Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-05
AlRSHlP ESCAPES
THE CALIFORNIA AFRO w"
TAKES UNAUTHORIZED AscEN-
SION WITHOUT BALLooNlsT.
Alrship Record of the Day

motionless mile away in vacant lot.
Ais p. m.-Makes second ascent and
returns to concourse, greeted with
cheers.
1920 p. m.-Heads westward at good
speed at altitude of 1900 feet.
ABS p. m.-Exhaust cap again blows
off and airship drifts towards the west
4:30 p. m.-All hands start in pur.
suit.
$50 p.m.-Airship descends in corn.
field four miles from fair grounds.
5:26 p. m.-Capt Baldwin and party
arrive with automobiles, bicycles, light
buggies and tow ropes.
$50 p. m.-Procession starts to fair
grounds with captive in tow
500 p. m.-Arrives amid triumphal
shouts
8:15 p. m.-Airship escapes again
while being guided over trolley wire.
S:16 p. m.-Disappears in the north
west.
st. Louis, Mo-, Nov. 3.--After two
unsuccessful attempts caused by the
blowing off of an exhaust cap to sail
upon stated course Of fifteen miles,
the airship California Arrow escaped
in northwesterly direction at 8:15
" SAoSh uSoudy iiShS 1No oAC Nao
on board the aerial craft and it had
the whole expanse of the heavens to
sail in, in any direction the air cur
rents cared to send it.
At midnight the whereabouts of the
airship were unknown.
The airship, in charge Of Aeronaut
Knabenschue, descended in cornfield
four miles from the fair grounds, and
Capt. Baldwin, its owner, with several
others, went to that spot in an automo-
bile to tow it back to the aeronautic
concOurse.
The Arrow was secured and good
progress made award the fair grounds
There was trolley line to be crossed,
and it was necessary to pass the PROV
of the craft over the wire and catch
the downhanging rope and then re.
lease the rope that hung from the
rear.
Arship Escapes Its Captors.
In the darkness those manipulating
the ropes miscalculated, and both the
front and rear ropes were released at
the same time. In a twinkling the
buoyant airship, from which has been
taken twenty-five pounds of ballast,
shot up and was gone In the dim light
projected by the nearest arc light the
yellow balloon loomeo indistinctly, but
for a sufficient space of time to show
that the light wind was carrying it
toward the northwest.
Aeronauts Resigned to Loss.
There was absolutely nothing for
Capt. Baldwin, Knabenshue, and the
other members of the party to do but
accept the situation and make the best
of it. After some discussion with
Knabenshue, Capt. Baldwin expressed
his belief that the Arrow would de-
scend within an hour. The party then
proceeded on to the concourse. Up
to a late hour it had not been heard
from
Capt. Baldwin Not Discouraged.
Capt Baldwin said:
Beyond delaying our flight sched-
uled for tomorrow, l do not look for
any more serious results from the ac-
cident. The Arrow should land easily,
and unless high wind arises, should
be none the worse for Its unauthorized
ascension
Accidents Prevent Flight.
The escpae of the airship was the
elimination of a series of accidents
which prevented Aeronaut Knaben-
shue from sailing the fifteen mile
course planned by Capt. Baldwin.
Two ascents were made. but both
were abortive because of the blowing
off of the exhaust cap Of the motor.
The injury was repaired after the first
ascent. but when Aeronaut knaben-
shue reached an altitude of l,5O0 feet
at the second trial the cap blew Off
again and the blades of the propeller
became motionless.
Knabenshue, undaunted by the sec
ond breakdown, hung far out over the
side Of the aerial vessel and waved his
cap toward the hundreds of persons
thronging the aeronautic concourse.
Aeronaut cheered by Crowd.
His action could plainly be seen
from the ground, and the spectators
responded with cheers to the farewell
of the temporarily beaten aeronaut.
Higher and higher f1oated the air
ship, the breeze, which was blowing at
the rate Of about five miles an hour
from the southeast. taking hold OF the
helpless air craft and waiting it
slowly away from the sight of those
anxiously following it's course, 1900 or
1000 feet below.
Follow Airship in Auto.
When the accident happened Capt.
Baldwin started after the drifting air
ship in an automobile. He was accom-
panied by half a dozen volunteers. who
were to assist him in towing the help
less Arrow back to the fair grounds.
The aeronaut acted in concert with
Capt. Baldwin, with whom he was in
communication by means of signals.
81 was afraid" said Knabenshue.
after his descent, that ii / landed
while the automobile was SO far be.
hind me it would require much time
for them to locate the spot where I
had brought the Arrow to earth
Accordingly l remained in the air
until the automobile was almost d.
rectly beneath me, and then, locating
a good place, allowed sufficient gas to
escape to bring me to the ground.
Fears Expressed for Airship.
When Capt. Baldwin and Aeronaut
Knabenshue announced the escape of
the Arrow the fear was expressed that
the airship would be so badly dam.