New-York tribune., 1906-08-05

81 -: an. :. al. : :::4 +. q. .:..:. =. :,
came among the still expiring dis -
~ charge of fireworks, which foated
IN in the air, that little sparks NJ
IN attached themselves to the cord
u age of the balloon. How long
II we're descending / have not the
y slightest idea, but two min
q utes must have been the out -
side We now saw the houses,
the roofs of which appeared ad-
vancing to meet us. The next instant we dashed
by their submits. We were all violently thrown
out of the car along the ground; but, lncon-
prehensible as it may appear, nobody was Sc
riOuSlV hurt"
In this case, as in the others mentioned the balloon
had burst and considering the great height at which
the accident occurred, the escape narrow one.
Among peculiar accidents of air travel, may
mention adventure of a young aerOnaut, Carl
balloon. The apparatus consisted OF gaS-bag,
cylindrical in form, to which was attached hight
steel framework supporting two aerOplanes, and
bicycle seat with pedals by which they to be
finished form, application of the same principle
which in later years has been utilized by Santos
DumOnt, Zeppelin. Knabenshue, and others. The
machine was not provided with ripping apparatus or
ballast, since it expected that the aerOpanes
would control both height and progress.
In Imminent Peril
ON being released the apparatus rose rapidly, and
~ there was little wind it remained for a time
unQer cOntrOl. PRESENTLY, however, NOTQStTOm
discovered that the large aerOpane under the frame
work by which the height of the machine regu-
lated, had ceased TO reVOlve Up to that time, the
revolutions of this aerOplane had kept the machine
the earth, but upon its stOppage the whole
apparatus shot rapidly upward. In a few minutes,
the machine had attained height of over nine
thousand feet At this altitude the resistance of the
atmosphere had become reduced to such point
that the silk bag was cracking and seemed strained
almost to the point of bursting. The bursting of
this cylindrical apparatus in the air would have
OCCasiOned a fall rapid to inevitable
destruction.
NOrdstrOm realized that he must descend at
once. This he thought would be easy, since all he
had to do was to pull the cord attached to the
valve at the top of the gas bag The opening of the
valve would allow the gas TO escape, reduce the
pressure upon the silk bag, and allow the machine
TO descend On pulling the valve cord, however.
the acrOnaut discovered his horror that it would
not yield. He pulled harder-puled wildly.
The cord broke, and falling from his hand circled
rapidly toward the earth. Something must be done
The instrument measured over ten thousand feet
1t was growing intensely cold. NOrdStrOm's hands
and feet had grown icy cold, and he began TO feel
that peculiar sensation of tension and fulneSS
which is known only to ballOOnistS and mountain
climbers. He felt that he must descend quickly or
work for its revolutions would counteract the ever
increasing buOyanCy of the gas bag.
In this extremity, the daring Young fellow cut a
piece OF cord from the rigging and with it bound his
leg firmly to the framework. He then lowered himself
head downward and Investigated the machinery.
He found that the revolutions of the aerorane had
stopped because of projecting screw head. This
was quickly adjusted, the balloOnist climbed back
to his seat, the fan started, and safe descent
effected.
Another rather peculiar incident, which occurred
to one OF my assistants, illustrates the uncertainty