New-York tribune., 1909-08-15

most successful pilot managing the difficulties
OF q landing with great skill. Already she has
made Ia Journeys in the air most OF theih
having been in the spherical balloon but some
also in dirigibIe balloons. Her husband IS
great builder and pilot Of dirigibles. and both
are devoted 10 this new form Of sport
Nine Surcouf. however, does not hoId any
record either Cor speed distance The longest
flight executed by a woman Is that Wonderiul
tourney which began In the park of St Cloud
and ended at a little village close 70 Breslau'
in Sresia 100 kilometres. covered in nineteen
hours This record trip was taken by young
girl Miss Moulton. half American and hair
Hungarian. piloted by NJ. Castillon de 81
Victor and Andre Legrand No other woman
has come near this record in point Of distance.
though Nine Lemaire. In 1900. four years be-
fore Miss Moulton's expedition. established
time record by going in a spherical balloon from
Paris to Biley in 10 hours and 10 minutes.
Nineteen hours in sma.l basket with only
pate de foie gras and biscuits 10 eat would ap-
pear long enough to most women
But ballooning is not new thing even for
women over century ago. in 1IS4. French
woman. named Mile. Tible earned notorety by
sailing one day in June out of Lyon. ACROSS the
rivers Saone and Rhone TO Balmont. in forty
five minutes. She the pioneer. to be fol-
lowed by many. and some horrible accidents
have marked the long record In those. early
and experimental days the tragedies generally
occurred In the landing; now there is no more
danger attending balloon ascent than there is
in a motor drive. and there have been some
historic wedding parties celebrated in the clouds
The first was probably that of NJ. and Nine
Camille FIammarion, who went up from Paris
August %. 1874, and came down at Spa. If
teen hours later after a most enjoyable and
successful flight of four hundred kilometres.
There is something" said the secretary OF
the Ladies' Aero Club the other day. "emnenty
feminine in ballOoning w get into a light
basket and soar, away into the clouds. having no
special object in view. and armed with ticket
for nowhere in particular. floating gently.
smoothly and gracefully at the will of the wind.
Is not that what most of us are doing every day
OF our life? The dirigible balloons and'the mono
planes biplanes and what not FOR men
formidable playthings for creatures whose role is
essentially to wreste with difficulties. to dare
and to fight"
There are already in the fourth month of it's
existence some eighty-three members of the
Stella. Its subscription. rather high when
compared with that of womens clubs in general
carries with it the right TO one ascension a year
free of charge. Any member is. of course. at
liberty 10 hire balloon at her own expense
whenever she pleases, and If she cares to invite
another member TO accompany her the club pays
75 francs (S15) for each such invited passenger
The balloon used by the Stella is a great
golden globe made by a Paris firm of con-
structors. the principal item of expense being
naturally :he gas used to initiate IT, The ar
rangemcnts at the park of st. Cloud allow of
nine balloons being inflated at the same
tim. the club lawn.
At these frequent balloon pcnics. or parties
got up by the women of the Stella there is no
attempt at making or breaking records of either
time distance. Generally the women are con-
tent with three hours trip and at the end of
that time they make careful descent, pack up
the balloon and take the train back to Paris
Nine. Surcouf. however. occasionally makes |
longer journeys. and has accomplished two or
three all night flights.
The greatest height attained by woman bal |
loonist is five thousand metres Nine Surcouf's |
record. Greater heights have been reached by |
men. notably in the ascension planned In 1874 |
By group Of sayans for the purpose Of |