The San Francisco call., 1907-03-17

precautlon TO carry along dozen
wooden hoops about foot in diameter,
and az I emptied the first ballast bags
OF their sand ] tied . hoop In the
mouth OF each one and then attached
a cord TO the hoop. This contrivance Is
called cone anchor. and is taken as a
precaution IL there is a chance of be-
irg carried out 10 sea. BY trailing IL
IN the water the progress OF the ball
loon is retarded. thus giving a vessel
an opportunity TO overtake the balloon.
At l1:17 p. m we slipped quietly out
over the English Channel. the end OF
the guide rope just of the water. and
began the second and most interest
ing part OF our trip. Our direction on
reaching the channel would have taken
us out 70 the southwestern extremity
Of England. but again the wind veered
and we were travelling west Of north.
To describe the beauty OF the chan
mel crossing would require the pen OF
a master. with 2 full moon shining
overhead. an almost cloudless sky. the
balmy air, and. except for the gentle
breaking OF the waves beneath us net
a sound 10 disturb the perfect calm,
nothing could be more charming. moth
ing more delightful With occasional
references 20 the compass and north
star, we knew our direction good.
so had no uneasiness on that score.
ClLIluk IN the DCflOn OF lfl6 car Oh
the ballast bags, occasionally looking
over to see IL the guide rope was clear
OF the water, il not, throwing out q
scoopful Of sand TO send us up q few
feet. we quietly ate our long postponed
dinner OF sandwiches, chicken, eggs.
fruit, coffee and other good things
which we had laid in before starting.
Once q little sailing vessel slipped Un-
der US and disappeared in the night.
., L. nst< -
in the channel. The revolving light on
the coast at Havre was on our right at
the start, but we soon left it behind.
Crossing the Channel
At 2:30 q. m. a revolving light ap-
peared ahead OF US, and we knew we
were approaching the English shore
On coming closer we were able to rec
ognise that this light was on a light
ship. An hour later we were over terra
frna OF old England. Soon afterward
the lights OF a large city appeared on
our left We knew this must be
Chichester. in the county OF Sussex
Then the friendly moon deserted US.
and heavy mists covered up the low
lands, so that we lost sight OF the
earth. catching only an occasional
glimpse of the black tops OF the trees
under the end OF the guide rope. The
nrSt Color OF QdWu cnAAGO III AAAt
east before o'clock. but. due to the
mist and fog. il was past o'clock be-
fore we were able to disti- -guish clearly
the ground beneath US. We were forci-
bly, impressed with the fact that the
English farmer is not an early riser.
for the loud and continued shouts OF
my companion did not bring forth a
response till past Z. Then We learned
that we had crossed the counties OF
H., - fnur =
then over Berkshire.
All morning we 5ourneyed UP over
England. past Warwick Castle. past
stratford- -cn-Ayon. Then the warm
sun came out, heating and expanding
the gas in the balloon and carrying Us
higher and higher in the air.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon we had
reached an altitude OF 10000 feet AS
we rose higher our direction changed
20 east OF north. From the direction
OF clouds al a lower level than our
selves. and of the smoke At the ground,
we knew that the lower currents OF
air would take un farther 20 the west
so we started down In hope OF being
able to change our direction sum
GENTLY 70 take us into Scotland. A few
minutes more brought US TO the brown
and barren moors. and then the coast
OF the North Sea loomed up straight
ahead OF ue. II was necessary to has
ten the descent. so ] opened the valve
and allowed q good supply of gas tc
escape. Down we went. till the guide
rope was trailing on the moors. We
knew IL was tust a question of minutes
till we should be at the sea, but as the
wind had changed slightly We hoped to
continue long enough 70 reach more
settled district. and possibly railroad
station. A few minutes more ana we
had reached the edge Of the moors
then a little railroad appeared 20 the
right running along the coast Another
minute and q small station was in
sight. 4 farmhouse ahead locked In
viting. so we decided 10 land But