New-York tribune., 1906-04-03
COLORS SAVE BALLOON.
FINE ETRIP-EXCITING END
Couut de la Vaulr and Tzco Com
ponions ascend.

After q successful maiden ascent, Dr. Jullah
Thomas saved Count de la Vaulx's balloon
I'Orient from being destroyed yesterday ny
srraadinp a tiny American flag upon IT, Aftsr
q Atght of ffty-hve minutes. starting from lhe
qas nIant at 13Sth street and the East River aI
about 4:45 D. m. DR.. Thomas Count de la NauiA
and Charles Levee landed in a vacant iot Ill %
Taroes Park near the Lutheran Cemetery III
Queens. -.
The balloon was seen descending, and by the
time il touched the ground there were 'hou-
sand spectators gathered around and more were
running to the scene as fast as possible Inc
crowd. curious to see everything possible. surged
around and trod the balloon Some Volun-
teers tried to push them back This came near
precipitating a free fight. In couple or MN
utes more the balloon would have been torn and
trampled into shreds
DR.. Thomas then took tiny American flag
which he had carried in his pocket and spread
it out on the balloon appealing to the patriot
ism of the mob Rather than run the risk of
/ trampling on the flag. those nearest the balloon
pushed back until space enough was gained to
allow it to be packed in the basket.
One young fellow who volunteered TO keep
back the crowd did it with much enthusiasm
that a riot was hardly averted one man, sup
| posed to be named Ohmann. resented this
young fellows oficiousness and backed his
eye without any ceremony. DR.. Thomas sepa-
rated the combatants but they were at it a
moment later. the crowd siding with Ohlmann.
Finally the young fellow broke away. with sixty
or seventy men, In full cry. after him.
He fled across the fields the first house he
| came to. and without stopping to knock rushed
in and upstairs. He fled into the first vacant
room he and under the bed, from which
he was, hauled by the crowd. AS they were ad-
mnistering punishment the police from
the sub-statior in Middle Village arrived but
too late to capture anybody.
AS soon as the party landed Dr. Thomas's
automobile. driven by his chauffeur. arrived.
bringing Mrs Thomas, Augustus Post Leo Ste
vens and Mrs. Thomass brother, w. g. Eber-
hardt Twenty minutes later Cortlandt Field
Bishop and Mrs Newbold lie Roy Edgar arrived
! In MI Bishops machine. Count de la NauN
came back 10 the city with DR.. Thomas, NJ
Levee using the other machine.
The two parties raced back to the city. Mr.
Bishops machine leading until the bridge at
Newtown Creek reached. There Dr.
Thomas's machine broke down ending the race
His party took the back to the city. but
his chauffeur. having fixed the machine beat
Dr. Thomas home
Although the direction of the wind made the
ascension dangerous yesterday, everything else
was favorable The gas proved to be Of excel
lent quality and tho balloon was inflated in
little over an hour. 1t was LOrient. the same
used at West Point Saturday Both lpr
Thomas and Count de Ia Vaulx are heavy and
with The added weight of NJ Levee but little
ballast could be carried.
A good start obtained without any trouble
and the balloon. clearing the surrounding build
ing and tanks easily straight iii the air.
bearine out across the East River, apparently
hound Tor Rnckaway Beach. The aeronauts
waved their hands to their friends below until
their figures became indistinguishable.
\ big crowd watched the ascension from
neiahboring rooftops and the surrounding khois
Inside the Enclosure where the balloon was IN
dared we're half i dozen smart automobiles The
Aero Club was well represented although Df
! Tbomass ascension was a personal venture ana
moi a club event. Augustus Post ana Leo SteN-
ems arrived early to aid in preparing the balloon
as did also Dr. Paul Nocquet the French scuip-