Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-09
WILD RIDE IN BALLOON
Thrilling Trip of Philadelphia
 Aeronauts In a Hurricane.
BREATHED EASILY AT l4,o00 FEET

before hurricane, a, journey in which they braved death for more than six hours, but were rewarded by gaining that will be of great bene- fit to scientists, says the New York Times. These men are Dr. Samuel J. Ottinger and Arthur T. Atherholt, members of the Philadelphia Aero club. Their Journey was made in the balloon Initial, owned by Alfred N. Chandler, as one of series that Dr. Ottinger and Dr. T. Chalmers Fulton are making.
 They reached an altitude of 14,000 feet at one time, and several times in their Journey they came near to the earth in bad places. As they clutched the ends of the basket car they heard the tapping of water beneath. At such times they hurled bags of ballast over board. Once the life pres fers were thrown over to save the car from sinking.
 The scientific facts gathered will not be told until they are printed in a scientific journal by Dr. Ottinger,, but at the home of Dr. Ottinger in Phila- 1elphia an account of the Journey was given by the voyagers.
 The balloon was released from its moorings at the yard of the Point Breeze gas works at 1920 o'clock in the afternoon. It scared up and was soon in the clouds, and the rain was beating on them as the big car swung around the currents of wind. There was a very high wind blowing from the southward, and the men saw by their compass that the balloon was heading straight for New York. At a height of 1,5o0 feet they passed over the schuylkill. Laurel Hill was directly beneath. At Doylestown the balloon was 2,0OO feet above the earth and soon mounted another 1000 feet. The car was riding evenly when the Blue mountains were crossed and the bal loon swung over Wayne county. Bag after bag of ballast had to be thrown out in order to cross the mountain Even when the car was frightened there was not much margin. as the drag rope hit the tops of trees on the topmost spur.
 The dragging of their rope was the only thing that told them they were so close to the mountain, as they were travelling in dense clouds. Mount Pc cohonto was reached at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon. Here another very high wind. was encountered. A sudden burst of thunder and lightning warned the men of it. A cloud of denser black ness than the rest lay directly before them, and from It's center at frequent intervals the lightning came. There was no change of course possible. The balloon swept into the storm cen ter and was soon through without mis- hap.
 "We had no perception of moving, although we knew that the wind was blowing with hurricane force" said Dr. ottinger.
 After this the Initial was lowered to 800 feet, which brought it to the bottom of the rain clouds. The New York line was reached at 3:45 o'clock. There the balloon lowered a moment and then was driven ofY Its course by a conflicting wind. It sailed over New Jersey and followed the Delaware riv CT to point above Port Jervis. Many times it crossed and reerossed the riv' CT. which looked like a silvery ribbon in the distance. The balloon went higher, and southeast across Susse1 county the men were carried.
 pr. Ottinger decided that 1t might bt
 a good thing to find out just whert they were. so he opened a valve and Ie
 the gas escape. They got their bear ipgs. and more ballast was thrown ovel
 the side. The car mounted to 2.5O( feet, hung there a moment, then shot
 upward like a rocket. The wind whis
 tied as the Initial mounted higher ana
 higher. Through the rain clouds they
 shot until the balloon emerged above | the top of all the clouds. The sun wal
 shining there. It was the first tint the balloonists had seen the sun sinc' they started. Their instruments tolt
 them that they were 14.0O0 feet aboy'
 the earth.
 we felt no difficulty In breathing
 even at that altitude" said pr. Ottin
 ger. with our instruments we tool readings of the heart action and res piration. These will be made knowI
 later."
 The balloon lowered above the cloud
 for several minutes. then slowly de
 scended again through the thick clouds | 1t was 6 o'clock in the afternoon whei
 the balloonists were startled by tn
 sound of waves. Peering over the side
 they saw Green pond. near Paterson N. T.. beneath them. The balloon wa
 stili falling. Hurriedly the last of th
 ballast was thrown away. The bal
 loon did not rise. Then the life pre-
 servers were thrown over the side
 Slowly the big bag began to mount 1
 sudden gust of wind drove it onwar'
 and upward. and the pond was cleared
 The drag rope began again to scrap
 among the treetops. The ballOonist
 realized thst 1t was time to slight- an
 the anchor was dropped over an
 caught in a treetop. The Initial val
 bled an instant and gradually settled [ the ground The journey of 2s3 mile 4 Tho fs-ns m making if VII tust 3s5 ninutes.
 er.phcpheses ss ssu1 ssvers-
 Grsphophones will be used oy u
 Salvation Army in Cleveland. O. fe