Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-29
BALLOON TRIP IS
STOPPED BY GAS
THREE SIGNAL CORPS MEN
OVERCOME AT CHUTES
TRIAL TRIP WILL BE MADE FOR
GuARDsMEN TOMORROW
Breaking of Big Supply Pipe Is Cause
of Damage That Prevented the
Flight Scheduled for
Yesterday

Members of Company A, signal corps
had a practical taste of the dangers of
ballooning early yesterday morning,
when three members were overcome by
gas while engaged in initiating a bal
loon at Chutes park. First Lieutenant
II. T. Bathey, Corporal Vance Worden
and Private w. A. Hall were 'laid
out" by the gas, as were two members
of the Chutes balloon force, Russell
Mitchell and Charles G. Colby, who
had volunteered to assist the guards
men. Hall, Mitchell and Colby were
the worst affected, the latter being
rendered unconscious until restored
by Private E. G. Gurney of the hos
pital corps of the national guard, who
was at the park. 1t was at first
thought that his condition was serious,
but he recovered in the forenoon and
went back to help in the imitation.
The pipe carrying gas into the bal
loon became detached and the escaping
gas lodged in the folds of the envelope.
rushing out when the men attempted
to find the cause of the trouble. Lieu
tenant Decker of the hospital corps
was summoned by Captain Slotterbeck
and looked after the restoration of the
men, who felt the effects Of the in
halation of gas until late yesterday
afternoon.
Inc loss OF lllUe through lOe aCCI-
dent and the fact that the meeting of
the United States National Guard as
sociation lasted until after the noon
hour made necessary a postponement
of the ascension planned for yester-
day. The members of the aeronautical
squad hope to have the balloon ready
for a trip this afternoon. Other mem
bers of the signal corps will be taken
by Dick Ferris and William r. Reuss
in automobile to practice signaling in
order to determine how practically ex-
change of messages by the Meyer code
may be carried on between balloon and
automobile.
Captain Slotterbeck of the signal
corps company has plans worked out
for extensive work by his aeronautical
squad this winter. In addition TO chart
ing the air currents around Los An
geles and making a large aerial map,
the squad will study general and mill
tary aeronautics and hopes to make
a number Of balloon ascensions. The
gathered on general and
non-military lines will be placed at the
of visiting balloonists.
Observations with kites and pilot bal
looms will be made from various points
in Los Angeles county and as eonsid-
cradle data of meteorological value will
be obtained the signal corps will CO.
operate with the weather bureau in
this work. The aeronautical work is
carried on in addition to the regulation
work of the signal corps as prescribed
by the adjutant general and is taken
up in recognition of the growing i'm
portance of military operations. The
local company OF the signal corps was
the first to undertake aerial work in
the national guard.
IAN instance of the value OF knowl- !
edge OF ballooning may be seen in case
OF possible attack by hostile fleet, [
when il is understood that an observes [
in balloon might see the fleet ap-
preaching $50 miles or more at sea and /
could easily signal its movements down |
to men at the harbor or in the city" |
said Captain Slotterbeck yesterday.