The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-01-18
BALLOON vs.. SCHOONER.
A Race in Which The Aeronaut was
supposed to Have Been Lost.

supposed to Have Been Lost.
Captain Eiermann, who made an
ascension from Milwaukee in q bal
loon Sunday, arrived at st. !gnace
on the schooner Ellen Williams,
which had just come down the lake
light for cedar posts. Eiermann was
picked up by the Williams Sunday
night, as near IS the Captain could
locate the spot, about twenty-five
miles northeast Of Milwaukee.
The balloon was sighted just ahead
Of the schooner by the lookout, who
gave the alarm. The balloon ct that
time was driving along on the top
Of the waves, with the car every once
in while catching in the heavy sea
that was running. The schooner's
course was shifted and chase given
to the air ship. For time the lat.
ter kept away, but each time the
basket caught in the waves the bal
loon would be brought up standing
for . minute, and then the schooner
would gain.
In this way the chase continued
for nearly half an hour. When the
schooner came near the balloon
Eiermann was discovered floating in
the water. The Williams had pass.
ed him when he was first discovered,
but she was put about at once, aud
after considerable trouble Eiermann
was pulled on board more dead than
alive. He was soon revived, how
ever, and In few minutes was able
to tell his rescuers who he was and
where he came from. In the excite.
ment Of rescuing Eiermann the crew
Of the Williams did not notice what
became OF the balloon, which is sup.
posed to have become disentangled
from the car and hoated of down
the lake.
Captain Eiermann said that after
the balloon shot up from Schlitz
Park he caught a current OF air from
the northwest which carried him
out over the lake and to the south.
ward. Hoping to get an inshore
current he threw out ballast to the
last bag, but this did not tighten The
balloon, which was filed with . pool
quality Of gas that did not give |,
the usual buoyancy."
After an hour tho ballon began L
settle and presently caught tn,
southwest breeze and was then hurl
cd along down the lake. II sanl
lower cad Tower until IL became ap
apparent to Biermann that IL wa
only matter Of short time wher
he would be in the lake. He put OIL
the cork life.preserver which he hat
in the basket and prepared Il
make as hard a fight as possible fol
his life. At length . wave highe
than usual dashed up into the has
ket, wetting him through aud caus
ing the airship to drag. A few min
utes after the basket was dragginI
on the tops OF the waves whicl
would dash in and Gil IL. To escap
As far Is possible the aeronaut climb
Q cd into the netting, where he clunI
: for life for nearly an hour. At time
when the basket caught in the wave
the shock would nearly throw hir
from his perch. Then the balloo
o would rise q few feet and swee
along until the basket caught seai
with . jerk that threatened to ts'
everything loose.
EiorInann was gradually losin
strength and at last tho contact OF
bigger wave than usual threw hiI
into the water. The life presefvt
kept him afoat, but he was sue
cumbing TO the chill OF the wave
when no caught sight Of the schooI
T or. He cried out about tho sam
time he WAS discovered by the crew
II seemed hours before the schoont
could be put about and reach hin
but he kept up, although abo,
n exhausted whom he was hauled o,
Of tho water aud lifted on deck b
the rough, but Kindly sailors. -- Ch
n cann M,rnM