Denver, Colorado, USA
1902 - WRECK OF BIGGEST BALLOON.

The remarkable ascent of "Big Glory", the largest balloon ever built, sent up from Denver, Col., Monday, resulted in the wreck of the machine and the narrow escape from death of its three occupants. When the balloon left it caught the eastern surface current and sailed toward the rising sun, but when it reached a greater altitude it suddenly veered and hung around the mountains, proving the theory of scientists that the cold air of the mountains acts as a suction for air currents within fifty miles, and preclude an eastern voyage from that vicinity. The balloon was caught in a cyclone and hurled along in every direction, crossing and recrossing Pike's Peek at an altitude of 28,000 feet, and suddenly to the foot hills only to be carried up again. All ballast was thrown over, including instruments and food. When thirty miles north of Florence, the balloon began to leak gas and the men finally landed almost exhausted in a bunch of fir trees. The water carried in the basket was frozen during the night.

The Atlanta Constitution
Atlanta, Georgia
September 7, 1902

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