Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-12-07

On which 1t was built. Not far from the
craft lay the body of its navigator. His
body was frozen stiff.
The 1-inch hose upon which Nissen de-
pended for fresh air was found broken,
and it is thought that the inventor suf-
located.
Foolkiller, No 3, proved its name The
immense wind bag" was found on the
beach near Stevensville. seven miles south
of st. Joseph. The body was discovered
wife Of a German farmer residing along
the lake shore.
Watch Stopped at Gas.
On examination of his effects it was
found that his watch had stopped at 6:45
Whether Nissen realized that he had
proven the success of his invention will
never be known. When he babe good
bye to his friends on the Illinois shore he
asserted that his balloon coat could with
stand the fercest gale that Lake Mich
lgan could muster at this time Of year.
Canvas Balloon Wrecked.
In making a thorough examination Of
the wrecked balloon it was discovered
that the canvas bag had been rent with
many holes, but that the cradle, upon
which was suspended the chair of the
navigator, was intact.
The action of the waves after the col
lapse of the craft had pulled the cradle
through the outer surface Of the bag
When discovered the cradle lay stretched
upon the shore partially out Of water
A steel shaft about three inches in
diameter extended nearly the entire
length of the canvas bag and at each
of small ropes buckled to the inner sur
face Of the balloon. The chair, which
was to support the navigator was wood
en- structure lncased on the shaft, at the
end Of which was found wooden locker
Provided with Food.
1t contained quantity Of mixed can
dy, raisins, and a package of crackers
Below the supporting chair was a cradle
suspended from the shaft. and at any
time that the captain could not maintain
his position on the chair he could drop
into this cradle and lay outstretched Air
was to have been obtained through q two
inch hose connected with the highest
point Of the craft and controlled by &
lever within easy reach Of the navigator
Death from Suffocation.
Upon the back of a plain business card
was found the farewell note of Capt Mis-
sen. 1t read: in the chair, cannot use
the hose" 1t was signed an" This
message establishes beyond doubt that
death came from suffocation. The condi-
ton Of the balloon showed that the hose
about twelve inches from the top Of the
canvas had been torn in two and the sup
ply Of fresh air cut off. 1t is the theory
that the constant lurching of the craft
had broken the hose, and that Capt. Mis-
sen, under hope Of reaching shore, had
naylgated thus for several hours.
The balloon had evidently crossed the
lake III about the time figured upon by
the inventor. The fact that the strange
craft had rolled over the water along
several mics of shore proves that the in
Ventor was unable to alter his course and
that be simply had to await the notions
OF the elements. Because of the singular
construction Of the craft Nissen had no
means of signaling shore.
Was Air Tight Craft.
The "Foolkiller" was water tight and
air tight. The latter quality may be
modified somewhat when the one-inch
tube which the inventor had fastened to
the highest point over the water is taken
into consideration.
The highest point" in the strange
craft would be one near the central shaft
upon which hung loose the chair or cradle
IN which the navigator sat. The parts
OF the balloon highest out of the water
would be the ends Of the axis. Near one
of the ends of the large steel shaft which
formed the spinal column" Of the frame
upon which the craft was built the air
tube projected. BY tying the canvas tube
with string water was prevented from
entering the craft through this. the only
aperture from the outside. In fine wealth
er the air tubes outer end would not even
be wet. This is the tube which the dead
man mentions in his message