Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-07-09
Roy LaytOn'S Balloon Trip

ANVy INy sOA ~ DNAAVoA
Mr. Leroy Layton, son of Mr. John
Layton. of the Snow Hill Butter Dish
and Basket Company, left Snow Hill
several months ago tn he an employee
of the Exposition. He sends the MIS-
sENGER the following interesting ac
count of his trip in = balloon over the
Exposition grounds:
had an idea that if went up in Il
balloon about all would see would be
my finish | have seen my finish sever
al times but. having been denied ii
birds eye view of this great Fair with
the exception of view from the Ferris
Wheel. u distance of only 26i feet. |
decided to go little higher. and take Il
ride in the big captive balloon. The
balloon began operations last Tuesday
afternoon. Ii is attached to a cable
1000 feet long. and when Prof. Meyer.
chief of aerostatics, had tested the bal
loon and pronounced II safe, mp we
went as we never went before. We
stepped into the basket. the brake lever
on the gasoline engine was thrown off
and zip went the balloon. The sensa
ton was terrifying. As the earth fell
away To the west, we cleared the big
fence around the air-ship enclosure and
were even with the roof of the Admins
tra,ion Building We were then just
on level with the top of the Ferris
Wheel The wonderful pike" opened
before Us. and the Fair was clasped in
its great, green frame. We were still
floating up as gently as soap bubble
floats in the air. and | heard Il voice
from below saving. hold on boys. you
are gradually drifting heavenward, but
| thought at that critical moment,
would rather be on the solid ground
than be drifting toward heaven in a
balloon. Ii was only question of II
few moments, when we We're nearing
the end. with thu wind blowing a gale.
felt a sharp tug At the rope. We were
then 1000 feet over the Fair. We could
distinctly hear the band playing Down
Went Mc(iinty" over ut the Indian
School
Some people don't realize how high
1000 feet is until they take ride III
balloon. and especially when blast of
air strikc> it. flirting the basket just II
little. just Ia remind you that YOU are
not in cave. We were just then three
times as high as the DeForest Wireless
Telegraph Tower. the tallest structure
at the Fair. At last. there was the
wonderful Fair we've been blowing
about. have seen i several times but
This was the first time had seen il all
in one look There Is the Pike and the
ryrolean Alps. which are the showest
parts of the Fir To a man III Il balloon.
All at once there was an explosion over
tn the left which was sham battle he
tween the Beers and English ut the
FL. g
we could see Cummins Wild West Show,
with the Indians riding and racing
about, and see the puffs Of smoke when
they shoot We could hear the report
of the guns distinctly, and the Pike
seemed To make an awful racket. with
its dashing scenic railway cars and
shouting voices. IL is certainly wonder
full the height the human voice will
float The main picture of the Fair was
before us. with its great buildings. all
If them yellow rooted aud looking To be
a foot high Then we could see the
plaZas, and the lagoons. The Grand
Basin was dancing and qnivcring with
water. the flags were flying. and Banda
RosSa was playing near the south east
corner of the Transportation Building.
where we spend about one third of our
tlIIit SlttIiuE. 1tt iiitt lHt
Fair was the most beautiful sight ever
saw Kites were flying all around Us
with price lists of the Fair Restaurants
attached to them. The Indian Band
struck mp again with an overture from
William Tell" and ended with 1.-The
Star of the East" which was the most
beautiful selection ever heard. floating
in the air
t. -, ,.,..,,Inwfrllx- fac m Loeb |
down on the Fair as there is just enough
thrill to make you appreciate your
opportunity, To see the Fair as few have
seen it. The great Exposition is spread
out before YOU in truly beautiful
picture. II you have overlooked the
fan shape of the main picture, you may
discover il now. If you have wondered
what the tops of the buildings are like,
now is your chance To look. There was
something doing over in the Igorrote
village. They were running around
trying to catch dog for dinner,
suppose. We We've gradually drifting
around and we stopped directly over
the bull ring amphitheater which was
burned by mob few weeks ago. Far
to the north. and beyond the city in
the distance was the great Mississippi
River which looked like small rivulet.
You can see Alton. Illinois, ~ miles
straight north on the bluff. | waved
handkerchief over the edge of the basket.
We were ready tn descend. | felt a
pull on the rope, and the big silk balloon.
with its $4,000 Gu. # Of gas. b. gan its
journey to the earth. The big build
ings began to gain height and the Inside
Inn disappeared from view. We were
going down and the ground seemed to
rush up to meet Us. 1t didn't seem to
want TO come down as il swayed to and
fro in the wind but we knew il was
secure. The basket swung over the
platform and the crew laid strong hands
upon il. The crowd rushed up aud
peered at us the in our little prison
Somebody said, they're still i'll there
and they haven't tainted. OF course we
were glad to reach the ground once
more, although the view is delightful
and the experience is splendidly inter
esting but can assure you that this is
our last trip in IA balloon. II anybody
from Snow Hill visits the Fair this
summer. don't fail to take ride in the
balloon. as am sure you will enjoy it