The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-11
BALLOON TORN FROM MOORINGS.
Gale at PittsneId SpOlls Ascension Of the
Aero Club,


Aero Club,
%PITTsFIKLD, Mass, March lO.-Leo Stew
ens's balloon Aero Club No. l.. which was
all ready to make an ascension with
Charles Levee's French balloon L'Alouette,
broke away from her moorings at 0:1S
o'clock this evening, and when last seen
was heading toward the east and travelling
at a great speed.
The two balloons were to have zone up
together this afternoon, but a strong gale
made the conditions very unfavorable, and
80 it was decided to postpone the exhibition
until tomorrow. The balloons we're an
ohored at the Pittsfeld Gas Works, big
bags Of sand holding the two in position,
and watchmen were on hand to see that
no damage was done.
The wind had been blowing from the west
and strongly all the afternoon, and it in
creased in force after shutdown. Shortly
after 0 o'clock q strong gust tore both bal
looms away. The Aero Club got clear from
her moorings and made a fine ascension at
once and Is now somewhere between this
place and Boston and will probably be lost.
The LAlouette was blown against ar iron
stake and ripped open. This saved the
tAo p1hcoA VIM WIN AAhOb
can soon be repaired.
Stevens's balloon was a new one. 1t had
never made an ascension before and is
worth 81 100.
Levee and Stevens arrived here on Fri
day afternoon and made preparations for
the ascension at once. The two balloons
were taken to the Pittsfeld Gas Works, and
early this morning the work Of filing them
began.
After a slow and tedious filling. Of the
balloons for six hours the wind, which had
been blowing fresh all day from the west,
sprang into a fifty mile an hour gale and
swept across the balloon field, sweeping
the mastodons of fabric out Of their stations
and threatening to carry them ava de-
spite the efforts OF q hundred men who held
the guy ropes.
When fully filed it was found Impossible
to balance up the balloons-that is, to test
the ascension force of the balloons before
the fight, a most important factor-and 1t
was decided TO keep the balloons infate
dow with the sun and make an ascent early
in the evening OF by moonlight. But the
wind increased with twilight, andat7o'clook
the a~eronauts opened the valves Of their
balloons n allowed enough gas to escape
to bring the balloons down to the meridian,
when they were securely anchored.
At 10 O'clock this morning the filling Of
the balloons began simultaneously. 1t was
q long process, The gas company under
ordinary weather conditions could have
filled the balloons in three hours, but with
the strong wind beating down on the bulg-
ing punches Of cotton the gas was forced
back into the service pipes, and both force
and gas were lost. An immense crowd
gathered about the balloon field, which was
roped of and guarded by police officers.
By 8 O'Clock, the hour which had been
announced for the ascension, 5000 persons
stood around the enclosure awaiting the
liberation Of the balloons. At 4:20 o'clock
the balloons were practically filled and
ready, and a pilot balloon was sent up tor
test the direction Of the wind, This little
balloon, with a small pail Of water attached
for ballast, scudded low toward the east, half
a mile from the field, and was then forced
into a strong upper current, which carried
it high and over the Hoosac range Of noun
tains.
Meantime the ae%rostats were found
hard to a &c. While they lay on the
ground filing they were placid enough,
but as soon a. they assumed spherical
shape and the wind could find it's way
under them they bolted and tugged at the
sandbags like unbroken horses,
All the afternoon the French balloon
L'Alouette gave the greatest trouble in
holding and the Aero Club behaved SPLEEN
didly until after the feed pipe had been re-
moved, when it suddenly plunged forward,
dragging its ton Of and bal last after it and
bowling over spectators. There was a great
cry sent up as the net over the big envelope
parted in several places. Spectators threw
themselves upon the monster push ball and
IL was brought hack TO it's station,