loon then ascended and came down again on , the other side of the road in a field, and was ) about striking the top of a tree, when Mr - Donaldson turned a somersault on the trapeze 3 rope and prevented the bar from catching in • the tree. c ■ ..