Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-01-09
A BATTLE FOR LIFE.
Tho TrdGhtful Experience OF q Ger
man AerOnaut

The German aeronaut Wolf recently
had most terrible experience during q
trip in balloon from the grounds Of
tho Cologne Exhibition OF tho Art OF
War, says tho Now York Sun. In COM
pany with Peter Schritz and manu-
facturcr named Depenheucr he started
in tho balloon Stollwerk ut one o'clock
on q cloudy afternoon. Tho balloon
flew ono mile almost straight upward
into tho thick of q storm. Wolff, fear
full of tho strong winds aid hail around
him, decided to mako landing as soon
as possible.
"Thero was nothing but woods and
woods under US" no said. subsequently.
"Tho balloon descended with violent
rapidity finally discovered little
clearing on steep mountain side and
prepared to anchor. Tho balloon de-
seconded moro slowly, and tho people
who had observed us hurried together
underneath to help us land. drew tho
vcrtilator u littlo further open and mo-
toned to Schmitz to get out. Depen-
heuer alightcd, and all was we'll, when
suddenly q whirlwind struck us. A ter
riblo jerk sends mo on my back in the
car. jump up to find all things swim
men clinGing hclplesslY to tho cdgo of
the car. l catch tho nearest one, q peas
ant who tried to assist in tho landing.
Too late! Ills strength is gone; he let's
90, and I hear with horrible distinct
ness the muf1cd thud OF his body on tho
ground.
MY heart sickens, but rally to savo
my friend Schmitz, who still sticks to
tho cars side. Already tho clouds arc
sinking beneath us. Wo arc at least
two miles above the earth. ] try to raise
Schmitz into tho car but no has sunk SO
far down from tho edge that can hard
ly grasp his wrists, and no is too weak
to make an effort for himself. Both Of
us groan our despair, for all seems over.
Slowly and painfully raiso him lit
tic. set my teeth in tho back of his coat
and endeavor to bind him fast with the
storm-line.
.All this has occupied twenty-five
minutes, and we have in tho meantime
been slipping upward. Every thing
now depends on our making n quick
landing. 1 draw open the valve and We
begin falling. We plunge into great
storm. The balloon spins around in cir
cles, and sways about like drunken
man. Rain, hail, thunder and lightning
sweep over US. Tho balloon roofs 80
that must lie on my face TO remain in
the car.
""Peter! Pcterr I call to my friend.
Hold fast! Only hold fastn
"No response, for he can not hear me.
Tho agitation of tho balloon has
loosencd the rope and he has sagged
back again, down the side of the Car, so
can 500 only his finger tips on tho
edge. I creep to tho side of tho car,
seize his right wrist with my left hand.
and with my right hand and teeth tug
ut the valvc.
"'I can not hold out longer,' comes in
weak voice from Schmitz- i am slip
ping away
" Ono minute, only minute more,
! cry back, and wo will DO thoro'
Tho nearer we come to tho ground,
however, the more violent becomes tho
oscillation of the balloon. Finally VIC
| slip over n house, barn and drop like q
shot to the ground.
"'Let co. I shouted TO Schmitz, and
| jump away from the anchor
"He obeys and the balloon, 1915 pounds
lighter, scars upward. l pull at the
valve with all my strength till tho anchor
catches a small tree. But tho tree
| gives way, and with the rebound tho car
springs up to the balloon, and for a mo.
ment 1 hang on almost by my teoth,
The anchors catches again in tree.
Again jerk, crack, rebound, and
nm tossed about like ball. Once moro
the anchor catches. find myself just
above the top of a dense old cedar
Head first dive into tho branches
and fall from bough to bough till roach
the ground. The anchor rattles neal
inc. Another tree breaks, and the bal
loon sails of to the northwest.
II had landed near Give. In an hour
had tho whole neighborhood out look
ing for Sohmitz. He was not to bc
found. Dead thought, as limpet
painfully along between two peasants II
the direction OF the Ovorath railway
station. Presently group Of mon ant
women hurried toward us from O sidC