Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-14
Twenty-Five Thousand People
Witness Events of Day at
Balloon School as Aeronauts
Head for the Far North.
THREE OVAlS GO AFTER
LONG DISTANCE RECORD
Giant French Sausage Tries to
Give Its Handlers Trouble,
But Is Subdued by Skilled
Men From the Fort.

Three balloons started on their
night journey into the northland in
quest of the worlds long distance
record on schedule time at 9:0l
o'clock last evening as a crowning
event of the big balloon carnival at
Fort Omaha yesterday afternoon
and evening 90.
= Barring a single accident which.
described i'll aerial slaug. was a
"kink" in a giant French sausage"
riding 5000 feet overhead. the 50 or,
more events scheduled for after
noon and evening went off in clocl;
style. For time the balloon was
dangerous.
Hundreds narrowly escaped Sc
rious injury as the giant craft,
moored by steel cable to winch"
in the parade grounds. suddenly be-
gan to cut capers, somersaults and
what-not, in the air. Skilled ma
neuvership of the Twelfth balloon
company and Instructor Stevens
saved the day. -.
Makes Several Dives.
The balloon dived several times.
At one time swinging wide to the
west and lowering dangerously near
the earth simultaneously, it carried
the cable over the trees and flag
pole at the north end of the campus.
bending and swapping the lattef as II
it were so much wire. - .. ~. = ~. ..-- -... i.
Seventeen troopers under Capt
Fl. I. Lewis, did splendid work dir
ectlv-. the crowds and Caution
ing them against a stampede. Col
orcl Wuest was or the grounds per-
sonslly experimenting the situation.
captain Mckinley led the 18th
company in its work. The balloon
was finally pulled in,
Twenty-Five thousand people at
tended, a constant stream coming
ard going, Ten thousand packed
>mal! 30-acre field in the rear Of
nc balloon shed and witnessed the
launching of the three racing bai-
icons on their trial trip for the
worlds long distance record
Good luck, Colonel"
This. from Ruth Law. Americas
fomous avitrix, to Litut. Col. Jacob
W. S. Wuest. commanding officer
1T the fort and Captain of the Can
non Ball" entered as Judges bal
loon" in the racing contest, voiced
.h- sentiments Of the vast crowd.
\ mighty cheer followed her re-
mark.
The Cannon Ball." christened by
Miss Helen MeCreary of Water
town, NJ Y, cousin of Mrs, Col
oncl Wuest. departed with Major
r. !. O'Brien. adjutant at the fort
ard A. Leo Stevens, instructor a,
the balloon school, at 9:0l o'clock
in the evening. The other three bal
loors left few minutes earlier.
Crowd Pleases Colonel.
Il am glad to see such large
crowd out" the colonel said from
his basket just before ascending.
I'VE have long hoped and planned
such an occasion as this. This is
your balloon fieid-your school
and we want you to take advantage
of it. What we need is men"
The colonel was chcered to the
echo. A moment later he gave the
command:
rip, your appendicitis"
"All right, 60"
The grey oval rose steadily up
ward and northward in the wake
of the three other that were at
that moment miles to the north.
Expect to Make Record.
Technical figures from the bar
ometer of the judges craft at the
hour of ascension indicated a wind
Of 50 rr::.s an hour at 5000 feet
elevation 1--WE expect a good
time" Major O'Brienh an occupant
said at the last moment. There
is every reason to believe that =
record will be established"
The balloons sailed in the follow
ing order:
s:+3 p. m., No. 2, "All America"
First Lieut.. R. E. Thompson, COM
mander; Lieut.. J. B. Jordan, as
U'optipued nm Pare Two CoIupn TuscA