New-York tribune., 1902-02-15
SANTOS-DUMONT HAS PAIL.
BRAZILIAN AERoNAUTS BALLOON COL
LAPsEs AT MONACO.
HE GOES DOWN WITH THE WRECK INFO
THE BAY, BUT IS RESCUED-WIIL
TRY AGAIN

THE BAY, BUT Is RESCUED-WILL
TRY AGAIN.
Monaco. Feb. 14-Santos- -Dumont, the aero
naut met with a disaster here to-day. and him.
self had a narrow escape from death. His air
ship is a tattered wreck while tonight his
motor lies at the bottom Of the Bay or Monaco
The morning broke gIoriously. but as there
was considerable wind, Santos-Dumont decided
not to attempt fight, but, toward o'clock in
the afternoon. the wind dropped, and the
weather appeared to he perfect. With the ex-
cepton of an ominous little cloud hanging over
the hill called Tete de Chen. which overlooks
the bay, the sky clear and blue. At this
hour Santos Dumont announced that he would
make a trip in his airship. A big crowd as
sembled at the entrance of the Aerodrone. and
the doors OF the building rolled back the air
ship emerged at 2:40 o'clock number of
steam yachts and launches, including the Prince
of Mcnaco's yacht, the Princess Alice, and
launch belonging to Eugene Higgins, with
parties on board. were cruising about the bay
with the intention of following the balloon
Cheers greeted Santos-Dumont his airship
rose and it's head pointed for the middle OF the
bay
AIRsHIP DID NOT ACT RIGHT
1t was soon noticed. however, that. instead Of
maintaining its usual equilibrium, the balloon
rose and pitched in way that created consid-
cradle anxiety among the spectators. The aero
naut. however. continued his flight. and. point
ing 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, created sit
uation of great danger. At the same time a
squau burst from Tete de Chien and Santos
Dumont tilted the head OF his balloon upward
IN order to discngage the guide rope. But. In
so doing. the ballast shifted. and the oil used
10 run the motor began to spread
Fearing an explosion. the inventor pulled the
emergency cord. This rips the envelope OF the
balloon. which at once began rapidly to descend
Santos Dumont did not lose his head. He could
distinctly be seer from the shore, watching the
various parts of the airship. At this time the
balloon had slightly righted itself. and the
lower part. having become empty. the airship
dropped slantingly toward the pigeon shooting
grounds which border the bay. In front of
these grounds there lies reef Of sharp rocks,
and the excitement on shore became intense, as
apprehension arose that Santos -Dumont would
drift on these rocks and he dashed to pieces.
REsCUERs RUSH TO SAVE HIM.
In the mean time the steam launches in the
bay were making toward the spot where It
was supposed the balloon would fall. The first
TO approach was the Princess Alice, belonging
to the Prince of Monaco Those on board the
Princess Alice seized the balloons guide rope.
which somehow had become disentansled- 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 bal
loon, which then almost in the sea, rose
slowly for a few moments But the motor
stopped again. and the airship descended
frfF11
up 10 his armpits in the water.
This scene was Witnessed with intense ex-
element by the onloOkers ashore and afoat-
The aeronaut with the pluck which has char
acterzed him throughout his dangerous expert
ments. could be seen standing up in his car
gesticulating and shouting directions to those
on the launch. which was towing him toward
the Princess Alice. At five minutes of o'clock
the end of the balloon burst. and the Prince or
Monaco. who was board the launch. then
gave orders TO rescue Santos-Dumont from his
perIlous position. The launch came alongside
the half debated balloon OF the airship. which
threatened at any moment 10 smother Santos
Dumont. The latter was half pulled and half
cIambered over the guuwale into the boat.
The Prince OF Monaco took him by the hand
and urged him to allow himself 10 be taken on
board the yacht to dry himself and change his
clothes. But the aeronaut energetically refused
been saved. With the sea water dripping from
his clothes, and looking like a water rat, the
inventor stood in the bows of the launch shout
ing directions for the salvage OF his airship. IL
was impossible 10 save more than the Silken
envelope and the motor had 10 be left 10 its
fate II sank beneath the waves. The launch
on which was the inventor then made for the
shore escorted by a hotilla of other launches
and boats.
PIUCKY INVENTOR NOT DISCOURAGED.
As Santos Dumont landed the immense as
sembIage which had gathered on the shore ac-
claimed him with frantic enthusiasm. His first
words of a hurried interview. obtained as he
made his way toward his house. were:
Il am not discouraged My trip to Cap Mar
tir is only postponed. l will start again as soon
as / can get ready. This accident was due TO
the ENHANCEMENT of the guide rope with the
screw and wires of the balloon. The balloon
was not fully inflated when 1 started. Seeing
that an accident inevitable pulled the
emergency cord, but pulled il harder than In
tended This made bigger rent than wanted.
the arship collapsed too quickly.
and for a moment there seemed TO be danger
of the casing falling me. But. luckily, this
danger was aVerted. | shall try again.
NAVAL STRENGTH.
forn,rt.op Of he n.