The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-11-15

we agreed that the eastern course
woEl be the best for us. So when the
signal was given and we cut loose, we
arose first to an altitude of 500 feet aud
found a light breeze from the south
east which carried Our balloon In a
northWestrly direction. This would
moi do at all. Either we had made a
M~iscalculation and would have to alter
other currents.
Went UP 1000 Fest.
Then we threw out some of our bad
nearly 5000 feet. We threw four bags
of sand overheard and Gun what we
had been looking fora good current
which carried or us q n0rth-noH1heast-
erly course.
And from that thine until we landed
in Asbury P..rk. We Kept the eaSterly
course. j ann afraid we miscalculated
our course q little and thought we We're
further 10 the north than axe really
were. If we had gone as We had i'm
tended TO. we would have landed furth-
er to the eastward and would haveocoN-
cred a greater distance. no doubt. But
i blame The merican charts for that.
When ] fist came to America with
the intention of entering tho balloon
races, ] lo~ ked about for air charts. but
one was to be had. The Merry best
charts I could get were issued by the
p%ostofice department in Washington.
But they do not how the postroads
nor do they locate the m%o,ntains.
In Germany our charts tell us every
highway and where the mountains
are. We have our charts on linen and
can carry them in our pockets.
charts Add Weight.
Here | had to alike With me Il big
bundle OF them which added a good
deal to the %eight We had TO carry.
We had TO unfold them, and in the
air IT WIS hard TO handle Them at
times.
When yoa are on a balloon trip YOU
sail almost exclusively by charts and
compass. You have no way by which
You can tell the speed OF You balloon
except by watching the land beneath
YOU. II your charts are good you have
no trouble in locating yourNlUsiaion.
We did the best we could. There were
times, however. when we We're in doubt
descend to lake absolutely certain. We
would call gu to people below through
a megaphone to tell us where We Mere.
IT was very unsatisfactory.
What is the name OF the nearest town?
Where are we?" We would ask.
Hello! Where are you coming from?
Say, where are YOU bound for? How do
you like it?' would be the reply.
Once we got the right answer. and that
vas Wednesday morning as We were ne2r-
ing Philadelphia. We hailed a man and
he told us just where we We're. Ale never
asked a single question about where we
came fpom or whittier We We're bound.
chatted With Some Boys.
On Tuesday evening. after crossing the
Ohio river, We descended to a safe alti-
tude and saw a number of small boys
playing i'm the fields We threw out the
guide rope and the BOYS held OF 10 it az
hard as they could. We had quite a chat
with them, and they gave us all the in
formation We wanted.
Ne threw out more sand and the balloon
shot heavenward. The boys were only toe
glad to let go the rope.
We had been OF our trip an hour and
~three-quarters when we crossed the Mis-
souri, RIVER. Fifteen minutes later we
crossed Ink Mississippi. Theu we had a
glorious sunset and soon thereafter night
set in. We had a beautiful full moon.
Everything was, working like clockwork.
The barometer and compass worked to
perfection. Th breeze had Increased
t10meWhat and We were travelling at near
ly thirty miles an hour. 1t WAS about :
o'clock in the morning when we crossed
the Wabash.
What was the sensation? Wei. II is 90
soothinE. SO pleasing. 80 heavenly that ]
cannot imagine anything nicer in the
world. You are way from the earth and
away from all cares and sorroWs. You
don't have to associate Will people you
Cont care 10 meet. You have chosen your
own travelling companion.
Ones Position Very Lofty.
l may cay that YOU can look down upon