New-York tribune., 1906-07-17
AIR TRIP ENDS I'm PERIL
BALLOON FALLS TO BAY.
Three Occupants Rescued Il fter Sac,
cessfuI Flight OUer Manhattan.

Ending a voyage through the air that began
with start full of incident Leo Stevens's bal
loon came to a rest last night on the bowsprit
of sloop off Clason's Point, after it's occupants
had been in danger Of death a score of times
They had traversed the harbor and nearly the
entire length Of Manhattan Island. In the bal
loon were Leo Stevens and Charles Levee. who
had taken James H Hare. of Golfers Weekly"
aloft to photograph the harbor and city from
above. Mr.. Hare photographer for this
periodical through the japanese War. Most OF
the plates exposed yesterday ruined by re-
peated duckings in the bay.
The poor ascensional power of the gas fur
nished by the New York and Richmond Gas
Company the cause of the trouble all
through the trip. The balloon was half inflated
on Sunday, but II was not until about p. N.
yesterday that 1t was ready TO soar. A fresh
wind from the southwest made the big bag.
which holds 10000 cubic feet of gas. bob about
like toy balloon on a string. Finally IL was
balanced and began to rise slowly.
The gas plant is at Willow and Bay streets.
Clifton, Staten Island. The balloon was inflated
on an open lot In Willow street, within few
feet of the fence AS it rose slowly it barely
cleared some telephone wires and pole. Then
it smashed into tree about thirty feet from
the ground. the bag just clearing the boughs.
The heavy basket smashed through the limbs.
itself against pole supporting some clothes
lines. The lines held for a moment. and then
snapped mass Of clothes burying the men in
the basket from sight.
The balloon suddenly released, was hurled
against a brick tenement house. the basket
striking with a crash just below the fat roof
Half dozen women looking from windows
few feet away fell back panicstricken. The bas-
ket. tilted at a dangerous angle, threatened to
to
The wind had pushed the bag over fat on the
roof. and it stuck there for fully two min
utes. thrashing and bobbing about. The pound
ing Of the basket against the house smashed
Mr.. Hare's smaller camera, valued at $780, to
matchwood
Levee and Stevens were hurting out ballast
This seemed to have little effect until veering
puff of wind Strengthened out the bag. and the
balloon slid off toward the southwest. clearing
big gas tank by a fraction of inch
From this point until Stevens's and Levee's sea
anchor was tested in Flushing Bay the trip was
exceedingly successful although it closed with
a perilous experience. The balloon crossed up
the harbor, reaching Manhattan Island exactly
over the Governors Island landing at the Bat
terry. Here a pasteboard box containing ban
ana was dropped overheard. landing on a re-
porter at the Ship News Office A boat which
had been chartered to follow the balloon if it
was driven out to sea had been left hopelessly
behind.
The balloon passed over the East Side of Man
haitian about 3 o'clock, when the streets were
thronged with thousands. All over the city
work was suspended, while everybody from the
boss to the Office boy rushed to the windows to
see the big balloon pass over. 1t kept almost
parallel with the North River until the Harlem
River was nearly reached. then, the wind swing
ing a bit more to the westward, it crossed the
river toward Flushing. 1t had stayed at an alti-
tude of about fifteen hundred feet most of the
time. Mr. Hare says he got many remarkable
pictures while over the city. conditions. with the
exception of a brief space when the sun was be-
hind the clouds, being most favorable.
When Flushing Bay was reached the sea an
chor, a conical canvas bag with mouth about
thirty inches in diameter dropped over
board. 1t checked the balloons progress most
successfully-too well. in fact AS the drag filled
it offered so great a resistance that the balloon
was pulled down into the waters of the BAY AT
College Point a Brooklyn organization was hav-
ing an outing and about two hundred persons
We're bathing rowing. Many of them. as the
balloon passed over them. tried to seize the drag
rope, but were too late.
When the balloon hit the water dozen boats
started to the rescue. but the balloon despite
the drag, moved more quickly than It's pursuers
Every score OF yards the balloon dipped down
into the water like a gull. submeTgng the bas-
ket and nearly drowning the men, Mr.. Hare's
larger and more valuable camera was lost while
he was trying to protect his plates.
After a while rowbOat seized the anchor
The man in the boat started to cut the balloon
loose from the drag. but Stevens. between duck
ings shouted out command to stop. The valve
had been thrown Open and the gas was escap-
ing from the intake pipe as the bag lay over on
Continued nfth pasa.