Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-29
SAILING IN A BALLOON
Oscar Erbs'och Winner of the
Race, Tells of the Pleasure
Ct he Sport.

/
have ever made, writes Oscar Erbs
loch in the New York World. II was
my longest so far as distance and
time was concerned. can say that
the race was decided success. Too
much c.edit cannot be given To INV
companion Mr.. II. H. Clayton. meteor.
oogist of the Blue Hill Observatory
near Boston At Brussels six weeks
ago ! sailed $50 miles and was in the
air 20 liz hours In the trip just end
ed we remained in the air 40 hours.
and covered move than 100 miles. al
though we can count only about $50.
or thereabouts. the direct distance be.
tween st. Louis and Asbury Park
The Pommern is made of two layers
of cotton goods, with Il layer of rubber
between them. The cloth is n little
heavier than usual, but it more du.a-
Die. Our outfit was very slender he
cause we wanted to carry as little
weight us possible. The food was
Carried in two hampers, which we used
as seats in the basket We had tea
and coffee bread, chicken andsmutton
stow. We also carried mineral water.
cider ana Il few bottles OF wine We
had three meals Il day inst as regular
rs clockwork.
We also mad n Paragraph which had
been sealed. thermometer. an instru.
ment used for the measurement OF
the position of the stars. maps and
charts of the United States. two over
coats and shawls with which we GOV
cred our legs after the sun had set
and what. you might call sun bonnets
We are both pretty we'll snnburned
as YOU will observe. The sun lays ut
high attitudes are ve:y hot. indeed
and they blister the skin in short time
We had one large and several small
electric lamps. No other lights were
carried.
When We left ST. Louis we had a.
bags of ballast, each weighing ION
pounds The sand had been sifted
carefully and died in an oven. This
was done to prevent the sand from
freezing in II high altitude When we
Were about to start from st. Louis
we, sent up small pilot balloons in or
der TO learn just how the currents
were setting and where they were
strongest We figured ont that with
good lack and careful watching we
might land in New England Soon
after starting we threw out ballast
and reached 5000 feet in altitude and
When YOU are on balloon trip you
sail almost exclusively by charts and
by compass. You have no way by
which you can tell the speed of your
balloon except by watching the land
beneath you. If your charts are good
You have no trouble in. locating your
position
We did the hest we could There
were times however, when we were
in doubt as to the exact locality. and
had to descend TO make absolutely
certain. We would call ont to people
below through n megaphone to tell
us where we were. 1t was very un.
satisfactory
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 ito would be the
reply
Near Philadelphia this morning a
man told us where we were. on
Tuesday evening. after crossing the
Ohio river, we descended to n safe al
titudc and saw number of small
boys playing in the fields We threw
out the guide rope and the boys held
on to il as hard as they could. We
had quite chat with the boys. and
they gave us all the information we
wanted. We threw out more sand.
and the balloon shot heavenward, and
the boys were only too glad to let go
the guide rope
We enjoyed the sunsets and the
fun moon. The sensation up in n
balloon is so soothing, so pleasing. so
heavenly that ] cannot imagine any
thing nicer in all the world. You are
away from the earth and away from
all cares and sorrows. You don't have
To associate with people you don't
Gaze 10 meet. You have chosen ,iou
travelling companion. You can Tool;
down upon all mankind. You are kept
busy. You have TO watch your instru
ments, and when YOU are not doing
that YOU can lean over the side OF
your basket and look down Before
your eyes You have an everchangine
panorama You a.e simply fascinated
You always have change of scenery
and the picture before the eyes is SO
magnificent that | cannot help looking
at it all the time
Time Easses so quickly that you
never get tired All YOU have to dc
is 10 watch your barometer. If you
don't, you may get Il sudden drop and
perhaps break a few bones. Another
of the joys of ballooning is the pure
clear air YOU enjoy. The higher you
Else the clearer the air gets
There is little or on DANCE. There
is no iolting. YOU simply glide along
You are part of the air current Ii
the daytime Won rise and fall con
side-ably. This is due 10 the fac
that YOU are seeking currents in tho
air. also because of tie changing nj