Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-04-07
AERONAUT met
AWFUL DEATH
After Landing Safely on Long Island
He Was Drowned in Small Creek.
BALLOON FOUND ON OCEAN EDGE

New York, April j--Death in the
waters OF Bass creek. small stream
winding through the meadows along
the south shore OF Long Island be-
ended. the daring balloon ascent
of Paul Nucquet. French sculptor Of
note and AN enthusiastic amateur aero
naut The body was found on the
muddy shore of the creek where the
tide had left II and not a great dis
lance from whore Nocquets collapsed
balloon was discovered by the life
savers OF Jones beach.
The discovery OF the body put an
end TO search which had included
ocean. land and marshes. and which
had been begun under the direction OF
Nocquet's associates OF the Aero Club
OF New York as soon as word was re-
ccived that the balloon had been found.
with no trace of It's missing occupant
Nocqnet apparently landed safely
with his car, and fighting his way out
of the meadows in the darkness had
traversed about two-flfths OF the dis
lance from Jones beach TO Amityville.
several miles, when he died He had
crossed l3 or II different islands. and
had swan or waded through the run
lets between them.
That Nocquet travelled as far as he
did is considered wonderful He must
have struggled the last mile of the two
he travelled under fearful difficulties
He essayed trip that few men could
not possibly complete In daylight
The valve controlling ropes Of the
balloon when found indicated that the
descent had been started by Nocquets
action. and that il must have been
gradual.
When Nucquet started on his flight
the wind was blowing out to sea This
meant that unless he should come down
after beiue mp but short time -hav-
ing started from the Bronx-hc would
surely be blown across Long Island
and ont over the ocean. A life pre-
server WAS strapped inside the basket
and the word Ia 80 was given.
The balloon in its flight passed over
Jal-piea. Garden city Wcstbury. Jeri-
cno and Con Spring Harbor. Then
lnitness cane and shut il from view
Capfain austin of the Jones beach
70 saving 'ialion. who found the bal
~. IC. d that IL apparently had
= y dr"egcd along some distance In
ti.n and tracks about the balloon
seemed 70 indicate that the aeronaut
ad 1tlt 4 his flight This fact gave
tho scarchcrs COURAGE.
Cantaiu & orac smith, Of Amityville
located the body on the muddy bank
Of Iaes creek and made 1t fast to a
tcke
Paul Nocguet has made many dar-
inc'v uccc nj attempts at aerial navi.
CATION II IS not as an aeronaut alone
thnt NoeqHoi has attained distinction,
however He Is almost equally well
known rs an author sculptor and art.
IT,
WI T. attention was recently attract.
q "a his work as sculptor by a
b.en<e figure q President Roosevelt,
nitied a Presidential Vacation"
ili li.-re represents the president
dyapfi9" p bear by the ear while In
his right hand ho holds aloft cub
Comment nDon the figure was diversi-
fed hat the efforts Of the artist pleas.
ed the president who sent him a com
plimentary letter.
Among Nocquct's well known works
in sculpture are Effort and Foot
ball Players which have been pre-
scented 10 Columbia University. He
was awarded third prize for bronze
door for the naval academy at Annapo-
lis.