The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-08
Leaving North Adams, at
3:15 This Morning, Fa-
nous Aeronaut Drops
in Bolton, 26 Miles
From Goal.
Trip Was Made Above
Clouds, By Combined
Light of Moon and Sun
Balloon Was Accompa-
MED By Special Rainbow
Through Large Part of 80
Mile Journey.

A Holland Forbes Of Fairfield act
ing president of the Aero Club of
America, left North Adams, Mass, at
3:15 this morning, in his small balloon,
North Adams, No. 1, and descended
comfortably at 1880 in the little town
Of Bolton, famous for its annual cat
tie show, &c miles as the crow flies,
from Boston.
He is entitled, by reason of this per-
Torrance, to the cup which will be
awarded to the balloonist who, leaving
North Adams, makes a descent near
est Boston. The best record, up to
Mr.. Forbes accomplishment is held by
DR.. Randall of North Adams, who
dropped within 80 miles. Other aero
nauts have until December to outscore
Mr.. Forbes, who has now tried times.
Mr.. Forbes had a. delightful and ex-
citing experience. For more than
and the sun before his speeding air
craft, while underneath it ragged a. rio-
lent thunder storm.
The area of the storm was entered
as the balloon was crossing the HooSac
Mountains, when the experienced, and
daring navigator, threw out a small
quantity of the ten bags Of ballast
with which the balloon was equipped
and rose speedily out of the danger
zone.
Then, as Mr.. Forbes relates his ex-
perience, a scene of wondEous beauty
presented. The balloon moved just
above the clouds, but entirely out of
them, at a distance of two miles and
a. quarter, as shown by the aneroid.
The soft moon rays reflected from the
billowy f1eeces Of the rolling mists pro-
duced effects in light and shade that
no artist has ever painted Added to
this was the BRILLIANT radiance of light
reflected back from the rising sun, so
that there was combined in one exper-
fence, the effect of moontide at mid
night, the illumination of the midday
weather and raging storm.
More than this, the mysterious
beauty of the early morning, and the
wondrousness of the experience was
enhanced by the attendance of a spec
ia1 rainbow that Travelled with the bal
loon mile after mile on its flight The
seeming miracle was not really a mir
a.cle at all. AS the balloon was al
ways between the sun and the clouds,
the mist condensed. in the GOODNESS of
the balloons shadow, into little drops
of moisture which separated the white
rays of the solar orb into their pr1s-
matte colors. That is how Mr.. Forbes
came to have a special rainbow to
keep him company upon the journey
which so few have enjoyed or are
likely to enjoy.
The distance travelled was 80 miles in
an air line. The actual distance was
perhaps a hundred miles. Mr.. Forbes
was accompanied by Clarence B. Har-
mon, Of the great New York real es-
tate firm.
Mr.. Harmon will be the companion
of Mr.. Forbes when he attempts to
win the great national balloon contest
which will begin in Indianapolis, June
5. Mr.. Forbes is having constructed
for this event a balloon which will con-
tain 80, 900 cubic feet of gas. Twenty
coats, or rather films, of rubber will
lie between the double texture OF
which the great gas bag will be made.
The general direction of the race will
be toward Labrador, and Mr.. Forbes
expects confidently to drop somewhere
i'm that region.