The New York herald., 1921-01-19
KLOOR DODGES FIGHT
IN NAVY TRIAL STORY
Balloonist Parties Questions
and. Has Only Praise for
Shipmates.
FLIGHT WAS BY ORDERS,
Farrell Also Testifies as to
Sensational Mishap in
Canadian Wilds.
FLIGHT WAS BY ORDERS

Lieuts. Louis A. Kloor and Stephen
A. Farrell. who with Lieut.. Walter Hin
ton made the recent trip into the
Canadian wilderness in the naval free
balloon Asses. were the only witnesses
yesterday before the naval court OF in
quiry called by Secretary Daniels Of the
Navy Department and sitting in the
naval station at Rockaway Point. Most
OF the testimony was given by Lieut..
kloor. as pilot OF the balloon and COM
n.ander OF the expedition.
Lieut.. Kloor throughout his testimony
avoided all references TO the fist fight
between Lieut.. Farrell and Lieut.. Hin
ton in Mattice after they had reached
that village from Moose Factory. where
the balloon landed. Several questions
intended to obtain Information regarding
the trouble between the two men were
asked by Lieutenant Commander Nor
fleet. one of the board. but they were
parried by Kloor. In consequence the
board has received no official knowledge
of the trouble between Hinton and Far
rell. which caused considerable comment
throughout the United States and
Canada.
"As commanding officer of the bal
loon." said Lieut. Kloor. 1T cannot
speak too highly OF the cooperation re-
ceived from Lieuts. Farrell and Hinton
In the actual flights Of the balloon. In
any threatening emergency or In any
unusual condition requiring the COM
bined efforts OF pilot and passengers
these two officers displayed exceptional
ability as student pilots
After landing in the woods on De-
cember II until our arrival at Moose
Factory each mutually sacrificed and
did all that was in his power to help
the other. There was no one particular
hero. We do not consider ourselves
heroes. Each and every one did the
very best that was in him to stand by
his other two shipmates. On our trip
from Moose Factory to Mattice a like
cond ton prevailed.
Upon our arrival ct Mattice Lieut..
Hinton and I Immediately took advan-
tage Of the kindness offered by rail-
road official to make our home In his
private car. Lieut.. Farrell first visited
Mr.. A'dous OF the Hudsons Bay Com
pany store. / had received official tele-
grams from the Secretary OF the Navy
as regards interviews and reports, In
which instructions were given me not
to disclose any of the facts of the trip
until authorized by the department and
ders to the same effect.
'T communicated tho message to
Lieut.. Hinton. then with me, and he
said he would communicate Z to Lieut..
Farrell. In doing so Lieut.. Hinton had
to go over to the Hudson's Bay store, at
which place Lieut. Farrell was. after
which he returned to the rooms we were
occupying In the private car. The con-
duct OF Lieuts. Farrell and Hinton on
m eff
was In no way questionable and every
order was carried out in fullest de-
tall"
Lieut. Kloor testified he had requested
the orders under which his flight was
made and that he had been permitted 70
select his own passengers. He men
toned the supplies that were taken on
board. saying the food and water were
expected to give the three men three
meals each. Making landing at Wells.
N. V. would have been easy as rolling
off a log" MS the balloon was caught in
calm only 100 feet from the ground.
A fight through the night was his inten-
ton, he said, but they did not expect to
be carried as far as Canada, judging
ffcm the currents at the time of their
start. They consequently did not carry
a chart OF that country, he said. although
Lieut.. Farrell had map of the Quebec
Central Railroad.
About A. NJ. the lights OF large
city (Ottawa, Ont..) appeared beneath
them. They dropped so low they could
see the rain spattering on the streets,
but their shouts attracted no one to tell
them their Whereabouts. In the morning
the storm lifted and the balloon went up
to 6.200 feet; but es conditions wero
favorable and there was no sign OF hab-
itation near which to land the pilot de-
cided to continue. In the afternoon they
heard the barking of the dog that led
them to descend.