The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
SAlHS BALLOON OVER HUDSON
COUNT DE la VAULX MAKES HIS
FIRST ASCENSION HERE.

In the Air Twenty Minutes-Narrow Es-
capes at the Start-Went Up at West
Point and Sailed Over Sugar Loaf
Ha-May Go Up From Here on Monday.
Count de Ia Vaul&, the famous French
aarepaut, made an ascension in his balloon
Lddion from West Point late yesterday
afternoon. There was a fresh northerly
wind blowing at the time, and as loon as
the balloon left the ground it was carried
ina sputherly direction. and finally, ascend
ing about $500 feet In the air, crossed the
river and headed toward Westohester
county.
Count de la vaulx arrived here a week
ago yesterday. He is vice-president OF
The Aero Club Of rance and came TO visit
the Aero Club Of America The Count
brought with him three balloons. of which
the Ludion is the smallest, and it was ar
ranged that he should make an ascension
at West Point yesterday. He sent his
balloons to West Point on Friday and went
to that place with Augustus Post, the Sec
rotary Of the Aero Club. He was the guest
of Lieut.. Frank H. Lahm, who is studying
~ballooning for the Wal Department. Lieut..
Lahm had made all arrangements to have
the balloon inflated at the gas works on the
Government reservation, and Charles Levee,
the French professional, who is in this
country. was on hand to look after details.
Members of the Aero Club had arranged
to 20 up to West Point yesterday morning
but shortly before 10 O'Clock a telephone
message was received at the club which
said that a gale was blowing at West Point,
and that the ascension was postponed.
The ticket sellers at the Grand Central
Station were notified, and they told all
who asked for West Point tickets that there
would be no ballooning, and so no members
Of the club went up from this city.
By. noon, however. the wind moderated.
and as the officers and their families, the
cadets and many others had gathered to
FEE the Frenchman make a voyage in the
air, Count de la Vaulx decided he would
make an attempt. The balloon was laid
out in the hollow back of the siege battery
and the work of initiating it began. The
wind was growing lighter all the time and
the prospects of success consequently
Improving.
The Ludion holds 1s.CC0 cubic feet of gas
and has a basket large enough for three
men. It was fully inflated by 4:3O o'clock.
Thenit was decided to carry it to the mortar
battery, from which point Levee made an
ascension a few weeks ago. Fifty soldiers
picked up the basket and the sand bags
that we're holding it TO the ground and soon
carried it to the desired place.
Then the Count and Levee climbed into
the basket. which wa decorated with
Frenol and American flags. just as the
Count gave the word to let go at 4;45 a gust
Of wi d swept down the river between
Break Neck and St,rm King mountains
and keeled the big bag over, almost up
setting thu aeronauts. Then it slowly
SCARED into the air, but another accident
caused the spectators TO hold their breaths,
The basket struck against a tree top
and De la Vaulx, who was standing up, had
to grasp the ropes to keep from being
tres but the Count ana ged to free it
and again it scared into the air. Then it
wa carried on toward the tower of the
academic building but sand was thrown
out in time to avoid this. 1t almost scraped
the tower as it went by.
A. current of wine caught the balloon
and carried it across the river. 1t went
up rapidly, but when about the middle of
the,river il began to descend. More ballast
was thrown out and then the big bag went
up in the air again and finally cleared Sugar
Loaf Mountain, which has an elevation Of
$500 feet. The balloon landed near Peeks-
kill, about eight miles from West Point,
at five minutes past 5 O'Clock. Count. de la
NdulN AZ once TtluIileu - west IOlllI, anu
late in the evening lectured to the officers
and cadets on his b%allooning experiences.
He will return to this city to-day.
.fhe Count and some New York enthu-
siasts are talking of making Il trip from the
city tomorrow If the weather is favorable,
but the wind will have to blow from the
OCEAN or no attempt will be made.
The Aero Club yesterday heard from the
Aero Club of France about the race for the
Bennett cup. for which contest two American
Iol1NnS huya haau antara AL Tho Taon will
be started on Sunday, Ssotemb5r 80, from
the 'Tutl sries Gardens in Paris. That
date has bean select I'd because there will
be n full moon then