The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-05-26
Death Defying
Air Pilots Entered

Milwaukee, Wis, May 26-(By- the
Associated Press)-Air pilots whose
sands of feet above the earth has
brought them thrills almost undream-
ed of by persons who keep their feet
on the ground, are among those who
in the national balloon race which
starts here May 80 and ends when
ever and wherever the pilot no longer
can keep his ship in the air.
One of these is Captain John Berry
of st. Louis, a pilot whose many years
of air work includes being struck by
lightning three thousand feet above
the ground and falling to the earth
without serious injury
Captain Berry, one of the oldest of
flying pilots and interested in air
work since shortly after the Civil War,
modestly tells questioners that he
never had any real thrills in the sky.
but the story of his miraculous fall
is told by G. Y. Morrison, aide to the
captain in the flight which was inter-
rupted by lightning and who also
miraculously escaped serious injury in
the downward plunge.
The flight was in the national bal
loon race held from Portland, Ore.
in 1914. Captain Berry, who was
Americas first national champion at
balloon flying by virtue of winning
Indianapolis in 1909, took off with
Morrison as his aide June IL and
reached the Cascade Mountains of
Oregon that night. AS Morrison tells
the story:
THE sky above us was beautifully
clear, but away off to south and south
west 1 noticed great banks of clouds.
I did not figure on anything but drift
ing peacefully over the mountains
with the beautiful willamette and
Columbia rivers beneath US.
About Z p. m. we saw the balloon
Uncle Sam land a little distance
1,eI
to make sure that we would surpass
its flight.
The big gas bag shot up until
we reached an altitude of 10000 feet.
Then we hit the storm. The balloon
twisted and rocked like living thing.
Big black clouds were all we could
see on every side; * seemed as if
we were hurtling through a black
space shut off from the entire world.
A cold wind blew snow and rain on
US and there was nothing at al re-
assuring in our position. The crash
of thunder sounded like the boom
of a thousand cannOnS right in our
ears.
I don't know anything about bal
looming I shouted to Captain Berry.
but 1 know we've got to get out of
here.
gas valves or they'll catch fire from
the lightning
Down we went, however, finally
being only $500 feet up. Suddenly
there was n terrific blaze and I re-
ceived an awful shock. Before could
move, the big bag burst, and the top
being torn off by the lightning and
draping itself over our basket What
was left checked our descent some
what, but we We're hurting at what
seemed to be terrific speed toward
the ground.
"a "Thow over everything shouted
the captain and over went ballast,
clothes and anything we could get our
hands on. Still we plunged down.
ward. Around US was nothing but
clouds and rain with no ground visi-
BILE. Long fingers of lightning SEEM
ed to reach in and wrap themselves
around US. Suddenly there was a
crash we hit a tree. I slid down
the trailer rope to the ground which
never had felt so fine. Later found
Berry in the basket unconscious but
not seriously hurt. revived him
with snow and released our carrier
pigeons with messages We We're
rescued by a search party"