Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-15
DUNONT'S SHIP is WRECKED
Air Vstssl Meets with DisaStsr, but
Asrsnaut Escapes.
INVENTOR HAS A THRILLING EXPERIENCE
Undaunted Inventor Says Failure Is
Due 60 Mere Accident and He Will
Yet Sail TO Cape
Martin.

MONACO, Feb 1l.-santos- -Dumont, the
eeronaut, met with a disaster here today
ami had narrow escape from death. His
sirship is a tattered wreck, while tonight
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 fight.
Toward D. m, however. the wind dropped
and the weather appeared to be perfect.
With the exception of an ominous- looking
cloud hanging over the hill called Tete de
Chen, which overlooks the bay, the sky
was clear and blue.
At this hour Santos Dumont announced
that he would make a trip in his airshp.
big crowd assembled at the entrance of
the aerodrome, and the large doors OF
the building rolled back, the airship
emerged at twenty minutes OF 3. A num-
ber Of steam yachts and launches, includ-
ing the prince of Monaco's yacht, Princess
Alice, and launch belonging to Eugene
Higgins, with parties ON board, we're cruis-
ing about the bay with the intention Of
following the balloon. Cheers greeted
Santos -Dumont as his airship rose, and its
head pointed for the middle of the bay
~ was sOon noticed, however, Lnat ln~
stead Of maintaining It's usual equilibrium
the balloon rose and pitched in a way that
created considerable anxiety among the
spectators.
Continues HIS Flight.
The aeronaut. however, kept on his
flight and. pointing his whip 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 sirship, created
a situation Of great danger. At the same
time squall burst from Tete de CHEN, and
Santos-Dumont tilted the head of his bal
loon upward in order to disengage the
guiderope, but in doing SO the ballast
shifted. and the oil used to run the motor
began to spread.
Fearing an explosion, the inventor pulled
the emergency cord. This ripped the en-
velope OF the balloon, which at once began
rapidly to descend. Santos Dumont did not
lose his 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, and the lower
part, having become empty, the airship
dropped slantingly toward the pigeon
shooting grounds which border the bay.
Excitement Grows Intense.
In front of these grounds there lies a
reef OF sharp rocks. and the excitement ON
shore became intense, as apprehensions
arose that Santos. Dumont would drift on
these rocks and be dashed to pieces.
In the meanwhile the steam launches IN
the bay were making toward the spot where
1t was supposed the balloon would fall.
The first to approach was Princess Alice
belonging to the prince OF Monaco, ana
those on board seized the balloons guide.
rope, which had become disentangled
AT this time sharp cracking sound
made by the motor could be heard and the
screw was seen to revolve The balloon
then slowly rose for few moments But
the motor stopped again and the airship
descended second time until Santos -Du
mont was immersed up to his armpits in
the water.
The scene was witnessed with intense
excitement by the onlookers ashore and
a1oat
Maintains His Courage.
The aeronaut with the pluck which has
characterized him throughout his danger
ous experiments, could be seen standing
up In his car gesticulating and shouting
directions to those towing him toward
Princess Alice.
At $3.50 the end Of the balloon burst and
the prince Of Monaco, who was on board
the launch, then gave orders to rescue
Santos -Dumont. The launch then came
alongside the airship, which threatened at
any time to smother Santos Dumont. The
latter was pulled into the boat The prince
Of Monaco took him by the hand, urged
him to allow himself to be taken ON board
the yacht to dry himself and change his
clothing. The aeronaut energetically re-
fused to do this until the remnants Of his
airship had been saved. With the sea-
water dripping from his clothes and look
ing like a water rat, the inventor stood In
the bows OF the launch shouting directions
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 II sank. The launch on
which the inventor was then made for the
shore.
The great assemblage on the shore ac-
claimed him with extreme enthusiasm. His
first words Of a hurried interview, obtained
as he made his way toward his residence
were:
l am not discouraged. My trip to Cape
Martin is only postponed. will start
again as soon as can get ready. This
the guide rope with the screw and wires
Of the balloon. The balloon was not fully
Inflated when / started. Seeing that an
accident was inevitable, pulled the emer-
gency cord, but pulled 1t harder than 1
Intended. This made bigger rent than I
wanted. Consequently the airship coll
lapsed too quickly and for a moment there
seemed danger Of the casing falling on me
But luckily this danger was averted /
shall try again.
KERENS STAYS IN THE SADDLE