Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-13

they rolled in from the sea We're the
most terrible music our ears had ever
heard
Il gave up everything for lost, and
my companions turned white with
fear. for to attempt TO land among
those rocks meant certain death for all
of us, and in that bowling tempest
there would have been no hope for us
in the sea II was but little satiSfac-
ton to me that 1 had not willingly I'M
dertaken such Il hazardous perform
ance, the only one in which / have in
Cured most serious danger.
Another instant and we were driv-
ing along directly over the great bill
lows. Nobody said Il word. waiting for
the worst to happen. II seemed to us
then more than ever certain that we
would never again set foot on land.
but happily the wind again shifted and
pretty soon our hearts were rejoiced
by sights of the shore lights once more.
Then the dark outline of the coast
doomed up before us and we realized
that by q stroke of the best fortune
that ever befell any of us we had been
carried back toward the land.
ut was then l o'clock in the morn
ing and pitch dark. but l knew that we
must be travelling very rapidly and
made a test by dropping bottle over
board. l heard it strike the ground.
and knew that we We're saved. With
all my might I pulled at the escape
valve, and n moment later our anchor
struck ground. But our experience
was even yet not ended. For two kilo-
meters we were jolte1 tcrrifically
about in our basket, striking against
branches of trees before the anchor
finally caught. All OF us were hanging
on for dear life and expecting every
moment to be thrown out. The balloon
itself was hurled against tree ana the
gas suddenly escaped IL a great rent
that was made, while we gradually set
tied to the earth 1t was an experience
which hope never to have to repeat"
Speaking of the danger in ballooning
as well as the future OF the sport The
count says:
Il have proved to my own satiSfac-
ton that ballooning is by no means a
dangerous sport. although some people
seem to look upon 1T as periiouS. In
the case of educated acronautS l do not
consider it as nearly so dangerous as
automobiling or many other sports
which are generally popular. There is
only one really dangerous moment in
balIooning, and that is at the descent.
This used to be highly perilous, and I
have myself had several close calls in
this way, but now the problem has
been solved until the element OF dan
ger is almost eliminated. al modern
balloons are 50 constructed that by
pulling Il cord within easy reach of all
the occupants of the car 4 seam may
be ripped open and the entire volume
of gas permitted TO escape at once.
'Thc man in charge is thus able to
choose the spot where he wishes to
allght By allowing the gas to escape
gradually until he is close to the
ground and then by pulling the rip
cord the balloon falls dead and the for
MGR danger OF being swept by the
wind along the ground is eliminated.
"Ballooning is certain to lie one of
the great sports of the future. For
the present it will be confined to per-
sons of considerable wealth, but later
on / believe it viii become almost as
general as automobiling. In America
as well as in Europe l believe the day
is not very distant when parties will
be made up to take balloon trip into
the country with the same lack OF con-
Germ as they now so in automobiles
and in reality in greater safety thda is
offered by roadway or by automobile.
As the dirigible balloon beco mes popu-
larized this movement Will become
stronger. and there is plenty OF eyi-
dence that we are rapidly approaching
that day, but at present most OF US
will have to be content with the ordi-
mar balloopin-."