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EXPERIENCES IN BALLOONS
8280

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THE START OF A BALLOON RACE FROM LONDON
"Ballooning has the social atmosphere of automobiling or yachting"

summer when the wind was blowing them swiftly along the East River. It stopped the forward progress, but the wind was blowing so strongly that it blew the balloon down into the water. The basket was submerged and the passengers were entangled in the netting. Only the timely arrival of boats saved them from disaster. To guard against such accidents, I have invented a sea-anchor which can be adjusted to pull with varying force. Like the others, it is a cone-shaped bag to be let down into the water with the wide mouth pointing in the direction of advance. But I have cut in the side of the bag a hole as large as the mouth, and fitted a flap to it. As the anchor drags it offers no resistance till, with the

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FILLING ONE BALLOON FROM ANOTHER
At the military manœuvres at Aldershot, England, at which the King was present

jerk of a cord, I close the opening. By opening and closing this hole I can regulate the drag. I never make an ascension now without one of these anchors.

In addition, the balloon is equipped with a guide rope, 300 feet long and weighing seventy-five pounds, which hangs down and trails on the ground or the water when the balloon is low. Such an adjunct is considered useful, but I have found it of no value except for indicating direction at night. I have also

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LIEUTENANT LAHM (holding the letter), THE AMERICAN WHO WON THE RECENT INTERNATIONAL BALLOON RACE FROM PARIS, JUST BEFORE THE START
Major H. B. Hersey, whose meteorological knowledge was of great help, at his side

installed a device for lowering and hoisting ropes with ease, made necessary by the enthusiasm of people on the ground who think that the proper thing is to seize any rope dangling from a balloon. Once, in Brooklyn, some eager persons seized the guide rope and, despite my shouts, wrapped it quickly about a