The sun., 1909-02-21
his FIRST BALLOON TRIP
A GREENHORN OWNS Up TO
BEING SCARED.
Ciuns 10 the Ropes and Was Afraid He'd
TIP the Basket Over-soon Got
Over That-Was No sooner Down
Than lie wanted 10 90 Jp Again.

TIp the Basket Over-Soon Got
Over That-was No sooner Down
Than lie wanted 10 60 Up Again
How a man feels when taking his first
balloon trip probably depends more or
less on the man. but the sensations Of
one tenderwing-why not tenderwing2-
isn't that as good as tenderfooti-will be
a clue to those Of all the rest.
These sensations. as described by one
man after taking his maiden air voyage
are not all exhilarating, especially the
ones which set in before the trip actually
begins. He says in 81. Nicholas that you
watch the balloon grow from mushroom
heap Of yellow to a big round disk, half
melon, an oval and finally a ball. with
much mixed feelings"
1t seems too that you look fearfully
at the all too small dimensions Of the bas-
ket and you wonder how sixteen sacks
Of sand, each holding fifty pounds, several
cameras, overcoats. instruments, a big
coil Of rope. field glasses, a water bottle,
canned food which heats itself when the
can is opened. more lunch. raft Of small
articles which stuff the pockets OF the
lining OF the basket and three passengers
are TO find room there.
As the car. a bask ct. Ia moved under
the balloon, the pilot announces casually
in passing. Half an hour and we're OFF,
Whereupon you take long breath and
try TO look unooncerned. A little later
the pilot. in a moment Of leisure, explains
some Of the things you are wondering
about
THE neck Of the balloon" says he, lis
left open TO allow gas to escape and
air to enter az the gas within ex-
pands and contracts in sun or the shadow
cord hanging through the neck Of the
balloon is the valve cord. Pull it and
gas escapes from the top and down We
20. The cord hanging through the little
rubber opening in the balloon ia tho rip
cord; we pull it when landing in wind
and the balloon falls in two parts.'
Suppose you pulled it in midair?'
you ask.
We don't do that except from dire
q parachute and land you safely, though
forcibly. II it didn't parachute, pull
ing that rip cord would probably he
the last thing you would ever do. Well,
guess we can go aboard now
Nov! Why. we had half an
Then you remember that this is sup
posed to be a pleasure "trip. and you pull
yourself together. Climb over the side
Of the basket and with your feet slipping
among the sand bags you hold Oh tight
not knowing that there remains ten min
utes to be spent in balancing the balloon.
This is an interesting and careful opera
ton.
First the bags Of sand on the. outside
are all unhook ed and a lot OF men crowding
around the basket hold it down.
whistle from the pilot and the hands
let 10. The balloon sways, the basket
twitches. but does not move. Another
whistle and the hands lay hold again. A
bag from inside is thrown over, the hands
let go at another signal, but five times this
is repeated until the curt order comes:
THAT will do!-
Then says the tenderwing, out
wardly cool and smiling. even though
inwardly quaking, you wave one hand to
the crowd. Willing hands lift the bag and
basket or do they simply let il lift it.
seif?1and hold il shoulder high. All
readyf from the pilot. and All ready
your answer. and your voice, you notice
is quite steady.
Toss her up!''
You learn afterward that the sturdy
arms beneath have pushed and that the
slight impetus thus given helps out the
slender pulling power that the nice bal
ancing has left the bag. For you do not
want. goodness knows you do not want
10 go skyward too fast
In daze you look at the ground-falling
away from you. all too rapidly. You look
aloft. Steady as il carved from stone rises
he great yellow ball.
Beneath you the bask et feels as firm and
IL hard and az motionless as the earth
low spreading out before you in a magni-
icent panorama, such as you have never |
seen before. You cautiously shift your /
weight little, expecting an instant careen |
II the car. II doesn't occur.
The pilot steps from one side 10 the .
,ther. and you grasp the ropes in fear Of ,
he unsteadiness sure to result-bu moth |
ng happens. Gradually il dawns upon |
'ou that the balloon IL steady actually |
lrm and earthlike, and that II sways not |
L all.
tie that rope we'll to the ring and pay |,
out gently" commands your captain,
II is our guide or drag rome. keeps us
teady, and when ii touch,s the ground