The Washington times., 1908-04-19
(Continued fronn IS Page.)

but a little TO the north. There was no
sensation. not even that Of going up in
an elevator. 1 experienced TO thought
OF fear or danger. but found myself
few hundred feet in the air. doing as
the others were doing. waving a fare
we'll to the crowd below US. The group
was growing smaller ard smaller and
the cheers fainter and fainter before the
realization came TO me that 1 really was
up IN a balloon. It then came 10 me
forcibly that 1 had missed entirely all
the expected sensations. and it seemed
7 ;rfectly natural.
There was but one exclamation as
we darted howard. Captain Van Horn
said jubilantly to the rest Of us, Loud
cheers from the gallery" and we all
laughed. AS soon as friends and watch
ers below we're out of sight OF hand
wavings, l leaned over the side of the
basket with Lieutenant Selfridge and
began picking out the places OF inter
est. I felt perfectly safe and secure.
as did the other novices. Lieutenant
Lahm, Of course. was in his element.
Real View of City.
II there is any person who thinks he
has seen washington without going up
in a balloon he is mistaken L'Enfant
will never be appreciated until Wash
ingtonians start 10 travel by air line
There is nothing more beautiful than
a birdseye view of Washington, with its
broad streets. its parks and great pub
lie buildings. With the Monument
standing out clean cut against the
waters OF the Potomac.
We drifted due north. until imme-
diately over Lincoln Park, when we
descended slightly. and Lieutenant
Lahm threw out ballast. Below us we
could see scores upon scores Of people,
rushing into the streets getting vantage
points. and then gazing steadily up
ward When Lieutenant Lahm sifted
out a few pounds of sand. it was ex-
cruciatingly funny TO watch those i'm
mediately below us scurry like rab-
bits for cover, as though they were in
mortal fear something would drop on
their heads.
With this ballast out, we shot rapid
" upward and forward. The Benning
race course looked like a small meat
dish. The buildings diminished in size,
but were still clearly distinguishable-
We picked out every building Of in
terest, at will
Our course changed a little 20 the
west of north ana we went directly over
the train sheds OF the Union Station.
The trains looked like mechanical toys.
We soon reached an altitude of 5000
feet and could see for miles over the
surrounding country Chesapeake Bay
was clearly visible, were the upper
reaches, and the lower waters of the
Potomac. Alexandria was covered with
a slight haze The entire outline, and
contour of the country was laid out
as on a map. We could see for more
than thirty miles down the river, and a
much farther distance up. owing 10 the
action Of the sunlight.
From this height the earth looked ex-
actly like a big saucer This effect was
much more pronounced when we
reached an altitude of 200 feet, when
TO the inexperienced eye hill and valley
looked just the same, and were undis-
inguishabIe The military experts
however, with unfailing accuracy 10
Gated the hills and the valleys, and
described them in a way that made
them apparent.
Pick Out Strategic Points.
Lieutenant Selfridge selected screened
hills for the placing of artillery in at
lacks on different towns, and in defense
OF different positions. Captain van
Horn. with true esprit de corps, picked
positions for the infantry, while Lieu
tenant Lahm was busy making maps
and establishing theoretical commun'ca-
lions between the various lines or the
theoretical attacking and detendlhs
forces This was CT vast interest 10 me,
and listened like a school boy 10 tale
of adventure.
After following along the Baltimore
and Ohio ratlroad tracks nearly 70
rockville. we caught an upper current
and bore a. little TO the cas- u
C,biekens became frantic with fright as
We passed ovee, mistaking US for a 81
pautic bird Of prey Sheep, pieatlls
with terror. ran pell nell throub :
fences and farmers ceased their WORK
,,,nnine, 70 tell wives and daughters VINO
tunbled out 10 see the spectacle
dropped notes written on scraps %
naner. and it seemed as though thes'
would never light. We speculated as &c
.zvbere they would hit the ground, anu
in no instance did we come within
mile.
he A1rD