New-York tribune., 1906-07-30
Trips In BALLOONS.
Aero Club Issues List of Official
AScensiORs.

The Aero Club has issued list OF "ascensions
made by members Of the Aero Club. from the form
alton Of the club to date" The list includes the
ascension after which Paul Nocquet met his death.
which was opposed bitterly by the club; several
ascensons" which were not made, and ~ OF
those made by DR.. Julian P. Thomas which the
club refused 70 sanction No mention Is made OF
the successful ascensions OF the Wright brothers
IN their aeroplane, nor those made by Israel Lud-
low and Charles K Hamilton although all belong
to the club. OF the seventeen actual ascensions
officially recorded by the club six were made by
DR.. Thomas, Mrs Thomas twice accompanying
him Two Of the other ascensions were made for
strictly business purposes by Leo Stevens and the
bulk Of the others were made by professional
aeronauts Stevens and Levee
The first two ascensons were made from West
Point and Hilburn February II and Washing
tons Birthday, respectively, by Levee alone. On
March 10 a race from Pittsfeld. Mass, was ar
ranged between Levee and Stevens Levees bal
loon was ripped open by contact with a stake and
SteVens's balloon was blown away. when both
were half inflated. On the last day Of March
count de Ia Vaux. who had come over to
courage the sport, made a short flight from West
Point DR.. Thomas made his first flight from East
1SSth street on April with Count de la Vaulx and
Levee The following day. in spite OF every effort
OF the Aero Club. Nocquet made a successful fight
from the same place in a parachute balloon de-
vised by Louis Capazza. Of Belgium. After a sue
cessfuI landing he died a small island The
His death Is attributed either to exhaustion from
his efforts in crossing the creeks, etc. by wading
9nd swimming or TO failure Of heart action due to
or his unfortunate death.
DR.. Thomas and Mrs Thomas made an ascension
from Pittsfeld on April H. piloted by Levee Mrs
Thomas was the first woman belonging to the Aero
Club TO ascend and this caused much feeling and
talk in the club it having been announced that two
other women in the club would make the first
ascension.
Three days later Count de la vaulx with Homer
w. Hodge, president Of the club: Augustus Post
treasurer. and Alan R. Hawley. went to Pittsheld
to ascend in De Ia Vaulx's big balloon. the Cen
taure- The clubs report ascribes the cause Of the
failure Of the Aero Club officers to make the first
ascension to the strong wind. but De la VauIx was
willing to ascend If a small sum was guaranteed
10 him against the loss of his balloon. The money
was not forthcoming and the ascension was post
Poned- Mr. HaWley Mr.. Post and A. NJ. Herring
made an ascension ir the Centaure with De Ia
two hours. Mr. Hodge and De Ia Vaulx with
SSnarles Se Jerome Edwards, also made an ascension
further. sums 'O'-e nat
With Levee Alfred n Chandler and Henry s
Gratz made an ascension from Point Breeze, Phila-
3eIpnia, on May Z laqding near South Amboy.
across the city, ending the trip by hitting the
Palisades & and falling into the river. Thomas and
6eTee made successful ascension on May 2 from
45Sth street, landing at Peekskill. after having
asGended from Philadelphia in Mr.. Chambers
balloon with two newspaper men. the flight being
Sording to his reports. on sunday June g 1905
ana Le7es took took Major G MeT s aioft Il Hgas from
Franklin, Penn. in the balloon Sl1ylark. built
by Stevens. Roy Knabenshue piloted DR.. Thomas
from 1S8th street on Wednesday, July H. to Flat
bush. Stevens and Levee, five days later. made the
most sensational balloon trip Of any made by a
member Of the club, when they carried James H.
Hare, the war correspondent from Staten Island,
over the Harbor and up the East River, finally
la lding the bowsprit of small vessel The
last ascension recorded is that Of Dr. Thomas
Tuesday, July 10, KnabenShue took Dr. and
Mrs. Thomas across tbs city in a balloon. nearly
coming to grief, DR.. Thomas reported in the North
River.