Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-23
TRAVELLED LONG DISTANCE
At One Time in the Throes of a
Hurricane Which Threatened
to Sweep Ship Out to Sea.

NEW YORK, April 23.-Nearly IL, 600 feet
high among the clouds and whiring through
the air at times faster than mile a minute,
Alan r. Hawley, a wealthy stock broker Of
20 Broad street and living at % East 10th
street, with Arthur 7. Athenholt, rich
Philadelphia, made a sensational balloon
flight yesterday.
They started from Philadelphia, intending
to make quick trip to this city. They ran
into an easterly current of air which blew
with hurricane force after passing New
Brunswick, n. ]. The velocity of the wind
they estimated at eighty-five miles an hour.
They feared, If they remained among the
clouds, that they would be swept far out
over the Atlantic ocean. So they decided to
cut the journey short.
Land in Matawan Creek.
They Travelled many miles, however, be-
fore they reached the earth, and then they
landed in creek Matawan, N. j..
Both men were bumped and jostled about
severely and emerged from the creek very
wet, but extremely happy. Their only re-
gret was that records which they had made
while the balloon was flying far above the
earth at speed greater than the fastest
express train were lost in the creek.
Their flight from start to finish lasted
ninety-three minutes, more than fifteen
minutes being spent in maneuVering for a
landing. In a beeline the landing place was
sixty miles from the starting point. but it
is estimated they actually Travelled about
eighty miles, not counting straight up
shoot into the air of mile at the start and
other ascents and descents during the jour-
ney.
1t was the sixth balloon flight for Mr..
Hawley and the second for his companion.
They used an immense French balloon
named the Initial, and owned by A. NJ.
Chandler. The big bag holds $4,000 cubic
feet of gas.
Mr.. Hawley's nerves were not the least
| unstrung by the experience. He and Mr..
Atherholt, after seeing the balloon safely
packed up for shipment to this city, boarded
a train and came here. After dining heartily
they went to the Aero Club at y East 42d
street, of which Mr.. Hawley Is of the
| most enthusiastic members, and there he
described the aerial journey to his friends.
| Later he gave an account of the trip to a
reporter at his home.
The Aeronaut's Story.
Mr.. HaWley is forty-fVe years ola ana
| married. Like most amateur aeronauts, he
| is also an ardent automoblist. He said:
I'VE made the ascension at Point Breeze.
Philadelphia, at 1871 pm. The start did
not seem very favorable, as there was very
| little wind, and that was variable and
gusty, blowing five miles one minute and
! twenty the next. We had some trouble get
| ting started, the gusts of wind caused
| the balloon to sway from side to side.
There was a picket fence nearby, and
| there was some danger of our being thrown
out and spiked on the pickets.
I'VE finally got aboard and when up
| twenty feet l told the starter to cut the
| rope. We shot straight up for about a
| mile. At this height one usually expert
| ences an unpleasant buzzins in the ears,
| but yesterday for the first time l did not
| have the sensation.
| "When we had been in the air about five
| minutes we got our bearings and started off
| in northerly direction. In about forty
| five minutes We were sailing over Trenton
| and from there we drifted northeast to New