The Washington herald., 1908-08-13
Continued from Page One.

pretty sirls. who came in automobiles
and horse traps. rEr0uEed the COncourse
from which the fight was TO be made
Gen J. Franklin Bell. chef Of stan Of
the United States army. Gen Allen chief
Of the Signal Corps the board OF test
composed OF Mai. Russell. Mai. Squier
Capt Wallace Lieuts- Lahm and FOulois.
Col Baron De Bode. military attache Of
Russian Embassy; MAJ. Fortune NJ Vi
roIa- military a-rlcle nf The Mexican
Embassy. Mai F. n. Motley. represent
ing the British army Walter Weilman.
the polar explorer. Lleuts Selfri1ge and
CriSsy. and other officers and their
wives, were on hand % witness the as
ce1sion-
HeSftated in Making Trip.
Before the flight. Capt Baldwin ex-
pressed 20 the board a disincIination %
make the speed test with such a high
wind Capt Baldwin said be did not want
TO disappoint the large crowd. and felt
confident his machine would acquit Itself
with credit. despite the wind He ordered
the balloon taken out of the tent at 6-24
o'clock. after a new supply OF gas had
. beet forced into IL
After several minutes had been spent
n balancing the balloon on the concourse.
Capt Baldwin set sail with the cheers
and good wishes Of the crowd ringing
in his ears The oh7ciaI time Of the start
was 5.35I5 O'Clock
Fifteen seconds later the dirigible
passed over the -roIev car tracks at
Hatfe1d The balloon was followed by
a representative Of The Washington Her
aid fu a s5-h0rSepOwer Matheson touring
car. driven by Hugh Harding who was
a contestant IN the Vanderbilt Cup and
Briar Hiu races. Mr.. II riding ran his
machine over the rough. muddy road a.
braakneck speed. and reached the turn
ing point az BaIsLun some minutes be
fore Capt Ba15Wiu's balloon.
a few seconds after Hatfield was
-=7 Il was noticeable 10 every one In
enc -obile tlat Capt Baldwin's bal
.1- EzS - adverse air currents. Capt
.Bcked from one side 20 the
r-tH- ring 20 the west first and then
Is- His balloon was first ele-
-aaa then lowered. he and M Cur
- iently striving 20 get oUt Of the
which retarded their progress
West of Clarendon
SIS O'Clock the balloon reached a
west Of Clarendon. passing almost
city over the hsId in which the whir-
lE, sputrerf1c motor and whizzing pro-
Jeue- were 20 be stiIled and siIenced.
Looking directly overhead. the represen-
tative Of The Washington Herald could
see Engineer Curtiss Ezneeling on the
platform back Of the engine. working on
the motor with both hands.
Cheering and shouting men. women. and
children thronzed the road. and were so
intent on watching the balloon they came
within an ace Of being run down by the
speeding automobile Several times it
was necessary for Nj Harding 20 stop
his machine because the awe-stricHea
spectators seemed 10 be riveted TO the
center of the road Barking dogs and
frightened fowls scampered across the
road. and general pademonium reigned
through the upper end Of Alexandria
County.
The Washington Herald representative
reached the turning point in a field Of
g0ldenrod shortly before the clattering
machine passed over the Signal Corps
flag. Lieuts. Labu and FoUlois and VII
liam 7. WEIGH. a civilian attached 10 the
Signal Corps stopped the watches when
the machine scared over the flag The
official time for the turn was 6-s5-lG. When
the turn was made Engineer Curtiss was
still on his knees working at the motor.
The balloon drifted from east to west.
SCARED and sank. and after settling even
In the air al an altitude Of 800 feet. was
blown toward Torris-u. near the Southern
Railroad tracks.
As the dirieibIe approached the west
end Of Clarendon. "a strong air current
DETECTED tho forward end toward the
grornd. and the rear part. where Capt.
Baldwin sat steering the rsdder. shot up
twenty feet 1Ir. CUrtiss was busy re-
pairing the engine and paid no heed 10
the position Of the balloon until Il as
sUmed al almost perpendicular position.
He was thrown of his balance by the
s-.dden change Of position, and his head
ana chest rested against the motor Il
was then he received the greatest shock
OF the cruise.
Czrtiss Was Frightened.
Immediately after this accident Mr. Cur
tiss resumed his seat badly frightened
man. An instant later the sputtering of
the engine ceased and the propeller re-
mained horizontal
Augustus Post. Of the Aero Club Of
America. who was also in the automobile.
saw Capt Baldwin throw out his drag
rope. and Mr.. Harding Immediately turn
ed around 10 take him 10 the rescue Of
his feIIow-acronaut
Men. women. and children ran through
fields and over roads TO see what had
happened 10 the balloon. The cornfeld
vas invaded BY 2o9 frightened country
people. and q number OF Washington
men and women who are boarding near
West Clarendon Ignorant negro men
and women fed in terror.
As the balloon vas descending over the