."

Intending no long journey, Donaldson climbed from the trapeze into the
concentrating ring, where he seized the cord operating the safety valve
and sought to open the valve. But the valve stuck and did not open
readily, thus when Donaldson gave a more violent tug at the cord in his
effort to open the valve, a great rent was torn in the top of the gas
bag, through which the gas poured, causing the balloon to fall with
appalling rapidity. Long afterwards Donaldson said that this was the
first time in his life that he had ever felt actually afraid. Luckily
he dropped into the top of a large tree, which broke his fall
sufficiently to enable him to land without any serious injury.

Donaldson's sincerity and downright joy in his work, and the poetic
temperament, which in him was always struggling for utterance, are
pointed out by a chronicler in the words added by him to the
description Donaldson gave of his trip after his return to Norfolk in
1872:

"The people of Norfolk cannot form the remotest conception of the grand
appearance of Norfolk from a balloon. The city looks almost surrounded
by water, and the various tributaries to the Elizabeth River appear
magnificently beautiful, looking like streams of silver. Floating over
a field of foliage, the trees appear all blended together like blades
of grass."

The chronicler adds:

"Donaldson seemed to be perfectly enraptured by his subject, as was
evinced by the beaming expression of his countenance while relating his
experience. The motion of the balloon he describes as delightful,
particularly in ascent, as it appears to be perfectly motionless, and
any object within view beneath looks as if it were receding from you."

As a token of appreciation of this particular exploit, a handsome gold
medal was given to Donaldson by the citizens of Norfolk.

A later ascent from Norfolk resulted in one of the most perilous
experiences ever endured by any aeronaut, and indeed developed
conditions from which none could possibly have hoped to escape with
life except a perfectly trained and fearless aeronaut. His experience
on this trip he told as follows:

"After cutting the basket loose, the balloon shot up very rapidly. I
pulled the valve cord and the gas escaped too freely. I was then
almost at the water's edge, and going at the rate of one mile a minute.
Quick work must be done, or a watery grave. I had either to cut a hole
in the balloon or go to sea,