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1907 June 13. Enquirer Cincinnat DARING SOCIETY WOMAN AERONAUT [[image]] And Party we were soon on passing through wing day-Satur reamed of going off again; but, as weather conditions seemed ideal, I decided to take another trip almost immediately. "I left again on Sunday, going about 1 p. m. We again crossed the channel, landing about four hours after reaching the other side. We crossed the channel at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. The trip was most interesting. We could trace every town and village for miles in all directions, the atmosphere being singularly clear for observation. "In some respects these two last trips were my most interesting ones, but by no means the most dangerous. Our descent in the snowstorm was certainly exciting, to say the least. On another occasion, which I recall with particular vividness, we reached our destination in rather a hurry and somewhat inverted, it might be said. The basket turned over, and, I think, we might safely claim to be the first women to land in Belgium on our heads. "This was on the occasion of my first trip from Paris. It was on October 2 last year. Accompanied by Princess di Teano and Lord Royston, and navigated by the famous aeronaut M. Jacques Faure, we went up from the Parc d'Aerostation at Suresnes. Our start was made at a few minutes after 6 p. m. The wind at the time was very strong, and it was at first suggested that the attempt should be abandoned. We thought, however, that, by rising rapidly above the clouds, we might get into good conditions and escape a drenching. So we started. "A Bad Spill" "After going up 4,000 feet we still found ourselves in the storm belt, and were blown in a northeasterly direction at the rate of 60 miles an hour. Before very long we came down to 2,000 feet, and began looking for a safe place to land. The night was horribly dark, but we could see the lights of a big city, and concluded that it was Antwerp, from the broad expanse of the Scheldt. "We realized that if we continued aloft much longer we would be soon sailing over the North Sea, and it was necessary to come down, as they say, at any price. Before long the dim coastline of the threatening sea loomed on our sight. A few more minutes and we would have been directly over it. "It was now impossible for us to pick and choose a spot for landing, so we hurriedly pulled both valves and ripping cord, and the great balloon came down with a rush. As I have said, the basket turned completely over, and the Princess and myself had a "spill". However, no bones were broken, though we were all shaken a little. It was just about 10 p. m., and we landed in a field quite away from the sight of any human habitation. "We trudged wearily for two hours through the drenching rain. At one farmhouse we were refused shelter. You could scarcely blame the people, after all. We probably presented a somewhat uncouth aspect, coming down, as seemed to them, apparently from nowhere. "Finally we reached a small town and eventually found an inn. We ascertained that we had landed close to Willenstad, a Dutch naval post on the Hollandsch Diep. We packed up our balloon and went back to Paris the same evening. We made on that occasion 240 miles in four hours, an average speed of between 60 and 70 miles per hour. I might mention that this was one of the experiences which brought home to me the advantages of a daylight descent. "On the whole I do not regard ballooning as a dangerous pastime, even for women. In these days, when modern science has concentrated its attention upon equipping balloons with all the best scientific appliances, and when balloons themselves are built of material that enables them to resist a tremendous amount of pressure - there is really little risk. Ballooning Not Expensive. After a woman has made one or two ascents and overcome the initial reluctance to such a unique form of diversion, she easily takes to ballooning as one of the most ordinary events. As a matter of fact it is said that women become even more daring than men - once they have seriously taken up aerial navigation. "As a health-giving occupation, nothing could be more beneficial. The lungs are very much improved, and the whole system seems to be renovated. It is said there is nothing better for the improvement of the nerves than the adoption of ballooning. Of course, I do not claim that all people should take up ballooning, but for the ordinary society woman who possesses good health and a sound heart nothing could be better. "As there seems to be a general misconception concerning the expense attached to this amusement, I might give a few figures. "A balloon of 45,000 cubic feet capacity costs about $1,200, and will make 200 ascents before it wears out or the silk stretches too much. The cost of inflation each time runs to about $40. The railway fare home after a journey, including freight on the balloon, is not a very heavy item. I work it out at about $12 for each person in the balloon; and, as four usually go, this comes to $48; or say $50 per trip including everything. It will be seen that this compares very favorably to motoring, which, in fact, is far more expensive. Mrs. Harbord's experiences are unique in many respects. They certainly demonstrate, however, that ballooning is one of the safest of pastimes and one of the cheapest. Many society women in England, on the strength of Mrs. Harbord's recommendations, have taken to ballooning recently. While Mrs. Harbord is not the only woman who has crossed the channel in a balloon, she is the first to make two trips in the same week, and also the first to come out boldly in favor of ballooning as a pastime for women generally. Many Society Devotees. Many of the swell clubs in England - such as the Ranelagh - have taken up airflight recently, and quite a number of people moving in the inner circle of the highest society have given orders to various balloon firms for private balloons. In a recent conversation with Hon. C. S. Rolls, one of the most active members of the Aero Club, the writer was informed that ballooning in England had "come to stay." He pointed out, however, that owing to England's somewhat peculiar position, ballooning was not as safe there as in some of the places on the continent farther removed from the sea. Greater judgement is perhaps required in navigating a balloon from England, because, with the ocean on both sides, one must look out for unfavorable air currents likely to carry the amateur aeronaut in a dangerous direction. It is for this reason, perhaps, that the achievements of Mrs. Harbord are all the more noteworthy. Nearly all her ascents have been made from England, where she has also won the famous Krabbe Cup for long distance land journeys by a balloon. Last year she went from London to Bridlington, in Yorkshire, 195 1/2 miles, making the journey in 12 hours. She is also the winner of several other important aeronautical prizes. Now that she has given the imeptus to ballooning, many society people have taken it up. The Prince of Wales's equerry has given an order for a new balloon; and this summer promises to be a very active one in the aerial line.
Transcription Notes:
[[image: A hot air balloon]]
[[image: Four people in the basket of a balloon.]]