New-York tribune., 1906-05-16
BALLOON TAKES A DIP
Drops At RIVER'S EDGE.
BoHnces Like RWbber Ball against
Side of Palisades.

A trip across the Hudson River in a balloon
came near ending the career Of Leo Stevens the
aeronaut, yesterday. when the big bag struck
against the Palisades opposite YOnkers,
bounced along the cliff and finally landed on
the edge Of the river Mr. Stevens and pho
tographer escaped almost miraculously with a
few bruises but moving picture apparatus they
carried with them in the basket was smashed to
fragments and all the pictures taken on the trip
were ruined. The pictures were intended for an
attraction at Dreamland.
The balloon was filled at the Union Gas
Works, Locust avenue and 13Sth street, In The
Bronx and at 1927 p m. 1t shot up into the air.
Having Tracey A. Tisdell and his heavy moving
picture outfit with him, Mr.. Stevenseyyas not able
to take along much ballast, but the balloon rose
to height OF about 1000 feet. The wind from
the south sent the balloon in northerly direc-
ton rapidly at the start. but the speed dlnin-
ished after the balloon rose TO its greatest
height.
Thomas Of No. 172 West 72d street, was ready
TO follow it with his automobile. in company with
Mrs. Stevens, Charles Levee and two other
friends. Seeing that the balloon was heading
for the Hudson River DR.. Thomas crossed To
Broadway and then went along that thorough
fare at full speed, catching up with the balloon
about the time it reached the river.
The chase was enlivened by the efforts OF sew
eFal policemen TO stop the racing automobile.
Every few minutes patrolman would make the
attempt, but would desst on DR.. ThOmas's point
ing up at the balloon and shouting that he was
following it, AS the balloon drifted across the
river the persons in the automobile could see that
Mr.. Tisdell was working his apparatus while
Mr.. Stevens was cautiously throwing out ballast
20 keep the required altitude
Opposite Yonkers when the balloon had nearly
crossed the river. it entered a dense cloud. The
sudden cooling Of the gas in the big bag caused
it to drop rapidly. Stevens threw out all the re-
naming ballast, and then threw out several in
struments in the effort to stop the descent, but
the balloon still continued to fall.
Near the edge Of the Palisades Stevens threw
out an anchor which fell some bOwlderss but
did not hold. The descending balloon soon
struck against the side of the Palisades and
bounded along in a northerly direction while
falling toward the shore of the river. The
basket with the two men inside was whirled
about over powders and Jutting rocks. The
humping and pounding did not cease until the
two men were bruised severely and all the ap-
paratus belonging to Mr.. Tisdell had been
smashed. Finally the basket reached shallow
water at the rivers edge, but it was dragged
along nearly a thousand feet further before the
gas escaped from the bag.
Stevens and Tisdell were almost exhausted
and in danger of drowning when they were res
cued by Samuel Quinn, fisherman. who was
out on the river in a launch. DR.. Thomas and
Mr.. Levee were taken across the river In a
launch by a member of the COrinthian Yacht
Club, and they helped to pack the balloon and
take 1t Yonkers, where 1t shipped to New
York
stevens and TisdeT did not need to be sent to
a hospital, and they returned to the city with
DR.. Thomas. arriving home about p m. They
declared that they would TRY 1t again" in a few
days.