The Washington herald., 1907-09-22
WAR BALLOON HOME
Huge Yellow Bag Returns
from Baltimore.
CHANDLER TELLS OF TRIP
Ascent Made for Benefit of Members
of Signal Corps, Who Are Studying
BaIIooning with View to Organ
izatiOn of New Branch of Service.
Classes Are to he Continued.

When the great yellow war balloon
bearing two Of Americas most courage
Gus aeronauts was loosed. from its guy
ropes at noon yesterday at Twelfth and
NJ streets southeast, and drifted far out
Of sight into Maryland, the little knot Of
spectators stood in amazement and wait
ed for ii to return. But it returned not,
although darkness came and found the
little knot Of spectators but little dimin-
ished
Three hours later a great yellow war
balloon descended like a monster bird on
vacant field about nine miles this side
of Baltimore. and another knot of spec
tators stood ia amazemeut az the in
trepid manner in which two men alighted
and allowed "a vast column Of gas 10 es-
cape Then they folded their balloon and
began to work at making il ready to be
brought back to Washington.
But Two Men In car.
The men were Capt Charles De F.
Chandler. Of the Corps Of United States
Engineers. and J. c. Mccoy. the expert
aeronaut who has been engaged as pilot
Of the balloon. Capt. Chandler IS in COM
mand OF the big air engine and has been
instructlng ten enlisted men In the meth
DDS Of handling balloons so that they
may become the forerunners Of an eff
cient balloon corps in the United States
army
Yesterday the two men gave their first
illustration in filling balloon and max
ing a flight The enlisted men first
listened TO instructions from Capt.
Chandler and then assisted in making
the balloon ready. Capt Chandler
and Mr.. Mccoy made the flight and
were soon IN the grip Of hve-
mile breeze, which carried them well out
Of sight in a short time. They ascended
70 an altitude OF 4g9 feet and at
o'clock were SO near Baltimore they
thought il best 20 descend, as the wind
ing streams about that city made descent
a tTifle dangerous.
They. returned 10 Washington last
night. and the balloon was shipped, so
as TO be ready for the next test on
Monday
Capt Chandler has been a successful
aercuaut for some years and has made
many successful ascents, once staying
in the air more than twenty hours Mr..
Mccoy is likewise a great aeron7ut and
is one OF the best-kn0wn pilots in
America.
For Pupils Benefit.
In speaking Of the trip last night. Capt
Chandler said that IL was merely a short
spin. more calculated 20 show his pupils
the art of flying than anything else. He
was much pleased with the work that
has been done thus far, and said that he
looks on this class as the 47rerunner OF
many that VIII be started. lie was nom
committal as 10 the probable course that
would be followed in manning balloons,
but said that in his opinion the army bal
loon would be Of great service in time of
warfare.
Mr.. Mccoy referred % Capt. Chandler
when asked about the future Of the wal
balloon, but In referring 90 the sport IN
general. said. i think that America VIII
remain in front as far as ballooning goes
The next race. which viii be held In St
Louis. is eagerly looked forward 10 by al
American aer0nauts and they all autici-
pate victory.
My balloon In America viii be entered
In the race. and ! am confident that she
will make a good showing"