Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-18
LUNCHEON IN AIR
MILE FROM EARTH
American Aeronaut Tells of
Delights of Balloon Trip
Into Normandie.
A WOMAN COMPANION
After Eighty-Five Mile Aerial Voyage
They Land in the Midst of a
Betrothal Party.
fsrEcIAL DfsrArc1.l

AR W. IL GANNETT. Of Augusta
Vine. a member Of tho New England
Aero club, which is affillsted VIII
tho Aero Club Of America, Who as recent
Is reported in the HERALD, taught Lon
doners how 10 view pageant with com
fort and without mlngling with the ero"d
as ne DID from n balloon on the occasion
OF the funeral OF the late Klng Edward
has besn telling a HERALD correspondent
OF a delightful balloon trip OF eighty-hvs
miles that he made the other day from
Paris into Normandie.
ARMED with letter OF introduction
from Mr.. Charles J. Gmdden TO the score
+ary Of the Aero Club OF France, ! was
able" sAld Mr. Gannett, ito get every
privilege required. He provided me with
an Engiish speaking pilot, and even intro
duced me 10 an English woman to accom-
pany me on the voyage. II was on what
might call perfectly typical 'Glidden' day
that we made our start. exactly on sohed q
ule time. at hslf-psst ten in the morning
in the nine hundred cubic metre balloon
voItalre.
GETS BEAUTIFUL VIEWS.
"a more delightfully."- gentle getting on
the ground could not have been imagined,
aud as orr Great airship majestlcaliy float
"a over me historic hills OF St Cloud. and
passed between the great forests OF Marty
and st. GERMAN at a height Of about thres
thousand feet, the panoramic view made
all the magnificent palaces and extensive
ly laid out parks Of Versailles and st.
lFf 10
blend with the intervening country into
one complete, compact combination, unit
Of rare beauty and grandeur
Then II seemed We we're to have com
pany. on part Of our trip at least, for a
much larger balloon than ours came sail
ing right above us at a faster clip than
we; but she was not following, or racing
us, because she Immediately began eX-
perimenting with different air currents.
or testing new air lanes, II was interest
ing from our elevation watching her diff
ferent manoeuyres TN she finally landed
directly under us. easily and gracefully.
IN convenient yard near the town Of
Maule.
with our glasses We could see people
running to assist them in folding up the
great gas bag, which lay out on the
grass as smooth as a garment might
be spread TO dry.
LUNCHEON WHILE IN THE AIR.
our greatest height was six thousand
feet when we ate our lunch over the
town OF Nantes 1t was now haIf-past
twelve. and we had just experienced
what 20 us was a novel form OF exercise
and had a rayenous appetite. our careful
pilot In looking down had discovered
what was knot near the end OF the
long guide rope, so II was pulled up into
the basket hand over hand by us two
novices. The alliance OF Britain and
America. thus formed, had great pull
together. for It seemed as II the $40 feet
Of rope reached to the earth a mile
below. Then we found piece OF heavy
cord attached to the rope, which NIGH
have caused trouble In dragging owe
the tree tops before we landed
1--WE had followed the River seins
nearly all the way, but later the cours
seemed to be more northerly. Only
twice had we been above the thin
clouds, and that for very short time
yet a constant use OF ballast had de-
pleted our supply We crossed the
muddy water OF the River Eure quite
near the earth. once We descended very
rapidly. though ballast was being con-
stAntiy thrown out.
ENHANCING SCENE BELOW.
The extended view OF the great levet
farming country we passed over was sim
ply enhancing. The diversity OF shape of
the different patches Of ground inter
changed now with green fields then
brown earth. each farm having Its red.
purple and drab ooIored roof buildings.
gave the effect or big patchwork quilts
spread over the earth,
I'VE made a safe and pleasant landin &
at two o'clock on nice soft spot. which
proved to 10 on the farm OF Mons. Huet, at
FueEuerolles two miles from the railway
station at Quittbeut. In Normandy. which
il about eighty-fye miles from Paris. This
proved 10 be a very happily selected land
ing place, for a betrothsl party was TAX
ing place. ana about twenty-five men.
women and children rushed from the house
to assist as, not only on the landing but
ia packing up the balloon. loading It on q
wagon and Transporting It to the railway
station.
Although coming among them so uncere-
moniously we were most cordially invited
inside to partake OF the feast spread In the
large dining room. There We drank health
10 the bride and bridegroom from bowl
Of the famous Normandy cider and ate
OF the betrothal cake. Il was a very pict-
uresque family gathering, tho older men
sitting at the table With their hats on.
What interested us too was the gres;
broad fireplace In the kitchen, with it's Inn
mense crane. on which a huge Kettle
hung. filled With steAming hot. savory
smelling pie.
Just before Il was time for us to move
TO the train which was to take us back
10 Paris a chorus Of voices shouted, bal.
loon, balloon and we had the furthe r
pleasure OF Witnessing the descent OF a
party Of aerial trippers who had assembled
from the Aero Club Pare. in Paris, Just
about the time of our landing In Nor
mandy.