The Washington herald., 1907-02-24
Four AerOnautS Make AScen-
sion from Washington
SAIL TWENTY MILES IN AIR
J. G. Mccoy. Allan II, HawIey, Au-
gustus Post, and Leo stevens Make
First Flight in "AmerieG,' Entered
in International Race for James
Gordon Bennett Cup Next Fall.

{ Lef0aN- she lcII washington q rev Hiih-
utes after I o'clock in the afternoon, and
+ landed three hours later near Groom.
! Nd. about twenty miles from the place
/ OF starting Those in the wicker basket
attached to the immense gas bag were
> j. c. Mccoy, the owner; Allan r. Haw-
/ ley, Augustus Post, all Of the Aero Club
of America and Leo Stevens, profess
/ sioual aerouaut
( The America is a racing balloon. and
/ holds $1,000 cubic feet Of gas. The ascen-
sion was planned to take place Friday.
but was postponed on account of I'M
/ favorable weather The conditions yes
terday were perfect. with the exception
that the wind was in the wrong direction.
aud the aeronauts expressed themselves
/ last night as being more than pleased
with the flight.
In a temperature that was below the
| freezing point, and nearly a mile from
/ the earth the quartet ate their lunch
yesterday about O'Clock. Club sand
/ witches. chocolate, and lthia water were
! served. The men amused themselves
/ during the remainder OF the afternoon
/ By watching the view below, taking notes
| of the voyage, and attending TO the bal
| loon. Mr.. Mccoy, the owner, has made
| fourteen trips in the air since last Au-
/ gust Mr.. Post and Mr.. Hawley have
/ only been up in the clouds a few times
/ Leo Stevens. the professional, has been
/ of the earth and I'D where the birds fly
/ so many times that he has forgotten the
/ number. He said last night. however,
/ that altogether his trips would run into
/ the hundreds.
Return in Auto.
/ Members of the ballOoning party re-
/ turned to Washington late last night in
an automobile. The America was sent
to New York by express. Mr.. Mccoy has
! entered the big balloon In the competition
/ for the James Gordon Bennett Cup at
I s.. Louis next fall. The Journey. as
/ measured by the distance from the start
( ing point, Fourteenth and NJ streets south
east, to Groom, was not long, but IN
actual flight the great gas bag went sew
eral times twenty miles. At intervals
during the trip the balloon remained per
fectly still for from five to ten min
uteS.
! The party might have gone much far
/ Their, but when they caught a glimpse
/ Of Chesapeake Bay. and knew that If
| they crossed. the trip back TO Washing
/ ton would be a hard one. and necessi-
/ tate considerable railway travel a land
I ing place was selected. and slowly and
gently the balloon began the descent. J.
/ +. Wilson and r. b. Seaborn. who live
/ IN the ueighboThood Of Groom, assisted
4 the balOonists ~ making the landing.
| As the aeronauts foated over the city
/ the view is said by them 10 have been
/ beautiful. Several photographs were
/ taken. The highest point reached bv
| the balloon was 300 meters, which Is
about l.009 feet short Of a mile. This
vas shortly after o'clock Only one
| fourth Of the ballast was utilized
Extensive preparations were made for
the flight, which was from the commons
/ in the southeastern part Of the city
where a main had been laid from a huge
gas tank from which the gas was forced
( into the silken bag by means of a small
/ engine. at the rate Of nearly 5000 cubic
/ feet per hour. Despite the fact that the
mercury was some degrees below the
freezing point and brisk and cutting
wind was blowing from the southeast
across the plain, a crowd Of more than
/ 1903 people gathered to see the ascension
Distinguished Spectators.
Among those who watched the inna-
ton OF the bag and then saw it shoot into
the air, were Rear Admiral Chester, Col
gate Hoyt, o. New York Cortlandt
Bishop. president of the Aero Club of
America; c. J. Lake, Prof Albert Zahn,
Representative and Mrs Herbert Par
sons, of New York. Capt De Forest
Chandler, L. S. a; the Chinese Minister,
Sir Chentung LANG Cheng. a dozen or
more officers Of the army and navy, and
as many members Of the Aero Club.
At II o'clock the big silken bag lay fiat
upon the ground covered with meshing
Of cOrdage, a few minutes later the gas
began to flow into il, and It began to
show signs of animation. 1t grew stead
| lily in size. and by o'clock it contained
5000 cubic feet Of gas. 1t required only
short time to adjust the basket and
trappings. In the car. which was padded.
were carried a statiscope, which works
automatically and records instantly
whether the balloon is ascending or de-
scending, a recording barometer, a re-
cording thermometer. provisions and slim
ulants, and a large number of bags Of
sand for ballast. Altogether the bag
carried including the passengers, equip
ments. basket, and sand about $500
pounds.
Representative Parsons Declines.
Just as the balloon was about to be cut
loose from its moorings the pennant OF
the Aero Club was attached to the basket
and flung out to the breeze. Mr.. Mccoy,
who has been licensed as an aeronaut in
France, and has made several successful
ascensions asked Representative Parsons
if he would not like to accompany the
party. Before the New York Congress
man could reply his quick-witted wife in
terieeted the remark that Mr. Parsons
had been mp in the air" quite enough of
late and that he had better remain on
terra iirma whom he had a chance Mr.
Parsons smilingly deferred 10 Mrs. Par
sons suggestion and declined the invita-
ton.
AZ 3.s5 o'clock in tho afternoon the aero
naUts landed easily in an open fe'd on
tie farm ot Thomas 3. Hardy, three miles
from Croome station on the Popes Creek
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Tho
Itinerary as given ont was as follows.
Passed first short distance to northwest
return current took balloon back over
same track TO gas plant where start was
made. Balloon then went eastward over
Anacostia River. Twining City. passed
north of Silver Ill., Md followed course
Of Washington and Marlboro Pike. passed
TWO miles north Of ForrestviIlc. Nd
Landed OF Hardy farm.
Seeking JeWelry Thief.
be ou the lookout for a white man about
forty years Of age who has made several
attempts 90 steal iewelry from the coun-