The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-03
Two Accidents Mar Knabensbue
Successful Flight
MOTOR BREAKS IN MID AIR
Aeronaut Is cheered BY Il sands as
He Approaches Against the
Breeze, When Suddenly
the Motor Stops.

st. Louis, November 1.-Two accidents
today prevented the long distance trial
of the flight by Capt Thomas s. Bald
win of San Francisco to test the staying
powers of his airship. the California Ar
row. and what was to have been speed
demonstration around a prescribed quad
rangular course of about fifteen miles
developed into a drifting exhibition, the
Arrow finally landing in a cornfeld four
miles west of Aeronautic concourse at
the Worlds fair. after the motor had
been disabled by an exhaust cap again
blowing off when the vessel had resumed
its flight after the first breakdown had
been repaired.
The first accident resulted In the Ar
| row being brought to the ground about
a mile and half northeast of the con-
/ course. The airship was commanded by
| A. Roy Knabenshue of Toledo. o., the
hero Of the successful flight on Monday
and yesterday. Captain Baldwin had ar
ranged to follow the airship in auto
mobile. and when the accident occurred.
and the motor stopped, he gave instruc-
4 tions to follow the drifting aerial craft
| Nature of Accident Explained.
Just before passing through the Worlds
fair gates, Jefferson guard ran to the
automobile and handed Captain Baldwin
a metal cap which he said had fallen
lust after it was noticed that the air.
ship was In trouble. The cap explained
the nature OF the accident to those on the
ground, and Captain Baldwin state that
the damage could be repaired without
bringing the airship back to aerodrome.
provided Knabenshue could land without
losing too much gas, and the trip resumed
after the Arrow returned to the con-
course under its own power
Il When Captain Baldwin reached the Ar
row the repairs were Immediately started
y and in less than an hour the Arrow was
again in the air making headway against
the breeze that had blown it out of its
courst and 1t looked as though the long
distance test would be made
Again Approached the concourse.
After the Arrow had disappeared from
the sight of those assembled in the con-
course, the crowd waited for some word
from the damaged airship. Suddenly the
Arrow was seen arising above the hori-
zon, and within five minutes 1t had APP
preached the concourse so near that
| hDaDenSnue COulQ DC pldlHlJ bctH diu
the 'chug, chug" of ---e motor heard.
Cheer after cheer greeted the reappear-
ance of the Arrow. Just before 1t arrived
In position over the concourse fence,
the motor was again seen to hesitate.
Three or four wavering evolutions fol-
lowed, and then the blades hung motion
less. while the airship was again hurried
back over the distance by the breeze.
Higher and higher fioated the craft,
the breeze, which was blowing about
five miles an hour from the southeast,
eagerly taking hold of the helpless air
ship. and waiting 1t slowly away from
the sight of those following its course.
Ship Is Carried Back.
The atmosphere had been hazy all af-
ternoon and 1t did not take long before
the California Arrow was a tiny object
almost obscured from view. As the yes
sci was so near the concourse. Captain
Baldwin decided that 1t would entail too
great loss of time to defiate the bag
and carry the Arrow back to the fair
grounds. Volunteers came forward and
the balloon was carried back.
| While Captain Baldwin and HIS assfs-
tants were returning the airship from the
place where 1t landed In st, Louis county
to the worlds fair aeronautic concourse'
. b. broke loose and scared into the air.
1t escaped at 8:15 o'clock tonight just
as the persons were towing II into the
l concourse. There was q trolley line to
be crossed and 4 was necessary to pass
| the prov of the craft over the trolley
wire and catch the down-hanging rope
| and then release the rope that hung from
the rear In the darkness those manip-
ulating the ropes msealculated and both
the front and rear ropes were released
~ the same time In a twinkling the
buovant craft from which had been taken
TWENTY-FIVE pounds of ballast and which
! was not even encountered with Aeronaut
xnabenshue shot up In the air and was ,
gone In the dim light projected by the
nearest arc light, the yellow balloon
loomed distinctly but for enough space of
time to show that the light wind was car
rying II toward the northwest
There was nothing for Baldwin and
Knabenshu to do but to accept the situa-
tion and make the best of 1t. AS TO
some little discussion as to the probable
length Of time the supply of gas would
sustain the airship, Baldwin said he be-
lieved the Arrow would descend to the
ground within an hour.
At II o'clock nothing had been heard
regarding the probable location of the
alrship which Captain Baldwin felt con-
fident had by that time landed through
| condensation of gas. and he decided not
to look farther for the machine. He con-
sidered II probable that word would be
received during the early morning that
the airshlp had been found. In which
event It will be conveyed to the con-
course for another trip The trip, how
ever. cannot he made until the end of the
week. even If the airship Is uninjured' as
II will require some time to initiate the
| hall