Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-03-23
GAY FLIGHT IN BALLOON.
New York Aeronauts shouted New
Year Greetings From Clouds.

New York Aeronauts shouted New
Year Greetings From Clouds
Upon the arrival in ST Louis of j.
q. Mccoy and Alan r. Hawley from
Pearl, ILL.,, Mr.. Mccoy gave the follow
ing interesting description of the trip
In the balloon Orient, made OH New
Years day, says st. Louis dispatch:
"We passed over st. Louis at an alti-
tude of about Il thousand feet. Soon
afterward we assembled above the
clouds and remained there for some
time. Half Oh hour after our start we
crossed the Missouri river. We then
assembled to an altitude of 1900 feet
and for two hours hung between upper
and lower strata of clouds. When we
finally let out some gas and descended
below the clouds we were surprised to
learn that we had crossed the Missls-
sippi river and were over Illinois, how
ering above Calhoun county. We were
near enough to the earth to make In
Quiries of a party of men who were
clearing timber. They told us that we
were then about twelve miles south OF
Pearl, the nearest railroad station. We
concluded to remain In the air half an
hour longer and drifted toward the
railroad.
Along the journey we amused our
selves by shouting Happy New Year
from the clouds. We had big mega
phone. We must have frightened some
Of the natives of Calhoun county out
Of hai 70 IF
thought the angels were flying through
the air and extending New Year greet
ings.
THE chickens all took to flight when
they saw our approach. Once we sail
ed over sheep pen low enough for
our guide rope to drag through the
flock They broke out of the pens and
fled heller SHELTER through the woods.
We saw many flocks of wild duck and
could have had great sport shooting
them If we had had guns.
1--WE did not attain higher altitude
than 1900 feet, and the coolest wealth
er we encountered was 80 degrees
above zero. We had no searchlight
or we would have remained in the bal
loon all night. 1t wonld have been
beautiful night for Il flight above the
clouds, as the moon was shining bril-
liantly. But 1t would have been dan
gerous without lights by which to ex-
anime our instruments to determine
our altitude and direction of flight
1--WE finally saw party Of men husk-
ing corn in a field and decided that it
would be q good place to descend. The
balloon came to the earth easily and
was quickly Debated. We landed on
ed us in every possible way in pack
Ing the balloon for shipment. The bal
loon was loaded into a farm wagon,
and we started for Pearl about 1870
p. m. 1t was raining hard, and the
roads were sea Of mud. 1t was after
II o'clock when we got to Pearl
During the entire trip we threw
over but three of our eleven bags OF
ballast. The gas proved to be perfect
for ballooning The test satisfies us
that we have made no mistake In Sc
lecting st. Louis as the starting point
for the balloon races next fall"
The international balloon race this
year for the Gordon Bennett trophy,
won last year In France by Lieutenant
Frank p. Lahm of the United States,
will be held at st. Louis on Saturday,
Oct 10. Assurances have already been
received by the officers Of the club that
most of the leading foreign countries
will be represented in the contest. The
formal challenge from France was re-
ceived some time ago. and entries for
the event will close on Feb. /.