Evening star., 1934-07-30
INSURANCE COVERED
ALL TYPES OF DANGER
ON STRAT0SPHERE HOP
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shipped here for examination by IN
surance appraisers and officials Of the
National Geographic Society.
The Aetna policies guaranteed the
balloon against damage by fire. theft,
lightning. cyclone, tornado. flood,
earthquake, landslide. collision. derail-
ment of trains, overturning of trucks
and collapse of bridges, docks, depots
or loading platforms. Part OF the
contract also covered sinking. strand
ing, burning or collision Of vessels
had any Of the equipment been trans
ported by water,
Contracts with Iloyd's covered
damage during imitation. ascent, de-
scent. landing or delation to the bal
loon and gondola or any of its scien-
tific instruments or human cargo.
Protection was afforded against dam
age from explosion, fire, lightning,
wind, collision or any other hazard.
including such an accident as befell
the balloon Saturday.
If, as has been reported, Farmer
damage to his cornfield. Lloyd's Will
have TO settle the matter with him.
Falling Objects Included.
The British firm even assumed LA
bility for any damage caused by the
dumping of lead-dust ballast or the
emergency or accidental releasing of
objects from the bag or its gondola.
At the Black Hills bowl. where the
fight began. insurance was taken out
on more than 200 soldiers, National
GuardSmen and civilians who aided In
preparations. Airplanes, automobiles
and motor cycles we're insured against
damage TO persons or property.
The insurance representatives as
serted that this is the first strato-
sphere flight to receive such complete
coverage
According to a report received by
the society from Capt. Stevens, the
gondola and its equipment are a total
loss. Even the films in the special
camera were ruined. The spectograph
used in making cosmic ray studies
was saved when Stevens threw it out
with a parachute. Stevens reported
as follows:
"Gondola squashed like eggshen
from impact. The largest piece is
about four square feet. All instru-
ments except spectograph believed
ruined. Spectograph saved by cutting
1t loose to drop with its parachute.
Believe all cameras so smashed that
films and records were ruined. Box
encaSing barograph tan instrument
for recording variations of atmos-
pheric pressure) not smashed. but do
not know damage to instrument.
Spectograph records not yet exam
ined.
Flight went according to schedule
until accident occurred. After sealing
in at $4,000 feet. made slow climb to
10000 feet, where balloon was leveled
off, and stayed for As minutes in
equilibrium for purpose of taking
readings Of cosmic ray instruments
Continued climb gradually for an
hour to 1000 feet and we're prepar-
ing to start another set of obSerVa-
tions for As minutes when lower por-
ton Of the balloon started opening up.
Able to Start Down.
Were able to start balloon down.
ward despite rapidly-increasing super
neat, thanks to pneumatically- -oper-
ated balloon valve, which worked per-
fectly then as well as throughout the
flight. Had this valve not worked
we would have been helpless.
All scientific apparatus functioned
as expected. Bureau of Standards
electrical thermometers and barome-
ters recorded by three instrument
cameras, operating spontaneously
with vertical aerial cameras-this
equipment recording every minute
and a half throughout fight, includ-
ing descent. They were stopped at
10000 feet because of necessity of
making room for getting rid of bal
last. CoSmic ray apparatus construct
ed by Bartol Research Foundation of
Franklin Institute and California In
Stltute OF Technology functioned per-
fectly. Spectographs of University of
Rochester and Bausch and Lamb ran
continuously. Fan for rotating bal
loon worked even better than expect
ed, making it necessary to turn of
motor from time to time to avoid too
rapid rotation. Equipment for con-
ditioning air of gondola worked per-
fectly, making conditions compare
lively comfortable inside gondola dur
ing flight.