The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-14
BIG BALLOON RACE,
Americans Win Garry OF HOnOrs
at st. Louis, Says HawIey.
HIS EXCITING AScENsIoNs.


fies-Swift Descent In HaiIstorn.
Alan r. Hawley, president Of the
New York Aero club, who returned to
New York recently on the White Star
liner Adriatic after a three months
stay in London and Paris, during
which he devoted himself principally
to ballooning. comes back anxious and
ready for the big international aero
cup races to be held in September at
St. Louis and is confident that the
Americans will carry of all the hon
Ors, says the New York Times.
While abroad Mr.. HawIey made
nine ascensions, three from London
and six from Paris, one of the latter
being the christening trip of the st.
Louis, the big $4,000 foot balloon
which he will pilot in the race On
this trip he was accompanied by Mr..
and Mrs. Cortlandt Bishop and Mrs.
Ogden Goelet.
Mr.. Hawley had some exciting ex-
pertences on his different ascensions,
the most interesting of which was at
Brussels when he ran into an cleo
trical display.
1T was clear night" says he, land
we had risen only a few thousand
feet when / noticed a phosphorescent
light along the neck of the bag. l
leaped over to attract the attention of
my companion, Charles Levee, and
when l touched him l was astonished
to see a similar flame shoot out from
Z - O.
fire, but it did not ocgur to me that we
were in it.
"Levee was equally puzzled. We
gazed at each other dumfounded.
and in my perplexity began to stroke
my mustache. Imagine my feelings
when sparks darted out from under
my nose like fireflies.
I'VE looked over the edge of the
basket and saw that the guide rope
was one long streak of light. Then
It began to form in a ring around the
edge of the basket We did not pass
out of it for several minutes, and we
have the distinction of being the first
balloonists who ever entered it.
The most peculiar thrill about st.
Elmo's fire is that, although it is as
bright as the brightest lightning, one
experiences no sensation whatever in
coming in contact with it. The cur
rent is absolutely negative"
In London Mr.. Hawley made an as
cension with C. S. Rowles, who is one
of the English candidates in the in
ternational race. A few days before
sailing he went up with Lord Roy
ston, who probably viii pilot another
Of the English balloons. This latter
ascension was made in Germany In q
race in which Mr.. Hawley and Lord
Royston descended in the midst of a
terrific hailstorm, but came in second,
travelling eight miles before the storm
struck them.
1T was about the most exciting ex-
perience l have had in all of my sew
enteen ascensions," said Mr. Hawley.
We were up 5000 feet when the
rain and hail broke over US out of
clear sky. We came down like one
OF our own ballast sacks when it Is
thrown overheard.
The storm lasted several minutes,
and when we landed we lay curled up
under the basket until it cleared.
Neither of us was hurt, but several
persons who had followed in automo-
biles ran up expecting to find our dead
bodies among the ropes"
Mr.. Hawley says that the quickest
descent he ever made was in the
Grand Prix race in Paris, when he
came down from a height of $500
Ieet, with the balloon almost fiat, in
less than fifteen minutes.
l was not able to hear a thing for
seven hours afterward." he said
Ihis was the longest trip he ever
made in the air, having gone up at 9
O'Clock in the evening and returned to
Inc earth at 10 the next morning. He
says that the pleasure of night ascen-
slons Is much greater in England and
on the continent than in this country.
The twilights over there are won
deFful, he said. I'VE could read our
instruments until nearly twilight and
never had what you would call dark
aess for more than four hours. l had
delightful trip up the Rhine in this
half light one night, our guide rope
trailing along in the water for miles"
Mr.. Hawley rejoiced when he learn
ed just before sailing that Lieutenant
Frank Long had recovered entirely
from his recent illness and viii be able
TO enter the big race. As winner Of the
last big international event he win be
great addition to the American team
He is now In Paris and is convalescing
satisfactorily from an attack of typhoid
fever.
Mr.. Hawley says that the New York
Aero club win do a great deal in the
fan to increase the interest and con-
hdence in baIlooning.
Il can see no reason" he said, why
pleasure parties of six or seven going
up for a couple OF hours will not be a
common thing at our interior resorts
"a another year. OF course it is not
ret safe in my mind to make ascents
bear the ocean. / was just as nervous