davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

sailing for home saw the balloon over
the water and watched 1t collide with
and escape from the schooner. MAX
ing all sail, they drove straight to-
ward the vessel, and In doing SO, with
out realizing II they took a direct line
to where Haskell was swimming. They
gathered him in and continued on to
the schooner. where they picked Sim
mons up and continued on their way
home. They arrived in Salem just in
time for the Boston train and were at
our hotel twenty minutes ahead Of
us. l may add that they never cared
to join any aero club again.
Hundreds OF persons have shared
my aerial journeys. and one, Luther
Journal, accompanies me no less than
twenty-fiv times. Sometimes we sail
ed In parties Of six, or eight and at
other times he and went up alone
from all parts of the country. The
experiences we shared always seemed
to whet his appetite for more. He
never consciously faIsifed a single
item of the record. for he thought a
newspaper man was a fool to pit his
invention against reality. His truth
fulness captivated me and obtained
for him these many opportunities to
crafty his love for bailooning.
We sailed together on several oc-
eoSiShS AAOAA tAhVQtus An. n, WIN
various results, but one voyage was
remarkable enough to occupy q place
in the history of balloon adventures.
1t was cloudy September afternoon,
and in q fine drizzling rain we rose
and soon were lost In the clouds. The
situation within q dense cloud be-
comes very depressing. The dark.
gray mist inclosed the car like a
pail. The lower portion of the balloon
over our heads was visible, but that
WAS all. Clouds in their many phases
are nevertheless most interesting. and
this finally proved to be no excep-
tion, for at q height of something
more than q mile the dark gray van
ished into crimson glow SO nery in
its aspect that 1t made us think OF the
infiammable nature of the gas In our
balloon. This VIVID brightness dis-
PEELED all our fe6lings OF gloom
We had been drifting with the clouds
for about an hour when we determined
to descend beneath them to take an
observation. ! opened the valve and
started down Just In time to meet an
obstacle in our path--a mountain peak
projecting into the clouds. Fortunately
the drag rope was hanging out ready
for any emergency. so that by It's aid
and the judicious discharge OF ballast
the mountain was cleared. The barom-
eter indicated an elevation OF a mile
as we rose above the peak, which made
US more than ever curious AZ to what
course we were taking. second At
tempt Tn ascend thrsw us IN like man
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

f,er against the peak of another NOUN
tain, and again ballast had to be
thrown out to surmount it.
But third attempt to sight the earth
below the clouds was successful. We
saw a valley with habitations drifting
from beneath U.S. and deluding us with
the idea that we had not passed beyond
the inhabited part of the country. We
soon found, however, that our course
was northeast instead of east, as we
had believed, and that we had passed
Mount Jefferson and Mount Adams and
were now penetrating the heart of the
great wilderness. Lake Umbagog,
which recognized from former ek-
perience, lay over toward the horizon
directly in our path, but all else was
somber forest
Like Micawber. we were waiting for
something to turn up. 1t came as night
crept over the earth and found us
crossing the lake, upon one of the
islands OF which <blazed a cheerful
camp fire. It was within hearing dis
tance. but otherwise out Of reach. Our
hallooing was evidently heard for what
seemed from it's action to be a canoe
put out from the shore with lighted
brand taken from the fire and lodged
about on the water as IL searching
for some one.
The lake was soon behind US, but the
balloon had been brought down to about
trailing distance, and for miles the rope
glided over the treetops until. reach
Ing & small mountain, 1t lifted us over
the top and drew the balloon down on
the opposite side, In which sheltered
position It lay becalmed. Here was an
opportunity for deliberation, and as we
Law among the treetops we discussed
every phase OF the situation. conclud-
ing At last we could not be worse of
by foing farther, with the possibility
Of ilnprov ement. We had . bag ana a
half OF sand left out OF three at the
start which we ypurpossd soonomizinE
to the utmost.
Barely lifting the rope from tbs
trees. we rose slowly to the clouds
again. ana 70 our great surprise became
poised near their lowest level. There
was no nerceptible change In the aiti-
tude during the next six hours and nu
further expansion or loss OF gas or any
expenditure of ballast during all oi
that time. So remarkable did this seem
that my companion could not help say
ing that he believed some supernatural
power was sxerting itself in our be.
half. Faith IL good thing to havo
no matter how It tnanifests itself. and
the novelty OF the situation furnished
us with a constant theme for conversa-
ton. The rain fell in frequent show
ers all night long and a constant sound
of the pouring OF waters from the in
Vulnerable falls OF the forest below
us was = monotonous accomDaniment
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
IDEA OF PROF ROBERTSON

Ind 1t was over Sandusky at half-past
o'clock, and two hours later appeared
over FGIrport. Buffalo was reached
at noon and fifteen minutes later the
balloon hung over Niagara Falls. At
half-past IL 1t passed over Medina, in
Orleans County, New York, and there
was every prospect that it would reach
Boston or Portland. although there was
little hope of achieving the announced
purpose of the trip. which was to land
in New York. Hyde had been told that
he would have to be landed In Roch-
ester to tighten the balloon, and the
aeronauts were congratulating them
selves on the success of their exploit
when a sudden storm caught them UP
and a few minutes later they were
being swept over Lake Ontario in the
teeth of a gale and in momentary peril
of being dashed into the raging waves.
Time after time the basket was sub
merged in spray. with no ballast left
by the throwing overheard of which the
balloon could have been lightened and
sent aloft out of immediate danger.
Finally it was carried ashore near
Sacketts Harbor. But the aeronauts
had escaped one peril only to meet one
even greater With all control of the
balloon lost 1t was swept before the
gale just over the tops OF forest, with
the basket dragging through the
branches and every instant threatening
to upset the now stunned and almost
unconscious aeronauts and hurl them
to the ground. But at last the bal
loon hit squarely against a huge trunk
and collapsed. leaving the basket sus-
pended from a limb. The aeronauts
SCr mi 1o6 fxsc faw - ft,o~
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

varied only at long intervals by the
sound OF a solitary loon, which may
have been keeping us company volun-
tarily.
We were not always immersed in the
clouds. We had frequent opportuni-
ties OF peering into the inky blackness
OF the Wilderness and once the clouds
above us separated sufficiently to give
us a glimpse of the moon. At last
there came a change in the sound of
the waters. The pouring ceased and
was replaced by the booming swish and
swash OF breakers. There was no mis-
taking the indications. We were both
familiar with them and descent was i'm
perative.
Carefully I opened the valve and al
lowed some gas to escape, but the bal
loon seemed slow to heed It. The break
ers were already beneath US. Again
and again I pulled the valve cord and
at last the descent began. By this
time the sound OF the breakers was
dying away in the distance and hasty
drop was as much to be avoided as
before, but at last the drag rope touched
the water. A fog, which lay beneath
us, upon which we seemed to float, shut
out the possibility of seeing the water.
Yet we knew from the checked descent,
the slight tremble communicated
through the rope and its faint swish
over Tie WdtoIs % WSks Us vim wv
otherwise absolute silence, that we had
left the country behind Us and were
far out upon a wild waste of water,
presumably upon the Atlantic Ocean.
Asleep in the Clouds
There was but one thing to do-to
watch and wait. This we tried to do as
we leaned over the side OF the car op-
posits to the drag rope and--went to
sleep. But 1t was not for long at a
time, though 1t happened more than
once, each startled with the idea of be-
ing 80 careless
Then came 4 great surprise. A black
tine no thicker than q wire made its ap-
psarAncs directly IN front OF ua. and
each cried Look out! Look outw But
! Ne dfd not strike anything The line
crew wldsr and wider, until suddenly
tho fog slipped away from beneath Us
ana revealed = mass OF black, which
In q moment, as the drag rope took to
the trees. told w we had either run on
to an island or had drifted back to the
mainland The rope did US the same
scrvice as II had the night before. rum
Ming up the side of small mountain
and ever to sheltered position on the
other side, where we lay until daylight.
When we ascended again the next
morning we found ourselves on the
mainland and near the only road within
three hundred miles-the Mattapedia.
following the southern shore of the St
Lawrence River.
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

X the .gresc revival of interest in
America in the. science OF aero
naCtIcs. the fact has been all but
= .ost sight of that the long distance
BALBOA record was held in this country
for forty-one years until CoAnte Henri
de ia YaulN made his wonderful flight
from Paris TO Russia in 1900. In fact
America had been pre-eminent in re-
spect to. distance for more than q CEN
tury, since the balloon was discovered
by the Montgolfers in Paris in 17g3.
Almost simultaneously a balloon as
cent was made IN this country from
Philadelphia, and about the middle of
the last century interest was almost
as k6en as Il is today. Plans to cross
the Atlantic In q balloon were much
talked Of and aeronauts IN all parts OF
the country aroused great enthusiasm.
But until the present revival of in
terest, baHooning had become almost
lost art In this country-so much So
in fact that most OF the articles writ
ten en- the subject today fail entirely
70 refer to the most remarkable aerial
voysge ever taken, not excepting that
eef Conte de Ia Vsulx. II It has been
almost forgotten in this country, 1t is
not surprising that scanty mention
ehoulc De mace OF II ABROAD, but the
facts are thoroughly attested and easily
subject TO proof.
3 John Wise. for many years one of the
worlds most noted aeronauts, is the
hero OF this trip. which was made from
ST. Louis on July ]. 1859. The balloon.
after many exciting experiences, finally
landed st Adams. jefferson County, near
Ssoketts Harbor. in New York State.
having Travelled more than 500 miles in
nineteen hours Wise estimated that
the actual cistancs covered by the ball
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
By Samuel A. King
Famous as an Aerensut a Generation
Age


Famous as an Aerensut Generation
" ~HANCE more than fifty years ago
threw some balloon literature in
my way which captivated my
!: fancy and set me to longing for
balloon Of my own, just as so many
are doing now One story in particu-
lar BIZ Monck Mason of voyage from
London TO WeDburg in Germany with
Green. the famous English aeronaut.
more than any other gave the cue TO
my operations
made many nights from Boston.
Two balloons were TO ascend on one
. occasion, the first piloted by Seth Sim
mons Of Providence and the second by
myself simmons was in training. but
). limited Ia experience, and 1 wanted him
to 20. alone, particularly as the wind
was Blowing seaward. but Z. B. Has
kell. of the Boston Herald, who had
:. been up with me the year before and
thought he knew a thing or two, kept
teasing me for the vacant seat in Seth's
car.
Yielding somewhat against my bet
. ter Sudgment, ] consented at last when
Simmons promised to follow without
fail my instruction TO drop into the
landlocked bay and thus make sure OF
drifting into some OF the islands.
Contrary TO my expectations. when
they foated away the balloon kept
rising until II disappeared in the east.
J followed half an hour later with my
. large balloon and half-dozen passen-
gers, going at q gentle gait OF eight
or ten miles an hour Passing by the
islands we were making for q strip
of sandy beach connecting the main
land on our left with Point Shirley, and
as we sailed by Winthrop Head some
one hailed US and startled us with the
Attenuation that the other balloon had
Vone 70 sea- A few moments later we
fad landed on the beach, quickly emp
tied the balloon by means OF the coll
lapsing cord and hurriedly made our
way to Taft's Hotel at the Point, three
quarters of a mile away.
There we learned that the lost bal
loon had been watched from the hotel
by the aid ot glasses until IL was seen
20 alight on the water and finally drift
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

servntory, has designed an am
phibious Airship which he calls
hydrodrome. or water skinner. He is
confident that he has almost reached
success In his Investigations, and pre-
diets that his invention will prove to
have at least twice the speed of the
fastest motor boat, with all the added
excitement for the operator. :
Professor Todd's interest In aero
nautics was aroused by a visit to the
late Professor Langley fifteen years
ago, and since then he has devoted
considerable time to attempts to solve
the problem of navigating the air. A
room in the top of the old college
tower at Amherst was fitted up as a
launching observatory, and aeroplanes
Of many shapes and material were
tried
This Is the first public statement of
the results of Professor Todd's ex-
perfments made in report to the Aero
Club Of America:
From the first my faith was an
chored to the ultimate success OF some
type or other of aviator machine" says
Professor Todd. Balloons and diri-
gible cars seemed to be useful merely
as passing stages on the way to the
perfected type OF aerial engines Sub
sequent events have only served to con-
firm this opinion
What shall be the design of that
machine Is not yet fully settled. and
1t never will be settled by theorfz-
ing. Only experiment. in the labor
afcry and In the open air can ever de-
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
Drifting to Sea in a Balloon
Thrilling and Impressive Experiences of Pioneer American
Aeronaut
Aeronaut

against the side OF a vessel. where it
hung for a moment and then sailed
away out of sight.
Night was coming on and nothing
could be done but hasten back to the
city and await Developments con
veyance was obtained and heavy heart
edly we made our way back. driving
directly to the hotel There we were
met at the entrance by two of the
most lively ghosts that ever rode
through space or walked beneath the
moon. There were Simmons and Has
kell' don't know how 1 acted
foolishly, / guess--for / never was so
beside myself
But I must tell their story. Has
kel said II was all his fault. that
Simmons wanted to follow my instruc-
ton, but that he had persuaded him
to ride higher in search of q contrary
current, such as we had found the
year before; but the higher they rose
the farther they went out to sea- At
last, as they watched the steadily fad
Ing shore line, in sheer desperation
they descended to the lonely waste Of
water. No sign OF sail or help of any
kind seemed to be near, and as they
dragged over and through the waves
the end seemed drawing nigh. Has
kell. TO avoid becoming involved in any
ENHANCEMENT within the frequently
submerged car, got on the outside and
ciung to it by his hands.
Haskell's Miraculous Escape
Thus they were trailing and swinging
from wave to wave, when they sud-
denly heard voices and a small
schooner appeared broadside before
them. Somebody cried out, Look out,
therew and Haskell, struck with the
idea of a terrible collision, let go his
hold and fioated away. while Simmons
was dragged UP the vessels side to the
deck. The balloon, freed of its load,
few away and was not seen again.
Simmons was frantic over the disap-
pearance of Haskell. and got the
crew so excited that when they tried
to lower the boat IL was swamped and
one OF their own men went overheard.
Think OF this delay ana Haskell utterly
lost. The search which followed
proved fruitless. but fortunately Has
kell was q champion swimmer and did
not abandon hope.
Miles away yachtload OF Fourth OF
July pieasurs-sseksrs from sa1em
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
AN EARLY HEATED AIR
BALLOON,

Unde. the heading "City Intelli-
gence" The New York Herald OF July
had a notice OF the sailing of the
balloon. The monster balloon trip
from st. Louis to New York; the aerial
ship expected today" announced the
Herald. Yesterday afternoon was the
time appointed" the notice continued
"for. the departure from st. Louis for
this city. a distance of 1900 miles.
Mr.. La Mountain, the protector OF the
gigantic affair, reached ST. Louis on
Tuesday last and Immediately made
arrangements to take his departure
yesterday. The common council Of
that city granted the free use OF the
most prominent square to the aero
nauts, and it is supposed that every
thing was ready at the time men
toned. provided the weather was aus
picious for the infiaticn OF the balloon
Messrs. La Mountain, eager and Wise
were to be the only passengers. The
distance--1200 miles--is SO utterly in
significant. should the balloon get into
favorable current Of air. that the
voyagers may be expected at any mo-
ment Eyes up"
This gentle raillery would indicate
that in New York the project of cross
Ing the continent from st. Louis was
not taken very seriously. although the
balloon was we'll on its way east
when the Herald appeared the next
day. That was before the era OF rapid
Communication by telegraph. and the
unhurried assumption that the balloon
probably started according to sched-
ule. with no positive news to that ef-
feet from ST. Louis, is rather startling
. these days.
The Herald's Account
1t was four days later before any
detailed account OF the trip was pub
lished in New York. The Herald on
July 6. however. had full details. and
headed its account OF the voyage thus:
(By Aerial Dispatch.)
Through the Kindness OF Messrs.
eager and La Mountain.
To the New York Herald,
New York City.
st. Louis. July 1, p. m. post
marked. Adams, N. y, July -.
In an account OF the departure OF
the balloon from ST. Louis the corrs-
spondent quantity describes the ''pur-
Joining" OF a bottle OF wine intended
for wise's use on tho "trip. There was
the usual confusion attendant on the
imitation Of balloon and finally the
police cleared the field where the bag
was being filled. One man. q stranger,
proved especially hard to handle.
I'm the grand row." says the corrs-
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

! RoFEssoR DAVID TODD. di-
rector OF the Amherst College OBJ
servstory, has designed an am
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

loon was about eleven hundred miles.
but the record is given as the distance
between the points of departure and
landing I'm q straight line.
Wise had as companion on the voyage
John La Mountain, an aeronaut OF
Rochester. y. y; o. A. eager of Yer
mont and q reporter named Hyde Of
the ST. Louis Republican. eager had
made an ascent with La Mountain the
year before at Rochester and was SO
fascinated by the experience that he
agreed to supply the necessary money
If La Mountain would put in his expert
ence to construct the largest balloon
ever built. eager was strongly of the
belief held by nearly all aeronauts that
there is steady current of air high up
from west to east, regardless Of the di-
face, and it was to test this theory
that the long trip was made.
The balloon was made in Troy, y. Y,
where girls selected from the most
skillful seamstresses worked on ii for
300 days. The great sphere was $50
feet I'm circumference, with capacity
OF $1,000 cubic feet. and $3.50 yards of
China silk went into its making.
Finally all was ready for the in
1ation. Beneath a blistering sun a
crowd of $4,000 persons in st. Louis
watched the silken folds round out as
the gas poured in until the envelope
would hold no more. At 20 min
utes after o'clock on the evening of
July 1, 1859, Wise gave the word to
let &c and the great voyage was be-
gun.
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

mol A FLYING GLOBE NO 2 HEATED AIR BALDonNI7s4
NO ;. BALLOON WITH A REVERSED PARACHUTE
GEORGE. .CILEfS NAvICABLE BALLOON 1916 NO 5Asa5on5
rt3r hERtel.
1894 NO
n HE'LL 1851
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
St. Louis to Buffalo in a Night

The course was at first easterly, but
after few hours the balloon was car
ried In more northerly direction, and
at o'clock the next morning IL was
sighted six miles north of Fort Wayne,
The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
Long Distance Balloon Record
Held. in america III Years

The Account OF Wises Great Voyage From St Louis Mo-
Sacketts Harbor NJ Y. in 1859
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-05-14
Mt Zion.

Mrs. BERTHE Hathaway visited
home folks at Sycamore Sunday.
Carr Shaffer, assistant assessor,
was at Grantsville few days last
week, looking after business
matters.
Several were in attendance at
the practice of the Sycamore
brass band last Sunday evening.
The boys are dong fine consider
ing their disadvantage of having
no instructor.
Miss Leuerna Church, Of Syc-
amore, is attending a select
school at Rush run, visited home
folks Saturday.
Mollie Sturm recently purchas-
ed a fine young horse of Pat Nc
Gee.
A. Hardman, Jr. purchased a
cow of E. X. Morgan one day
last week.
Howard Walters passed throu'
this place one day last week on
a lookout for someone who had
the nerve to trade horses with
him.
A Dir. Ferrell, of Henrietta,
was visiting his sister, Mrs. Gay
Stalnaker, a few days recently.
Jesse Ward moved his saw
mill from Pine creek to Phillips
run, where he has a large set to
saw for Homer Cunningham.
Lewis Little, one of our enter
prising farmers, is making ex-
tensive preparations for q large
corn crop.
Misses Laura and lee Melon
aid, Of Sycamore, were visiting
their brother Clay, last Sunday
Amos Sturm, who recently re.
turued from Sistersville, was
here one day last week visiting
friends.
Austin Riddle returned from
Redwood last Sunday He re-
ports everything lively and lot.
of work going ON.
Clinton Shock has quite q lot
of fence building ON hand thi.
spring. Clinton is q hustler anc
we insure him success.
Briss"
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-05-14
Baptist Church.

Rev. VIM. Burns, Pastor:
breaches ON Saturday before the It'll. Sun
day of each month at , O'Clock, p. m, and
on the 4th Sunday at IL, a. IN. and 7, y: NJ.
Sunday school every Sunday At 10, a. m
and prayer meeting LIST Sunday night in
each month.
Rev. Hotter, OF Elizabeth, representing
the Presbyterian church, breaches in either
the Baptist or Methodist churche= the 2nd
Sunday morning and evening of each month
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-05-14

spring suit.
Our wallpaper line is complete.
M. E. Stump & Co.
Double and single shovel
plows, garden rakes, hoes Get
at Want & Bars.
Wallpaper, Carpets, Mattings
and Oil carpets at
M. E. Stump & Co.
Wallpaper, Carpets, Mattings
and Oil carpets at
M. E. Stump & Co.
See Craddock & Stump's line
of groceries before buying.
When in town visit Craddock
d Stump for your goods.
Canned goods Of every varie-
ty at Craddock & Stump's.
See the line of House furnish
ing at the Furniture Store.
M. h. Stump & Co.
Fruits, candies, etc, at Grad
dock & Stump's.
Lunch goods, fruit, candies.
etc, fresh and clean at Craddock
d Stump's.
See the line of House furnish
ing goods at the Furniture Store.
M, .. Stump & Co.