Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-15
Is NOT DISCOURAGED
Santos Dumont Says He Will
Rebuild His Wrecked Air
ship at Once.
Motor Of the Machine Lost in
Waters OF Bay OF
Monaco.
Particulars of Thrilling Acct.
dent, in Which Aeronaut
Was in Peril.

Monaco Feb. 15-Santo Dumont's
airship, which collapsed while he was
sailing over the bay yesterday, is tat
tered wreck. while his motor lies at the
bottom of the bay of Monaco.
The morning broke gloriously, but as
there was considerable wind. Santos
Dumont decided not to attempt flight.
Towards 9 o'clock in the afternoon,
however, the wind dropped and the
weather appeared to be perfect. With
the exception of an ominous little cloud
hanging over the hill called Tete de
Chen which overlooks the bay, the
sky was clear and blue.
AT this hour Santos Dumont an
nounced that he would make trip in
his airship.
A big crowd assembled at the en-
trance of the aerodome, and as the
large doors of the building rolled back
the airship emerged, at twenty minutes
of three. A number of steam yachts
and launches, including the Prince of
Monaco's yacht. Princess Alice, and a
launch belonging to Eugene Higgins,
with parties on board, We're cruising
about the bay with the intention of fol-
lowing the balloon.
Cheers greeted Santos Dumont as his
airship rose and it's head pointed for
the middle of the bay. 1t was soon no.
ticed. however, that instead of main
tanning its usual flight the balloon rose
and pitched in way that created con-
siderable anxiety among the spectators
The aeronaut, however, kept on his
flight, and pointing his ship to the left,
continued to ascend until the long guide
rope was quite twenty feet out of the
water. In turning the balloon the guide
rope caught in the screw and this, with
the erratic working of the airship. Gre
ated a situation of great danger. AT the
same time a squall burst from Tete de
Chen and Santos Dumont tilted the
head of his balloon upwards in order to
disengage the guide rope. But in SO
doing the balloon ballast shifted and
the oil used to run the motor began to
spread. Fearing an explosion the in
ventor pulled the emergency cord. This
ripped the envelope of the balloon,
which at once began rapidly to de-
head. He could easily be seen from the
shore watching the various parts of the
airship. AT this time the balloon had
slightly righted itself ,nd the lower
part, having become empty. the airship
dropped slantingly toward the pigeon
shooting ground which borders the bay.
In front of these grounds there lies
reef of sharp rocks and the excitement
on shore became intense as apprehen-
sions arose that Santo Dumont would
drift on these rocks and be dashed to
pieces.
In the meanwhile the steam launches
in the bay We're making toward the
spot where 1t was supposed the balloon
would fall. The first to approach was
the Princess Alice. belonging to the
Prince of Monaco, and those ON board
seized the balloons guide ropes, which.
somehow, had become dsentangled. At
the moment this was done a sharp,
cracking sound. made by the motor,
could be heard, and the screw was seen
again to revolve. The balloon, which
was then almost in the sea, rose slowly
for few moments. But the motor
stopped again and the airship descend
ed a second time, until Santos Dumont
was immersed up to his armpits in the
water.
This scene was witnessed with in
tense excitement by the onlookers
ashore and afloat The aeronaut. with
the pluck which has characterized him
turnout his dangerous various expert
ments. could be seen standing up In his
car gesticulating and shouting direc-
lions to those on the launch which was
towing him towards the Princess Alice.
AT five minutes of three the end of the
balloon burst and the Prince of Monaco,
who was on board the launch then gave
orders to rescue Santos Dumont from
his perilous position. The launch then
came alongside the half debated bal
loon of the airship, which threatened at
any moment to smother Santos Du-
mont. The latter was half pulled and
half clambered over the gunwale into
the boat.
Prince Monaco took him by the hand
and urged him to allow himself TO be
taken on board the yacht to dry him
self and change his clothes. But the
aernoaut enorgetically refused to do
this until the remnants of the ai.ship
had been saved. With the sea water
dripping from his clothes and looking
like water rat, the inventor stood in
the bows of the launch shouting direc-
lions for the salvage of his airship 1t
was impossible to save more than the
silk envelope The motor had to be
left to it's fate. and it sank. The launch
on which was the inventor then made
for the shore, escorted by flotilla of
other launches and boats
AS Santos Dumont landed, the great
assemblage which had gathered on the
shore acclaimed him with extreme en-
thusiasm. His first words of hurried
interview, obtained as he made his way
toward his residence, We're: Il am not
discouraged. My trip to Cape Martin
is only postponed. / will start again
as soon as can get ready