The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-13

HUGE Gas Bag Thrashes Amateurs All Over
Field at start OF Trip In Philadelphia
New Jersey Crossed to y Outh AmbOy
in High W~ind-Easy Landing Effected
PHILADELPHIA. May l2.-After a score Of
clubmen had been spilled to earth and
DR.. Robert N. Kelley had made a sensa-
tional twenty foot leap from the basket.
Alfred N. Chandler, sportsman and stock
broker, made successful his maiden trip
to-day in the Initial, the Paris balloon
which he bought from Count De La Vaulx.
He was accompanied by Charles Levee
of the Aero Club of Paris and Henry M.
Gratz OF the New York Aero Club, OF which
MIR. Chandler Is a member
The ascent wa made from the grounds
Of the United Gas Improvement Company
Athletic Association on Passyunk avenue
at 1 o'clock. The party made a successful
landing at Gooseneck Creek, near South
Amboy, having made a trip of seventy-fve
miles. The party had expected to land
at Browns Mills in the Pines. but theSouth-
west wine was too stiff for them.
Gas pipes were laid from the tanks Of the
United Gas Improvement Company to
the place selected for the initiation. M.
Charles Levee OF the Harp Aero Club and
Henry NJ. Gratz Of the New York Aero
Club were invited to ride in the basket.
Shortly after ~ o'clock the party, including
Leo Stevens, the New York air ship man;
August Post, the treasurer CT the New
York Aero Club, and Arthur. Chandler,
brother Of the a%eronaut, arrived and set to
work to release the car.
Among those who held the ropes were a
score OF olubmen. For almost an hour they
struggled with the eighty .~sandbags, and
ropes, while the wind swayed the balloon
and the car overturned first one OF the
amateurs and then another. Suddenly the
balloon started to rise, carrying the men at
it's sides up with it..
There was a shout Of surprise and warning,
but in a moment all were lost to view in a
cloud Of dust as the wind drove the basket
against the ground, rolling the. clubmen
about, tearing their clothing and scratch
ing faces apd hands.
All rose TO time and grasped the ropes
again. Then there was another mighty
gust of wind and again the olubmen were
scattered like bobs on a kite TAIL.
Look out, she's going!' shouted one.
Everybody let go and the balloon wenti
up with a jerk.
turning somersaults. 1t landed on a heap
Of sail cloth with a grunt. II was DR..
Kelley. He had been caught on the edge
Of the basket and he dropped fully twenty
feet. Beyond bruises ana torn clotnlng
there was nothing the matter with him.
In the meaptime the balloon had risen
rapidly and It was seen that NJ. Levee had
climbed into the rigging.
The bruised and dishevelled clubmen
climbed stiffly into their autos and set out
for the Bellevue-Stratford. Some Of them
we're 30 damaged that rugs had to be pressed
nto service in lieu Of trousers.
The balloon passed over the city at a
height Of 5000 feet, moving northeast
rapidly. Chandler dropped a loaded note
on the e-Stratford roof from that
height. 1t read
5000 feet and going fine
After news of the landing at South Amboy
was received, an automobile party set Of to
bring the tourists back.
at was a great trip" said Chandler.
Sine speed, fine motion, everything
smooth"
at was most successful, said Mr.. Levee.
'The South Amboy landing was easily
made