Perils of Balloon

Thirteen well manned and equipped balloons, civilian, Army and Navy, started on Independence Day from Indianapolis in the National Elimination race, in which not time of flight but the greatest distance from point of departure is the goal. On July 5 five balloons had already been forced down, mainly in Ohio, with thrills a plenty--jumps from appreciable heights and minor injuries. On that date the Army and Navy still had six craft in the air. By July 6 all but three had come down, Ralph Upson piloting the Detroit having had the most dangerous experience, when his gas bag split at 5,800 feet and a descent had to be made in the basket, supported by a parachute. Lieutenant Robert Olmstead, in charge of an Army balloon, landed in New York State with apparently the best record of 500 miles.

But the exciting race may have a tragic ending. Of the three balloons not located at the time this column went to press, the Navy A 6698, in charge of Lieutenants Louis J. Roth and T. B. Null sank in Lake Erie. A water-soaked log picked up in the waters of the lake bears a last scarcely legible entry, "All over."