The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-29
The Big "Drifter" Sud
denly Comes to Earth.
OCCUPANTS ARE UN|NJURED
Descend From a Height Of
5000 Feet.
Ascent Was Made at Hamilton, Ohio
Thursday Evening and Balloon was
Driven I'm Various Courses by Ad-
verse Winds.

Not a little excitement was caused
in the city, this morning shortly after
o'clock, when 1t was announced that
very large balloon had alighted I'm a
field on the Williams farm just south
of the Big -Four tracks and along the
banks of the Little Scioto river. Soon
automobiles and bicycles were on their
way to the scene and many assayed to
walk out to have look at the thing.
The balloon was the "Drfter,"
which ascended at Hamilton Thursday
evening at o'clock. George II. How
ard and Walter c. Collins, two men
who have been in the business for
seventeen years, were the pilots and
they had as passenger, Jean Aren't, a
prominent lumber dealer of Hamilton.
All escaped without injury though the
landing was not without it's thrills
and there were moments when 1t ap-
peared as though all would be serl-
ously injured, If not killed.
The experience of the aeronauts was
rather an unusual one. The ascension
was made under most favorable con-
ditions at 0 o'clock Thursday evening
For almost an hour the big bag hung
almost motionless in the air and then
| a current of air arose and 1t began
to float majestlcally in the direction
of Cincinnati. This course was kept
for some time, but when within ten
| miles of the Queen City and just when
they could begin to see the lights of
the city, the aeronauts discovered that
they were travelling in the opposite
direction from that which was taken
at fast and at 1880 they passed again
ovr Hamilton. AT a height of about
/ 800 feet they were discovered by the
people and given quite an ovation.
Night settled down and then came one
of the most delightful voyages which
the experienced pilots had enjoyed In
their entire experience. The moon
was shining brightly and the currents
OF air promised To provide most
delightful journey with n long flight.
Not long afterward, contrary currents
OF air were encountered and the ball
loon drifted over st. Paris, then was
waited over Springfield The next city
to be recognized was Columbus, then
Bellefontaine and after daybreak this
morning the aeronauts saw the viii
lage of Green camp. Here they were
ing would soon bring them to Marion
Soon after leaving Green Camp, an
altitude of 5000 feet was attained and
the aeronauts decided that all was
well and they would yet make a long
distance flight, The three settled
down in the basket for a lunch and
while they were eating, they discov-
cred they were descending at a rapid
rate. Ballast was discarded as rap
idly as possible but the adverse cur
rent Of air carried them rapidly to-
ward the ground. The men discovered
that II would be impossible to keep
the balloon In the air. so they deter
mined TO alight in the first good place
which presented itself. When at an
altitude of 800 feet the large anchor
was thrown out and ii caught in the
ground, but the impetus or the balloon
was too much for 1t and the hold was
broken, the anchor dragged on the
ground, catching and being torn loose
several times. All this time the valve
In the top of the balloon was open and
gas was escaping rapidly. A party OF
men and boys were at work on the
Williams farm, cutting oats, and they
were called to for assistance in ef-
lectinG landing. Heartily they laid
hold OF the ropes and hung on with
"A will. one of the number happened
TO get astride Of the rope and was
very uncercmoniously spilled upon
the ground. The hands of some of
the men were burned somewhat by the
rope, but otherwise all escaped and
seemed to enjoy the experience.
When within siXty-iive feet of the
ground, the pilots determined to use
the rip-c0rd and the big bag was slit.
permitting a sudden descent. The
men in the basket escaped without
scratch, and were very loud in their
praise of the men who assisted them
In landing They stated that they
never were treated more cordially or
given better help The big gas bag
was packed and brought to the city |
this afternoon ready for shipment to |
Hamilton tonight. While in the city |
the three aeronauts were guests at
the Marion hotel. They will leave this |
evening for Hamilton at 1915 over |
the Erie.
The balloon "Drifter" Is said to be |
the second largest balloon in the Uni |
ted States. II was built by the Holz |
Balloon company OF Cincinnati at "A |
cost of about $4,000 and has a ca
pacity OF $4,000 cubic feet 1t was
for passenger business and |
Is now undergoing the tests. Recently |
the two pilots sailed the balloon from
Hamilton to Mt. Pleasant, Missouri, |
a distance of 6l2 mres IN eleven, and |
one-half hours. Mr.. Aren't holds the
distinction of being the nr-, passenger
to be carried by the, balloon.
George X. Howard, one of the pilots,
was In charge OF the balloon which las
fall had such narrowing experience |
In Lake Erie. The ascent at that time |
was made at Latonia, Kentucky, ana
the landing was made at Derby, New
York. That flight was for a distance |
of 597 miles and nine hours and |
torty-five minutes were consumed In
crossing Lake Erie, the balloon was |
driven toward the water until the |
basket was dipped and the occupants |
we're thoroughly drenehed, Tney lost
all OF their belongings, all of the con-
tents OF the basket having been |
thrown overheard into the lake. Even |
the valuable instruments We're sac
ritced, The balloon after having dip |