The Washington herald., 1908-04-18

carried to such high attitudes that
Mother Earth was almost lost to view.
and then dropping so low that the basket
seemed about to brush against the wealth
ervanes on high steeples, the big yellow
and white balloon. No. 10 Of the Signal
Corps, after sailing across the Potomac
from this city. and passing over Chesa-
peake Bay and Baltimore. landed last
night shortly after o'clock near Ro-
land Park, Md, after being in the air
since o'clock
Lieut.. Frank Lahm. the famous long
distance balloon driver held the cord.
Others in the basket were Lieut.. Sell
fridge, Of the Coast Artillery; Capt Van
Horn, attache TO the President. and Ralph
Collins. newspaper representative.
Shortly before o'clock. the big bag
was filed at the gas works, Twelfth ana
N streets southwest. Capt. de F. Chandler
and twelve soldiers assisted in the work
of imitation. -Four hours were taken in
filing the bag.
DdiAooH Is tast Loose.
In the presence Of Dr. Alexander G.
Bel, Capt. Fitzhugh Lee. and other prom
inent army men, the big balloon was cast
loose. Il quickly scared TO a height OF
l,oo0 feet, travelling toward Lincoln Park.
Here the wind veered, and the balloon
set sail for Rockville
At times. owing 10 the different winds,
the balloon .aseended as high as 7.oo0 feet,
Here a different current Of wind was
encountered. ana the big bag slowly de-
scended-
While passing over Montgomery Coun-
II, Md, the balloon, while at an alti-
tude OF 1900 feet. suddenly began to
descend. Three thousand feet downward
we're traversed SO quickly that the oc-
cupants of the balloon hardly realized
1t. Ballast was thrown out. and again a
high altitude was reached.
The scene was Inspiring. At one time
both Chesapeake Bay and the far waters
OF the Potomac were plainly discernible
Other objects far in the distance could
be seen. Mr.. Collins. with his camera,
took a number Of pictures.
Passing over Montgomery County. the
balloon. at an altitude of not more than
Loco feet, went over Howard County
Here q change of wind was encountered,
and the bag arose TO a height OF 7.000
feet Over EHicOtt City the balloon hung
for a number Of minutes Il was practi-
eally motionless. Finally it was caught
by a favorable wind that brought it over
Anne Arundel County.
Chesapeake Bay was crossed, and the
spires of Baltimore were seen in the dis
tanCe. Soon the city was below the aerial
voyagers But In the meantime the bal
loon began TO descend. Less than 60 feet
was between the basket and the streets
Of the Monumental City.
Over Heart of baltimore.
Just before 6 o'clock. the balloon hover
ed above the heart Of Baltimore. It was
flying so low that thousands gathered in
the streets ia momentary expectation that
the big ship Of the air would strike a
skyscraper or a church spire as it was
heading north straight across the heart
of the city
As the balloon crossed the waters Of
Spring Gardens and the narDor. it was
seen that the occupants of the car were
throwing out bags OF sand at the rate OF
one minute, in an effort 10 get the bal
loon to a higher altitude
It scared just over the four tall stacks
Of the electric power house. in Pratt
street. IS it approached Baltimore street,
the balloon was not more tnan go feet
in the air.
Observers on the top of skyserapers
could count every rope Of the network
surrounding the balloon. The four fig
Ures could be seen moving about the car.
The bags of sand hanging outside the
car could be counted, and long rope
could be seen trailing toward the house
tops Every now and then a shower Of
golden sand fell
At 5:37 o'clock the car crossed Balti-
more street, between Holiday and Gay.
Its occupants waved handkerchlefs TO the
crowds halted in the streets. AS the bal
loon passed by the city hall dome, il
seemed that the occupants Of the car
could have thrown stone TO the build
ing. as the dome seemed not more than
150 feet away. Still throwing out sand in
q vain effort to get higher the balloon
passed on north, landing at 6:15 o'clock
on the farm of Robert jenkins. near
Roland PARK.
Here the four travellers disembarked.
titu went 70 Eailllietes <Alttf seeing tHe
balloon safely aboard the train. the voy-
ayers returned 20 Washington none the
worse for their experience.
Report to the President.
Capt Van Horn. who is deeply inter
asted in balloons. will report his observa-
tons of the trip TO the President. Lieut..
Selfridge availed himself of the trip TO
study the adaptability of aerial nayiga-
ion as coast defense.
Extra clothing and food for twenty
four hours were carried in the basket.
The powerful telephOt0graph, which takes
pictures at a distance OF twenty miles,
VAS not taken along the only camera be-
ng that carried by Mr.. Collins
At no time were efforts made to break
.ither speed or distance records. It was
purely an experimental journey. the
greater portion of the time being devoted
% determining the air pressure. the alti-
ude. and the rate Of speed, with instru-
nents
large saIe at SIoan's To-day.