The San Francisco call., 1909-01-10

q
Stevens. "Oh surel You get them in bal
looming, naturally. In a way it's like iesv-
ing suddenly for world and getting
there in a few minutes strange land of wonderful
sights and sensations great air currents. elouda
rainbows, snow and rain factories, cyclones-yeA
don't forget cyclones
MY most dangerous experience came just last
summer-after % years of bailooning
Allan Hawley and l made ascent Pitts6sld.
Mass taking along a young chauffeur from the c3tp
OF whom the local aero club wished TO make q
licensed pilot
"A licensed pilot, you know, have made In q
at least ten ascents two of which be conducted
under a regular pilot one alone and one at night"
Stevens stopped and chuckled. This young chap
got all his experience concentrated in this one trip
guess and Mr.. Hawley and l each had new one
eve SVent up very nicely-straight up for few
thousand feet-and then hoated away from the city
toward Dalton, suburb 1t was fine, clear day,
the weather predictions favorable, and when
struck our course began plating the map just
how far we should go and about where might
land.
lust over Dalton the balloon stopped for moment
and circled easily back toward Pttsheld. This
against calculations, and thought il rather
funny. Were going eastward, after all?
THAT decided very quickly just of the
city stopped again and back in a narrower
circle, more swiftly this time, and around again
quick fash, plunged into night.
There great long streak of pale light straight
up from heads of road to heaven it struck
me-and then like the sound of a cataract
We were still circling, but in such small, fast cir
eumference that it made dizzy. And all the time
there rasping, grating noise under the basket
We're scrapng the tops of trees!" yelled the boy
and that the last thing l heard him say Sud
denly there fash of light, and Hawley leaned
over the car.
My Cod" said he, look at thatp
HE pointed at the drag rope. For moment saw
It It flying taut like curved whiplash above
heads Then it dawned upon me what had hap
pened. We caught in a cyclone cloud-caught
in the tail of it-and were being sucked up through
the center.
How far up were we?
well, maybe seven thousand feet We couldn't
see the instruments"
Stevens nervous face was alight with the memory
of the lightninglike trip
Great Scott said he at was fearful Seemed
like monster running away with US and sliak-
ing the with might and main to fling us out 1t
hard work hold fast
You're in for it, told Hawley
He smiled little Well, I'm in for the best OF
it, said he. And didn't have time to talk much
from that time on.
4 looked at the boy He was crouched down in
the on his knees, gripping the side of the basket
with his hands-and teeth, it seemed Just as his
eyes showed the top / spoke to him. called him
by name, yelled at him and finally kicked him But
not word out of him, not even look wonder
what he thinking of?-prayng probably for an
automobile take him home
1T seemed if ought to do something but
after all, there nothing TO do We must wait,
that's all
"Hawley motioned toward the safety valve. but
shook my head
I'm not going to valve yelled Not YETI
You see, figured that it was false suction pull
ing up, and device in the world could check
that ascent Just think of that drag rope We couldn't
do thing till free To ATTEMPT anv tricks
might prove fatal Struggling against cyclone IS
like dealing with balky wild beast-you'd best lie
low till each gets good natured
WELL we got to the end of that long funnel after
while and seemed to pop out suddenly upon. what
looked like dark bilowy sea- Then we began TO
descend.
Mount Greylock We were going down fast and
threw out most OF our sand, then rugs, carrying
cover and lunch basket.
Suddenly the ground loomed up and / saw an omen
field and farmhouse. man was blowing and I
yelled at him. He thought some one was calling TO
him from the front OF the house and hurried away.
leaving his horses. We were coming down directIv
them and threw my last half sack OF sand
The balloon stopped, quivercd moment foated away
and landed nicely.
1t time before the boy found his voice
Then he looked at and said You look awful
white, Mr.. Stevens