Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-18
ABATTLE WITH DEATH IN THE AIR
Tho Frightful Experience Of q German
Aeronaut in a Recent Trip.

The German aeronaut Wolf recently hsd q
most terrible experience during . trip in
balloon from the grounds Of the Cologne Exhi-
bition of the ART Of War, says the New York .s.a.
In company with Peter Sehmtx aud manu-
facturer named Depenheuer he started in the
balloon Stollwerk at O'Clock on a cloudy
afternoon. The balloon flew ono mile almost
straight upward into the thick Of storm.
around him, decided to make landing as soon
as possible.
There was nothing but woods and woods
under us" he said, subsequently. 1.-The bal
loon descended with violent rapidity. finally
discovered little clearing on a steep mountain
side and prepared to anchor. The balloon
descended more slowly, and the people who
had observed us hurried together underneath
to help US land drew the ventilator little
further open and motiOned to Schmitz to get
out. Depenbeuer aiighted and all was well,
when suddenly whirlwind struck US. A ter
rible jerk sends me on my back in the car, l
jump up to find all things swimming down,
down below me, and two men cllnging help
lessly to the edge OF the car. catch at the near
est one, a peasant who tried to assist in the
landing. Too late. His strength is gone; he
lets go, and hear with horrible distinetnoss
the muffiod thud of his body on tho ground
My heart sickens, but / rally to save my
friend Schnitz, who still sticks to the cars
side Already the clouds are sinking beneath
us. We are at least two miles above the earth
l try to raise Schmitz into the car, but he has
SUNK SO far down from the edge that can
hardly grasp his wrists. and he is too weak to
make an effort for himself Both of us groan
our despair, for all seems over. Slowly and
painfully l raise him little, set my teeth iu
the back of his coat. and endeavor to bind him
fast with the storm line A few moments drag
nj md a.a2 + Sro 1lxy Ga,
fastening the rope-under his arms and in tying
him SO to the car. There is no safety in the
device however for were SchmitZ to lose con-
seriousness for an instant his body would relax
and he would slip away. I call to him: spread
out your arms. Spread out your arms hear
his body move in response to my admonition,
but his voice is lost to me.
All this has occupied twenty-five minutes,
and we have in the meantime been slipping up
ward. Everything now depends on our making
a quick landing. l draw open the valve and
We begin falling We plunge into a great
storm. The balloon spins around in circles
and sways about like a drunken man. Rain,
hail, thunder aud lightning sweep over us. The
balloon reels so that must lie on my face to
remain in the car
Peter, Peterr / call to nv friend Hold
fast! Only hold fsstn
NO response, for he cannot hear nae. The
agitation of the balloon has loosened the rope
and he has sagged back again. down tho side
OF the car, so / can see only his finger tips on
the edge. l creep to the side of the car. seize
ms right wrist with my left hand, and with my
right hand and teeth tug at the valve.
4 cannot hold out longer comes in weak
voice from Schmitz; i am slipping away
"One minute, only minute more, l cry
back, and We will be there
The nearer we como to the ground how
ever. the more violent becomes the oscillation
OF the balloon. Finally we slip over a house, q
barn and drop like shot to the ground
Let go, shout to Sehnitz, and jump
away from the anchor
He obeys and the balloon, 1876 pounds
hghter. scars upward. pull at the valve with
all my strength till the anchor catches a small
tree. But the tree gives way. and with the
rebound the car springs up to the balloon, and
LOT moment hang on almost by my teeth.
ihe anchor catches again in tree. Again
JERK, crack rebound and am tossed about
IKE ball. Once more the anchor catches. |
md myself just above the top Of a dense old
cedar. Head first dive into the branches and
fall from bough to bough till reach the ground.
ihe anchor ratties near me. Another tree
breaks and the balloon sails of to the north
east.
Il had landed near Give. In an hour had
the whole neighborhood out looking for
Schmltz. He was not to be found. Dead l
thought, as limped painfully along between
two peasants in the direction of the Overath
railway station. Presently a group OF men
and women hurried toward US from a side
street. Three OF them were half carrying
man. 1 hastened to them as rapidly as
could and had Schmitz in my arms
To-day my head is dense and weightv.
Every bone in my body aches and pulsates. 1
cannot sleep, and have no peace. since ] can
get no news OF the poor peasant who fell
sacrifice to his Willingness to help me-"