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Make Ascension in Gale. 

PHILADELPHIA TO MATAWAN

In Making Forced Descent at Great Speed, Basket Lands in a Creek and They Are Drenched.

Traveling through the air at an altitude of 12,000 feet and at a speed of a mile every ninety seconds, was the thrilling experience yesterday of Alan R. Hawley, broker, of No. 30 Broad street, whose home is in No. 22 East Seventy-sixth street. Mr. Hawley had made six other balloon trips, but none of them, it is said, gave to him the thrill of the sensational aerial ride from Philadelphia to Matawan, N.J., with Arthur T. Atherholt of Philadelphia, which began at 12.45 o'clock yesterday afternoon and ended at 2.15 o'clock, the wind-up being a dash into a creek near Matawan, in which the basket struck with such force that both wind-sailors were shaken severely, but escaped serious injury. 

Only for the fact that Hawley and his companion sighted open water and feared they might be carried out to sea by the strong wind which was hurling them along, the trip would have been much longer and possibly even more startling. 

From start to finish the trip was full of thrills. The big bag was filled in Philadelphia in the face of a forty-five mile gale that smashed it to the ground several times before the work of inflation had been completed. It was A. N. Chandler's balloon Initial, and Charles M. King of Philadelphia supervised the work of filling it with gas at the starting point, in Point Breeze. Incidentally, it is said, he saved Hawley and Atherholt from serious injury, and possible death at the start by prevailing upon Hawley to refrain from cutting the rope that held the tugging balloon to its anchorage until he had thrown out more ballast. 

Hawley had more experience than Atherholt, who only had made three previous ascensions. Originally it was not intended Hawley should make the trip. Dr. T. Chalmers Fulton, a Philadelphia enthusiast, was booked for passage with Atherholt, but he withdrew in favor of the New York broker. It was arranged, however, that Dr. Fulton and Atherholt should make their trip next Saturday.

At the starting point the balloon was made fast to a fire plug. The wind was blowing so fiercely it was necessary the ascension be made speedily to avoid being driven against trees and fences. Hawley threw out much ballast and thought he had the car light enough. He and Atherholt got aboard and Hawley was about to cut the anchor rope when Professor King rushed forward. 

"Don't do it!" he exclaimed. "You must throw out more ballast or you will be dragged. With such a wind as this it would mean a serious end to your trip."

Hawley threw out more ballast until told to stop. 

"Now cut loose!" King yelled, and Hawley obeyed.

As soon as the rope had been severed it became apparent what would have happened if the professor's advice had not been heeded. Even with 100 pounds of ballast out, the balloon rose so sluggishly in the gale that the men in the basket were compelled to empty another bag of sand to clear buildings and poles.

The gale carried the balloon across Philadelphia, thousands watching its progress. The Delaware River was crossed at Bordentown. The balloon was two miles in the air, which was the greatest altitude reached, and the one which prevailed most of the trip. Over city, town, village and farmland the Initial rushed, but the aeronauts did not realize fully the tremendous speed they were making. 

When New York Bay was sighted they were afraid air cross-currents would be encountered which would carry them to sea. At that time the balloon was making straight toward this city. 

"I think we'd better land," Hawley said, after he and his companion had discussed the probable consequences of attempting to cross the bay, which was seven miles away. Atherholt agreed and the valve rope was pulled. The Initial sank rapidly earthward. It landed in a creek and the basket struck with almost stunning effect upon its occupants. 

Men and boys who had followed the balloon rushed to the rescue and assisted the aeronauts to get it ashore. In the crash of landing the records of the trip were lost, but efforts are being made to find them.