The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-02
LAST WORDS.
''In the Chair; Cannot Use the HOSE"
Written on Gard.

Stevenville, Mich, Dec. Tin the
chair; cannot use the hose Such
was the dying message of Peter
Nissen, whose body was found on the
beach, two and a half miles from this
place, and whose balloon boat, Fool
killer No. 81 lies wrecked twenty rods
down the beach from where the body
was discovered.
The last note of Nissen was penciled
on the back of a plain business card
and bore the signature IN" The mes
sage eSta bliSheS beyond a doubt that
death came from SuffOcation. The
condition of the balloon showed that
the hose about twelve inches from the
top of the canvas had been torn in two
and the supply of fresh air was cut
off. 1t is the theory that the constant
lurching of the craft broke the hose
and that Nissen, under a hope of
reaching shore, had navigated thus for
several hours.
A life preserver and Nissen's over
coat were fastened to the basket
shaped car in the boat. The body was
the town hall. The hands and face are
frozen and the features reflect his suf-
fering- The clothing on the body was
somewhat torn. 1t is thought that
great while when the body was found,
as rigor mortis had not set in.
The body was found by Mrs. Collier,
who lives on farm near the lake
as soon as word was received here
that the body had been found and a
coroner's jury was impaneled and be-
gan an inquest. Men have gone from
here to bring in the wrecked Fool
killer No. 5.
When he babe goodby to his friends
on the Illinois shore Nissen asserted
that his balloon boat could weather
the fiercest gale Lake Michigan could
muster at this time of year. Twenty
hours after he had put out from CHR
cago the strange craft was sighted off
Livingston, four miles south of here,
by William Fuller. a farmer. Fuller
says that he watched the progress of
the ship for some time and that it was
intact and was slowly being propelled
to the northward, carried along by a
brisk southwest breeze.
In making a thorough examination
of the wrecked balloon it was discov-
cred that the canvas bag had been
rent with many holes, but that the
chair of the navigator. was intact The
action of the waves after the collapse
of the craft had pulled the cradle
through the outer surface of the bag.
When discovered the cradle lay
stretched upon the shore, partly out of
water.
1t is believed that Nissen remained
in his seat until he became uncon-
scious and that he was unable to save
himself when the Foolkiller was DASH
ed onto the shore. A heavy gale was
blowing and it is presumed he was
tossed about upon the shore all night.
There were bruises on the body, prob
ably made after death. The body will
be sent to Chicago.
When the wrecked aquatic balloon
was examined one of NisSens business
cards was found on the back of which
was a note from the dead adventurer
saying an air hose upon which he de-
pended to renew his supply of air had
broken and that he was doomed to die
of suffocation.
William Fuller, a farmer. saw the
balloon boat being driven toward
shore about 4 p. m. three miles south
of the place where Nissen's body was
found. When Fuller sighted it the
craft had apparently not yet been
broken up by the waves.
1t is believed here Nissen was alive
when his boat first touched the east
ern shore of the lake. His wrecked |
boat was later hauled into Stevenville |
and a coroner's jury was empaneled. |
The inquest was adjourned for further
investigation.