, 1908-09-16
TWICE RISKS LIFE TO MAKE AIR
FLIGHT.

Pittsfeld, Mass, Aug. 19.-Dr. S. s.
Stowell, a dentist, and William Van Sleet OF
New York, who is qualifying as a balloon
pilot of the Aero Club of Pittsield, made q
fight from Aero Park here in the balloon
Heart Of the Berkshires" at noon to-day.
Van Sleet was partly overcome by gas,
which he inhaled in climbing to the top
of the balloon before the start in an effort
to regulate the valve. He was in snch con-
dition that it was only after persistent
pleading on the part Of the aeronaut and
with the consent of his wife that the Off
Gals Of the club allowed him to make the
flight. DR.. Stowell had never made an as
cent, and it was Van Sleet's fifth ascension
and his first as acting pilot.
With the balloon four-ffths filed it was
discovered that the valve cord had been
tangled and did not fall through the neck
of the balloon as is required to work the
valve. This was caused by the aeronaut's
inexperience in setting up the envelope and
valve.
There were but two things 10 do-dedate
the balloon or climb to the top Of it, open
the valve, ~disentangle the rope, and drop
it Town through the neck of the balloon.
Van SIeet determined to scale the balloon
and arrange the rope. He discarded his
shoes and began working his way up by the
net. 1t swayed in the breeze and became
followed under his weight. When he near
cd the top Of the balloon his weight forced
up the envelope about him, completely hid
ing him from view.
Three times he essayed to untang!o the
rope. The last time he succeeded IL toss
ing it straight down through the valve,
out Of the mouth of which poured hum
dreds Of cubic feet Of poisonous gas.
Iu his endeavour Van SIeet opened the
valve, which is about twelve inches across,
three times. He was eleven minutes in
completing the dangerous work,
Suddenly those below found the valve
cord in position aud heard the Grove yell,
"Ho is coming down"
Van Sloet, almost yellow in the face from
the effects of the gas, slowly climbed from
the top Of the balloon to the ground.
Friends caught hirn and laid him on the
ground, where three physicians examined
him. DR.. Frank L. West Of Brooklyn, q
specialist on the diseases of the heart, DR..
I. r. Maxwell, Assistant Sanitary Sup9rin-
tendent of the Health Department of New
York, and DR.. O.. S. Roberts OF Pitt5tield
made tests for heart trouole. They found
Van Sheets pulse ct 1876 on the first exani-
nation, then it dropped to 144, went down
to 40, and back to 1873, puzzljng the ply
siciaus.
Dr.. " st in his examination found that
Van Sleet has what is termed an "ath-
letic heart" He advised strongly against
the ascension, fearing his heart would again
be affected by n sudden change into a high
altitude.
DR.. Stowell was determined to go, and
an attempt was made to reach n. A. Arnold,
pilot of the North Adams Aero Club. but
he could not be located by telephone. Ia
the meantime Van Sleet's heart action be-
came normal, and he secured the permission
of the officers of the Aero G!ab 70 make the
flight. Tho balloon left the Aero'Club park
at 1915, and its descent was reported from
Nashua, N. H., this afternoon at 4 o'clock.
Mr.. Van Sieet was apparently none the
worse for his trip. " Y. Times, August 2Oth.
nTTIZE ATT ATDCLJTDpS TETM