The Washington herald., 1907-10-20

AIDED by the Wiling nanQS OF hunuteuS
Of farmers and townspeople. balloon No.
10 of the United States Signal Corps.
bearing Aeronauts Chandler and Mccoy.
came down three miles from Walton. W.
Va, at I:2O o'clock Friday afternoon,
after a record-breaking flight
Mai. Edgar R. Russell, acting Chief
Signal Officer of the army. was much re-
heved yesterday afternoon when he re-
ceived a telegram from Capt. Charles de
Forrest Chandler, of the Balloon Signal
Corps. telling Of his safe landing. with
his companion. J. c. Mccoy, after a sue
.cessful flight of As miles. from St Louis
TO Walton, W. Va. without a single mis-
hap or accident Of any kind
There was considerable apprehension as
10 the safety Of the balloonists. not only
in this city. but in St. Louis. when both
places failed 10 hear from them, but this
was entirely dispelled by yesterdays It'd
sngs.
Followed by Thousands.
The alighting of the balloon was
picturesque in the extreme As it
foated gracefully over Roane County,
coming nearer and nearer to the earth.
the farmers and country folk turned
out in swarms. It was a sight never
before seen by them, and they followed
the gradually descending balloon for
miles. going up hill and down dale
q
had been sighted from Walton. too. and
many Of the townspeople turned out
and gave chase, each putting forth his
or her best efforts to be in at the
finish. Capt. Chandler later comment
ed laughingly on the scene as wit
messed from the balloon, saying il was
humorous in the extreme to watch the
farmers and field hands. their wives
and children, all running across coun-
try with faces turned up to the sun
Feet frequently caught in underbrush.
or unexpected distractions" he said.
'and their owners went sprawling
Cndaunted. however, by these mishaps.
ithey were on their feet again in a
minute. doing their best TO make up
for the lost time. Once the anchor
rope was down, they redoubled their
efforts in a mad scramble TO see who
would be the first to reach it, Mr.
Mccoy and myself leaned from the
basket and gave encouragement to
their efforts. and once they caught the
rope. Il was but a short while before
they brought US rapidly down 1t is
safe to say that not a farm for miles
around was tenanted, even the trusted
rwatchdogs joining in the chase"
Landed in Underbrush.
When the big gas bag traned within q
few feet of the earth, Capt. Chandler and
his companion jumped-Hghtly to the
ground and directed the efforts of their
scores upon scores Of assistants in land
Eng the "contrapshun" safe and sound
II was brought down in thick underbrush:
but, through the strenuous efforts of the
COuntry folk, it was cE-ricated and packed
hyithot a scratch.
Walton is in the mountains. about twen-
Hy-fve miles north of Charleston. w. Va.
and it was OWNS 10 the fact that neither
Capt Chandler nor his companion wished
10 leave the balloon for a moment that
word was not had from them sooner.
There was no telegraph station or rail-
Eoad station within miles OF them, and It
was necessary to pack the balloon and
transport it all the way TO Charleston In
this too. they were generously aided by
the mOuntaineers.
Big Bag safely Packed.
After Capt Chandler and Mr.. Mccoy
had emptied the bag of gas. it was with
some little difficulty disentangled from
the underbrush. and rolled and packed
for transportation. Every rope and guy
line was carefully Strengthened and coiled.
the basket and its contents condensed. -
and the whole loaded on wagons. There
was not man in the crowd that did not
volunteer a team. The trip to Charles
ton. Capt. Chandler said. reminded him
OF the stories and fancies Of his early
days, when tn eemigrant trains wound
their wy through Cumberland Gap.
After wiring Washington. the two aef-
bnauts supervised the loading of the bal
loon on a train for ST Louis. They were
given a rousing send-om by those who had
followed them all the way from Walton.
II Is SAltCNSA ttldb tuC9 Will arrive IN
ST Louis to-day.
story of the Flight.
In speaking OF the trip before leaving
Walton, Capt Chandler said:
IF severe weather had not been en-
eountered toward the end of the fight.
when the buoyancy Of the balloon was
decreasing. we might have gone far in
; excess OF the 475 miles established as the
new worlds record. Neither. of us suf-