Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-09
.AERONAUT DUMONT
Nearly Meets Death in His
"OirigibIe" Balloon.
Wind Throws It Against Building and
the Balloon Co||apses.
Oumont Hangs in Pcrilous Position Halt An
Hour Before Rescued.

Paris. Aug. S.M Santos Dumont.
the aeronaut. Thursday morning. again
attempted to circle Iciffcl tower He
succeeded in rounding tie tower with
difficulty. The balloon was then unable
to make Roadway against strong
strong winds and fell near d house in
the vicinity. NJ. Santos Dunont was
not injured.
NJ. Dumont started from the Pare Dc
st. Cloud at go A. NJ. amid hearty
cheers. His initial movements We're
promising rs the balloon turned around
E.iifel tower nine minutes and "a see
onds after starting and headed for St
Cloud. Just over the avenue Henri
Marion. however. 4 strong gust OF wind
struck the aerostat, which veered vo-
lcntlN to one side. almost simultaneous
~ bounding backward a distance of 50
yards. The hydrogen gas was forced
from the front to the back part of the
balloon. creating a sudden expansion
which caused the machine To cip. Her
81 rev touched the steel cords and broke
them NJ. Santos Dumont Immediately
stopped the motor and the balloon be
gan to descend
Unfortunately the cover Of the aeros-
tat struck the cornc" of Il six-story
hulding. 4 report like the shot of a
cannon followed. the balloon collapsed
and fell rapidly. Luckily the frame
caught on the coping of the building
and the balloon remained suspended,
otherwise Santos Dumont would have
been killed. AS it was he hung in a
most dangerous position in mid air for
I.,lf - M nfr1 -
succeeded in catching the iron bar Of a
window to which he chung until rescued
with some difficulty by the use OF
ropes. He escaped without a scratch
The explosion OF the balloon attract
ed enormous crowds and the reception
of NJ. Santos Dumont upon reaching
the street was most enthusiastic. many
ladies clinging to his neck and kissing
him repeatedly. AS NJ. Dumont super
intended the removal Of the machine he
said he was quite ready To reCommencc
operations.
NJ. DcutscEe. who offered the prize OF
100000 francs for rounding Eiffel tower
and the return to the starting point
within a given period Of time was SO
affected by the danger that Santos Du-
mont had passed through that he told
him that ne would rather present him
with the prize al once than to see him
Kill himself with his experiments. but
the balloonist replied that he had
rounded the tower in such short pc
Rod this time that he considered tho
result too satisfactory TO relinquish his
attempts
Nj. Santos Dumont gave the follow
ing account Of his trip:
This time it was not the fault OF
the motor. which worked admirably.
1t WAS the balloon which caused the
accident. rounded the Eifel tower
with admira hle speed, as had favor
able wind. ana was already returning
over the Boise De EouIoEne when the
wind suddenly freshened and struck
me siicWiSc
Like ship in Il storm. the balloon
pitched ana rolled Another Su idcn
vce.ing Of the wind caused the front of
tn" balloon to pitch dnwnwardS and
the ropes connecting il with the frame
caught in the propeller. which struck
and broke the balloon wires.
Il saw the danger and my only
thought was to descend as quickly as
possible. This | WAS doing success
fully. though ] was driven by con-
trary wind in the direction Of the
f.inel tower. Again the breeze veercd
ami threw me against building. The
balloon burst like Il TOY balloon and
the fragments fell. completely cover
Ing me. The rest YOU know. | am
unhurt | have not q scratch.
TIL. motor Is uniniured. | will now
send It to st. cloud and set to work
repairing the balloon. 1t IS simply a
matter Of sewing the pieces together.
THE cause Of the accident was that
the balloon was insutIicicntly filled. !
knew this The vcntilator also worked
badly"
NJ Dcutsch. who Vas present at the
start. shed tears when he saw the bal
loon falling. In an interview after
highly praising the courage ana SIKH
Of NJ Dumont. ne said:
II am afraid tn" experiments Will
not be conclusive. as his balloon Will
ALWAYS be at the mercy of tn" wind
! which is not the kind of an airShip we
4 have dreamed OF.
THOUSANDS DROWNED.