The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-06-26
BALLOON FIRED ON
NEAR DUMMERSTON
Charles j. Glidden and Leo Stevens
Have An Exciting Experience Just
Before Landing Last Friday
-Enraged Bull Met.

The balloon Boston, made by Leo Ste
vens, of New York, for Charles j. Glidden,
of Boston, made its initial trip from Pitts
field, Mass, last Friday afternoon, start
ing from Aero park at o'clock and land
ing shortly before on high point OF
land between Putney and Dummerston.
The trip was an exciting one from start
to finish. Just as the balloon left Pitts
field it narrowly escaped collision with an
electric light wire and in order to avoid it
Mr. Glidden and Mr.. Stevens, who were
in the basket, were obliged to throw over
board something like 90 pounds Of sand.
The balloon sailed north in temperature
of about 100 degrees and the weather con
tinued uncomfortably hot until the sun
disappeared. About $50 the balloon
passed over West Brattleboro and soon
afterward the aeronauts heard two reports
from a rifle below and felt two bullets
strike the big bag above them.
After landing in barren pasture sew.
eral miles northeast of the village of West
Dummerston they were attacked by bull
and were obliged to scramble over wall
in order to escape the enraged animal. 1t
was then growing dark and they were
compelled to seek shelter, their only pro-
visions being one sandwich and bottle
of mineral water. After walk OF more
than two hours they came to a, house
and attempted to find accommodations for
the night, but were unsuccessful. Before
getting to the house they were attacked
BY savage dog and were obliged to use
clubs in order to get rid OF the animal.
The farmer at this place told them where
to 90 and they finally reached the home
of ". w. Burnett, in West Dummerston,
where they spent the night. The aero
nauts telephoned to Brattleboro Saturday
and an automobile was sent up
from here to bring them and their balloon
to this town. Mr.. Glidden and Mr..
Stevens left. here on the two O'Clock train
for Boston and the balloon was shipped
by express to New York. city,, :,
Upon making close inspection OF the
balloon Monday morning Mr., Stevens
found that it had been pierced IN two
As a result two new sections had to be
nnt in the balloon before it could be
shipped to North Adams Tuesday. The
sxperience of Mr.. Stevens and Mr.. Gid.
len with balloon shooters is the second
me thew have had within two weeks, and
n order to stop the practice, which is
;kelv to occasion serious results, four. diff
ferent rewards of 500 each have been
,ffered for the arrest and conviction OF
persons who evidently think it is rare
mort to shoot at balloons.
ssThis is getting to be a serious matter"
aid Mr.. Stevens, Monday. 81 had no
Jea at fine time that our balloon had been
If Fortunately we landed eleven min
ties, re. after the shooting, and we know
,rettv well where the shots came from.
We were 1000 feet in the air at the time,
nd Il seemed to us that the shots came
rom behind big white barn; 1t was
ickIish experience, and in all my career
|. ~ for bullets. No, there would be no
I Ianger Of the balloon exploding due to a
,1iiet puncture, nor would the gas escape
ast enough to cause any material danger i
g that respect. The real danger is not q
q mueh to the balloon as to the aero
auts. for with only two men In big s