The Washington times., 1906-11-21

was not originally scheduled to enter the |
race. His father. an American citizen. 4
but who is in business in Paris, long has |
been interested in balloOning. Just |
previous TO the race IL became necessary
for his father TO return 70 America, and
he was here when the victory was won. |
In his fathers absence, the daring young /
cavalry of1cer. who Is scarcely twenty
eight. swung into the balloon car and
took the cup easily.
A Volunteer Contestant.
Lieutenant Lahm had been detailed
10 attend the French cavalry school at
Saumer" said Major Jersey, at the
Raleigh Hotel. In the unexpected alb
sence OF his father. ne entered the race
TO represent the United States AS the
time for the race drew near the French
caustically remarked tnat there were no
ballOonists I'm America who had the nerve
30 enter the race 20 contest for the cup
offered by an American. The cup was
10 be contested for by not more than
three persons representing any one IA
ton. France, Germany and Italy had
their fun quota and the United States
none. So the army lieutenant strode out
or the cavalry school one day, deter /
mined To win honoTs for his country.
And. with his typical American pluck
and determination. he was successful.
1t was necessary 10 have TWO men
with each balloon. Iahm looked around
and there was not an American balloon
iSt 10 be found. In despair. ne WAS
about 10 give up. but finally, rather than
not try az all, he obtained the services
Of IeVee. young French aeronaut.
The French contingent Immediately pro
tested vigorously aga 81 this and
threatened Lsevee with expulsion from
the Aero Club n he persisted IN aiding
a competitor whom they had begun 10
fear Levee was much disturbed and
quite uncertain in regard To what action
-
this time l returned from the Arct.c 70
Paris with Mr. Wellman. and, leaning
of the army officers plight. / v1lun-
teeTed to him my services.
They were gladly accepted. I>evec
was relea sed. and We two Americans set
about TO carry the Stars and stripes far
ther than any other colors were ever
carried IN the air / had taken up bal
looming IN the spring when 1 went 10
Paris 10 prepare for our aeronautic
work In the Arctic. and had done a
good bit OF work in that line during the
month OF May Lieutenant Lahm had
been working vigorously at ballooning
for about a month. previous 10 which
time he was scarcely more than nov
Ice. Within that month he made some
thing Ike a dozen ascensions-
Adopted Scientific Methods.
He had come 20 be quite a proficient
balloonist was mostly needed for
meteorological advice and TO help 10 oper-
ate. Of course. We carefully discussed
| the matter and agreed upon our plan OF
work. ] secured copies OF the French
weather map and made a careful study
Of meteorological conditions. which
| knowledge we used TO the best possible
advantage in the race. We decided, just
/ before starting. that we would stand
a better chance for a favorable wind II
| we remained near the earth. ana this
! proved 10 be correct. as we easily out
! distanced all OF our competitors. who
went up to the higher levels.
! Neither OF US had made as many
| ascensions nor had as broad a range
! of experience in aeronautic wOrF the
men composing the various other teams.
/ but we determined TO leave nothing un-
| done on our part to obtain victory for
/ our country.
I'VE started out at night. Al HIS
we sailed up from Trouvllle, France, and
did not stop till we had reached Chi
| cester. England, where we landed. We
| had cleared the channel by $3.50 o'clock
| next morning, the distance across the
/ channel at that point being about 10
| miles-l20 miles in four hours and nfteen
minutes is considered pretty fast bal
| looming. We continued north over Eng
| land till We reached the coast on the
North Sea. we'll up toward Scotland,
! when we came down. We were In the
| air something over twenty-five hours
and the distance covered was about ~
miles Our course described gehte
average of about 800 feet up. but on the
afternoon OF the next day We attained
height OF. 10000 feet-the highest l
| have ever been above earth"
Major Hersey explained this by say
ing that the sun shOne forth very warm
during the afternoon, and the heat eX-
panded the gas. We didn't want to let
out any gas to hold down TO level, for
fear we might strike cooler temperature
and need all the gas. said he.
Sixteen in the Race.
There were sixteen balloons in the
race, ten OF which landed in France,
fearing TO attempt the channel. The
American balloon went fifty miles far
ther than any other, Won Weller. Of
Italy. being second. he having followed
a similar course.
1T was a very pleasant and interest
ing experience" said the major. land
one that I shall never forget as long as
! live. While I cannot say 1t was really
exciting. It was thrilling, in a way
Both Of US we're constantly under q
high nervous tension, our eyes all the
time on everything. II was necessary
TO pay the strictest attention to the
compass the clouds, the wind and tho
stars. in order TO know where we were.
The basket was made OF wicker mater
ial. and the dimensions were five and
one-half feet by four, and about four
feet deep. AS We dared not to have
FIRE, on account of the gas, we had TO
forego use of tobacco. as badly as we
wanted 1t after several hours at our
posts OF duty Also. we could have no
warm or freshly cooked food, and
neither would we have had time 10 cook
II. The only thing warm we had dur
ing the entire trip was tea for break
fast, IL having been prepared the after
noon before our start. and put in a
bottle tncased in another bottle, there
being vacuum between the two that
held the heat. II was almost as warm
as when freshly made. That was the
only thing that kept us up, l thirG.