Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-19

L 90 not Inluk llIcIS NC AouiN
a more beautiful or favorable spot for
an ascension than Pittsfield 1t lies IN
the heart, the most picturesque part or
Berkshire Hills, and the view for
hundred miles in either direction, dot
tod with cities, villages. rivers. lakes,
streams, farms and mountain tops, is
the best in the country. It's altitude
is over 1000 feet above. and it is over
4 hundred miles from the sea.
Satisfactory air currents were found
ut an agreeable height of from $500 to
$500 f., carrying us in the exact dl-
rection of Springfield, about so miles
to the southeast and which place we
hoped to reach within our time limit OF
21a hours. We had a very steady wind
and the gas bag being much lighter
than the air we kept just ahead of the
brccze so did not feel even draft on
our faces. We thus kept up regular
speed of 20 miles an hour at a height
varying from one to four thousand feet
all the way until within eight or ten
miles of our landing.
We would naturally descend as we
passed over the lower ground and rise
over the high places as the temperature
in the air varies SO much, although
sometimes quite a bit of sand would
be thrown out to keep us at an agree
able level. We went within three
miles north of Dalton. passing over
HinSdale, and ate our supper between
there and Littleville, which village is
twenty-SiX miles from Pittsfield, and
was reached about 60 I'm passing
over Littleville we were low enough
| 10 converse with the inhabitants, and
enjoyed ourselves in this locality by
dropping the bones from our chicken
lunch to see how long it took them to
reach the ground, or how near we
could come to hitting some horse or
COW grazing in the fields. We dropped
SO low along here that a flock of hens
became quite frightened at our .,had-
ow and there was quite a running and
cackling among them. We also tried
to perfect our aim for bomb throwing
by dropping an empty water bottle
into Il tree as we passed along.
DIR. Stowell, who was acquainted
with every inch of the ground and
knew most of the people in many of
the villages we passed over, carried on
considerable conversation with friends.
and entertained us by explaining their
habits and peculiarities.
AS we passed over quite d
high range of beautiful laurel
covered hills near the end of cur
trip. we suddenly saw before us the
beautiful Connecticut valley and wide
flowing river, of the same name, and
at the same time came into good
view of the large cities of Holyoke and
Springfield, while Westfield, East
Hampton and North Hampton were at
our feet: South Hampton being five
miles to the south, Mount Tom five
miles to the North and far below looked
very insignificant, for without any APP
parent cause we had assembled $500
feet. the highest point reached on the
flight. We also came to complete
Standstll here and remained in this
position for fully twenty minutes.
Everything was so huShed still and
quiet, and being in such "A new and
strange world, to me the time seemed
much longer. 1t suggested a thought
then that some power from above had
safely guided us to this, the most beau
tiful spot of the entire voyage, gently
gave us a boost, stilled the breeze and
stale us there so we might take time
to drink in the beauties of the mag
niticient scene presented by this higher
range of vision. Anyway it seemed
quite remarkable that we should be-
50 favored as to be stopped right at
this point, for there certainly was an
wooded and cultivated territory that
n,,1x fov no rta
whole effect was glorified by the bril-
liant hues radating from the great,
rod setting sun, seeming to look, like
the All Seeing Eye, over all the earth.
The entire picture was appropriately
framed in by the great mountain
ranges in the far distant background +;
the Catsllill in New York, the Grey
lock in Massachusetts and the Mon
adnock in New Hampshire, encircling
nearly all the scene. Having satisfied
ourselves with this grand spectacle,
realizing it was getting near time for
landing, and feeling quite sure of
finding our former air currents in the
lower altitude, pilot Van Steel tugged
at the valve cord a few times and we
gently dropped couple thousand feet
without realizing it, and we were soon
drifting along at our old speed directly
towards the city Of Springfield. Taking
advantage of the privilege of ready
assistance and good transportation ia
ciiities near large city, our pilot
guided us as close to the town as he
dared and allowed the three big 800
! TT. trail rope to drag over some trees
in order to lessen our speed. The only
exciting part Of the trip was now to
come, for as long as you can keep NOV
ing all is we'll, but it is in the landing
Of the balloon that the only real dan