The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-09
TELLS Of PER|L0US
TRIP IN THE CLOUDS
Carl Fisher Says His Balloon Shot
Up $4,000 Feet in the Air and He
Was Almost Frozen.

CLEVELAND. o.. June 9.-One of
the most thrilling tales ever written OF
balloon conquest OF the air Is found
In telegram received this morning
by Ray Long. managing editor OF tht
Cleveland Press. from his friend. Car
Fisher. owner and assistant pilot o.
the balloon Indiana, whose spectacular
/ flight In the championship balloon rae,
attracted international attention. The
story OF the flight, told In Fisher
own words follows:
THE balloon Indiana landed at Rus
kin, Tenn, after 40 hours and twenty
five minutes OF continuous flight. Two
previous stops for water were made
/ however. and we learn now that these
stops disqualify the Indiana. The ice
cold water when he were burning up
was worth IT,
Shooting at the balloon was fire.
uuent. commencing In Brown county.
Indiana, and continued through Ken
lucky and Tennessee. The gentleman
with whom We stopped az our landing
In the mountains told Us he and his
son both went after their rifles TO see
which one could bust IT, thinking II
was a circus balloon without passen-
gers.
The winds generally were very
poor and We only made Roadway at
twelve thousand feet. The heat al
ten and twelve thousand feet was in
tense as a result OF reflection from the
snow-white clouds.
Near Nashville We had the most
thrilling experience of the trip and
says that in over 100 trips
he never before had such an exper-
ence and has only read OF one. There
seems TO be a general current OF air
over the river which in some peculiar
manner is affected by the currents
from over the mountains. At any rate
while sailing along at 500 feet just
after fixing up for our night ride. our
balloon commenced to spin around
and ascend very rapidly. We shot up
TO $4,000 feet and were almost frozen
stiff Bumbaugh was unable TO figure
il out and il was certain death TO use
the valve TO stop our upward flight.
White vapor gas poured out OF the APP
pendix and things looked serious. AT
last at 1860 feet Bumoaugh opened
the valve to release the bag from
bursting. but up she went-and then
more valve, which seemed TO help
some. Then we began to descend
very slowly We expected TO use all
our ballast TO break the fall. but IL
was not necessary, as we rode down
On the outer edge OF the whirlpool
without the dumping OF an ounce OF
ballast
we were within 400 feet OF the
ground. ard feeling better. when up
we went the second time and repeat
cd the descent. This time he went
clear down, and at 3 a. m. we were
hanging onto treetops with our drag
ropes and only seven miles from Nash
Vile.
I'VE had made the circuit OF about
"a miles three times. The morning
wind from the west finally pulled us
out and we were certainly thankful.
We had during the day two other as
cents OF the same kind. but less spec
tacular only taking US up eight and
nine thousand feet.
From Ashland City we could see
plainly at 10000 feet up the cesspool
near Nashville, huge column Of
clouds standing at least $4,000 feet
and in constant boiling action. IL
was very beautiful. but no more Nash
Vile bailooning for me"