Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-26


peculiar to the balloons built by Cap
tain Bumbaugh and which makes a
beautiful effect when the balloon Is in
the air.
Secret of Color
Other eminent aeronauts have tried
to initiate this color, but so far they
have failed and Captain Bumbaugh
keeps the secret in his own head.
While the preliminary arrangements
were being carried out Manager Stan
ley B. Anderson of the hotel at Holly
wood entertained at dinner the balloon
party and the newspaper men and
women who were there to see them off.
Hollywood citizens and the hotel guests
gathered to watch the trip, and the
school children succeeded In securing a
dismissal for the day.
When Captain Bumbaugh and Roy
Knabenshue were satisfied that the
balloon was properly balanced-"two
bags light said the pilot-the word
was given to let go, and the Chicago
swung off toward the mountains. The
drag rope caught the trolley wire as
the balloon crossed Prospect avenue
300 feet high; the spectators thought
that trouble was coming, but the pas
sengers did not know that there was
hitch.
Directly over the home of Arthur
Let's the aneroid registered 1000 feet
above the ground. -Four members OF
the party were enthusiastically picking
out points in the view from the noun
tains to the ocean, but Captain Bum
baugh occupied himself In watching the
gas and estimating whether the rise
would be sufficient to clear Cahuenga
peak. The sun came out and then ex-
pansion lifted the balloon to $500 feet.
Into San Fernando Valley
"Now we're all right" said the pilot,
and he began discussing the proper
landing place. The Chicago f1oated over
the peak and across the road leading
through the pass into San Fernando
valley, its highest altitude being $500
feet. Shouts of persons on the hills
and along the roads were easily heard,
and when the Chicago was poised over
the valley the cheers sent down toward
the brought brought a realization of the
effect of great air ciStern so familiar
to balloon travellers.
The balloonists could plainly see their
frosted breath. but did not feel the
least discomfort. Col. Coey threw over
copies of the famous balloon song dedi-
Gated to him, which he carries as SOU
venirs on his aerial voyages. and they
sailed to the ground with an aeroplane
effect. The sun went behind cloud
and the condensation brought the bal
loon down as it drifted toward the
northwest.
Midway between the two lines of the
Southern Pacific the drag rope touched.
"Bend your knees; we're going to
bump" said Mr.. Coey. as the pilot
threw out a sack of ballast. The bas-
ket came down over a peach orchard,
and soon a blooming peach tree stared
Mr.. Powers in the face as he stood in
the frontvend. Before he could object
the basket struck the tree and neatly
nipped it off less than a foot from the
ground.
"Durn that trees impoliteness for
getting in the road" said Powers as he
replaced his hat. The balloon had re-
covered from the drop and was rising
quickly. Mr.. Coey spied the rancher
who owned the orchard some distance
and called to him.
Greeted by Rancher
"Glad to see YOU" shouted the man.
He had not witnessed the incident of
the peach tree, and Powers did not en-
tighten him.
AS the Chicago went on it's shadow
routed out numerous rabbits. which
scurried ahead. At the county road
balloon and followed 1t across the Tu-
junga wash. Captain Bumbaugh picked
out a landing place on the edge of j.
o. Jenifer's barley field two miles east
of San Fernando. The landing was
made just an hour after the start. AS
the pilot pulled the rib cord the big
balloon dragged the basket some twen-
ty feet after turning it on its side. and
Mrs. Coey was given one of the thrills
of her first ascension. ], r. Adams
and his wife, who were on their way
to San Fernando, were interested spec
tators Of the landing.
Mr.. Coey's de luxe automobile was
following the balloon to bring the party
back to Los Angeles, but it was stuck
for an hour at the crossing of the Tu-
junga wash, and Captain Bumbaugh
had the outfit packed and ready to be
expressed back by the time the auto
mobile arrived.
"We're going to Chicago tomorrow,
but we'll be back to Los Angeles with
the Chicago next winter, ready for
more flights. including trip across the
country said Col. Coey. II am sorry
weather conditions did not permit us
to make 1900 miles at least to the east
ward with the balloon, but we are GER
tainly going to do it some time"
The Chicago will be entered by Mr..
Coev in the balloon race from Chicago
Decoration day, and it will also make
a trial for the Lahm trophy from IN
dianapolis in June.
The next balloon ascension in Los
Angeles will occur next month, when
Frank Leroyxez will make his trip. 10
christen his new balloon. the Los An
geles