Forest Park Balloon Race Program 2018

50 The Great Forest Park Balloon Race • Presented by PNC Bank Lighter than air History of Ballooning in St. Louis annals of historic aerial voyages in a splendid manner. John Wise, the greatest American balloonist of the 19th century, had made several vain attempts to obtain government backing for a balloon flight across the Atlantic Ocean. He was convinced that the constant and regular west to east currents of air that he had discovered in the atmosphere would carry a balloon confidently across to France at a velocity of 20 to 40 or even 60 miles per hour, according to its height from the earth. Finally, in 1858, he managed to get the financial help he needed and the Trans-Atlantic Balloon Co. was organized with a view to inaugurating trans-Atlantic service for passengers and mail. Wise suggested that the inaugural flight be made from St. Louis to New York and the company authorized the building of the aerostat Atlantic, under Wise’s direction and John La Mountain’s supervision. The aeronauts were given free use of Washington Square at Clark Avenue and 12th Street for a launch site and preparations were made for the ascension on Friday afternoon, July 1. The St. Louis Gaslight Co. carefully inflated the balloon using hydrogen from an eight inch pipe. The basket and the attached boat (for a possible water landing) were then stocked with the provisions and equipment for the trip. Probably, the most significant item was the express pouch, which was specifically labeled: T.B. Marsh, Agent United States Express Company, No. 82 Broadway, New York. This bag is sent from St. Louis, by the aerial ship Atlantic, July 1st. Please forward to destination from landing of balloon by Express, as above directed C.W. Ford, Agent, St. Louis. Finally, all was ready, the aeronauts were aboard and at 6:40 p.m. July 1, 1859, the Atlantic rose and sailed off to the North-Northeast. Winds blew them too far to the north and they decided to land near Rochester to allow Gager and Hyde to take the mail to New York while Wise and La Mountain flew on to Boston or Portland. They soon found themselves caught in a violent storm over Lake Ontario. Every bit of expendable equipment was jettisoned in an attempt to gain altitude. After sweeping over the lake at a speed in excess of 100 miles per hour, they were carried ashore by the wind and into a forest, crashing through the woods for more than a mile before coming to rest. The four aeronauts found themselves, miraculously unhurt, suspended in the wicker basket 20 feet above the ground with the envelope caught in a tree, punctured and deflated. The greatest balloon voyage ever made ended at 2:30 p.m. St. Louis time, in the township of Henderson, New York on July 2, 1859. The Voyage lasted 19 hours About two hours after dawn on the 17th of May, 1836, St. Louis officially entered the air age. The moment was not particularly auspicious. Spring weather contributed its usual chilly drizzle and pre-flight advertisements had failed to net more than a meager paying crowd, but those who gathered at Fourth and Market streets were witness to one of the first recorded balloon flights to start from the city. Richard Clayton, a prominent American balloonist made the ninth ascension of his career from the launch enclosure, flying south at an altitude of one and a half miles to land some 30 minutes later in a field six miles away. Presumably, Clayton packed up and “flew” on to find fortune in other cities since, as the Missouri Republican editorialized later: “Our citizens cannot expect to have such splendid scenes presented to them unless those who undertake them are well compensated.” Several other pioneer aeronauts launched from the city in the ensuing years, but in 1859 St. Louis entered the Continued on page 54 Toll Free 1-877-818-8010 www.ActionATM.com ActionATM@ActionATM.com