Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-02-21
LOSES HIS BALLOON.
santos-Dumont Meets with Disaster
in Ascent mt Monnco-Fnlls
Into the Sen.

Into the Sen.
Monaco, Feb. 15.-Santos-Dumont,
the aeronaut, met with disaster here
Friday and hail a narrow escape from
death. His airship is n tattered wreck
while his motor lies al the bottom of
| the Bay of Monaco. The morning
broke gloriously, but as there was
considerable wind, Santos-Dumont
decided not to attempt fight. To-
wards two 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 announced that he
would make trip in his airship. A big
crowd assembled at the entrance of
theAerodrome, and as the large doors
of the building rolled back, the airship
emerged at 20 minutes of three.
number of steam yachts and launches,
including the prince of Monaco's yacht,
Princess Alice.
1t was soon noticed, however, that
instead of maintaining its usual equi-
librium, the balloon rose and pitched
in way that created considerable anx-
iety among the spectators. The aero
naut, however, kept on his flight, and
pointing his ship to the left continued
to ascend until the long guide rope was
quite 20 feet out of the water. In turn
ing 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 Sc me
time squall burst from Tete de Chen,
and Santos-Dumont tilted the head of
his balloon upwards in order to olsen
gage the guide rope. But in so doing
the ballast shifted and the oil used to
run the motor began to spread. Fear
ing an explosion, the inventor pulled
the emergency cord.
This ripped the envelope of the bal
loon, 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 bal
, loon had slightly righted itself and
} the lower part, having become empty,
the airship dropped slantingly to-
wards the pigeon shooting ground
, which borders the bay. In front of
these grounds there lies Il reef of sharp
rocks, and the excitement on shore be-
came 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 it was supposed the bal
loon would fall. The first to approach
was the Princess Alice, belonging to
n the Prince of Monaco, and those on
y board seized the balloons guide rope
: which somehow had become Olsen
q tangled. At the moment this wa.
n done, sharp cracking sound, made
+ by the motor, could be heard and the
e screw was seen again to revolve. TIL,
balloon, which was then almost in the
!. sea, rose slowly for few moments.
l. But the motor stopped again ant
n the airship descended a second tim,
" until Santos-Dumont was immersed
v up to his armpits in the water. Thi
scene was witnessed with intense ex
n citement by the onlookers ashor,
e and afoat. The aeronaut, with tn,
pluck which has characterized hin
e throughout his dangerous expert
W ments, could be seen standing up il
his car gesticulating and shouting di
e rections to those on the launch whicl
= was towing him towards the Princes
l. Alice. At 1855 the end of the balloon
l. burst and the prince of Monaco, VIII,
! le was on board the launch, then CAV
n, orders to rescue Santos-Dumont from
j. his perilous position. The launch thel
20 came alongside the half de flated bal
.e loon of the airship which threatene
10 at any moment to smother Santos
Dumont. The latter was half pulle
S. and half clambered over the ,unwale
into the boat.
= The prince of Monaco took him b.
the hand and urged him to allow him
self to be taken on board the yach
). to dry himself and change his clothe.
But the aeronaut energetical,y re
fused to do this until the remnant
of the airship had been saved. Wit
q. the sea water dripping from hi
m clothes and looking like water ra'
Is the inventor stood in the bows Of til
q launch shouting directions for the sa
ye wage of his airship. 1t was impossibl
" to save more than the silk envelop,
~ The motor had to be left to its fat
q. and it sank. The launch on which wa
N the inventor then made for the shor
n escorted by fotilla of other launche
N and boats.
ct DESERTER KILLED.