The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-05
AERONAUT DIED
AFTER LANDING
Paul Nocquet Perished in the Waters
of Bass Greek, Small Stream
on Long Island.
BODY FOUND BY SEARCHER
DEAD MAN A NOTED FRENCH
SCULPTOR.

New York, April 4.-Death in the
waters of Bass creek, a small stream
winding through the meadows along
the south shore of Long Island, be-
tween Jones Beach and Amityville.
ended the daring balloon ascent yester-
day afternoon of Paul Nocquet, a
French sculptor of note and an en-
thusiastic amateur aeronaut. The body
was found tonight on the muddy shore
of the creek where the tide had left it
and not a great distance from where
Nocquets collapsed balloon was dis
covered late last night by the life
savers of Jones' Beach.
The discovery of the body put an end
to a 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 received
early today that the balloon had been
found with no trace OF it's missing oc-
cupant.
Landed Safely With Balloon.
Nocquet apparently landed safely with
his car and i'm fighting his way out
OF the meadows in the darkness had
traversed about two-fifths of the dis
lance from Jones Beach to Amity-
vile, several miles when he died He
had crossed thirteen or fourteen diff
ferent islands and had sWum or
waded through the runIets between
them.
That Nocquet Travelled so 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
possibly complete in daylight.
The valve controlling ropes of the
balloon when found indicated that the
descent had been started by Nocquet's
action and that it must have been
gradual.
When Nocquet started on his flight
yesterday afternoon the wind was
blowing out TO sea. This meant that
unless he should come down after be-
ing up but a short tiThe-having start
ed from the BrOnx-he would surely be
blown across Long Island and out over
the ocean. a life preserver was
strapped inside the basket and the
word ito let go was given.
=. - Darkness Closed the View.
The balloon in its flight passed over
Jamaica, Garden City, Westbury, Jer-
ichO and Cold Springs Harbor: then
darkness came and shut it from view.
What its course was after passing
over Huntington at about S:15 .. m.
there is no means of knowing. Moth
ing further was heard of it until it's
discovery on Jones Beach was an
nounced today Captain Austin of the
Jones Beach life saving station. who
found the balloon. reported this morn
ing that II apparently had been
dragged along some distance in the
sand. Tracks about the balloon seemed
to indicate that the aeronaut had sur
vived his flight. This fact gave the
searchers courage throughout the day.
Captain George Smith OF Amity-
vile, who had joined in the search
early in the day, located the body to-
night on the muddy bank of Bass
creek, and made il fast 10 a stake It
will be taken to Amityville tomorrow
after having been viewed by the coro-
ne--
Nocquet's Career.
Nocquet was born in Brussels in
1877. and at the age of IA studied paint
ing under Jean Portals. Soon after
ward he turned to sculpture. and at the
age of 20 won the grand prize Of Bel
gium, which gave him a three years
fellowship in Paris. In Paris he also
became interested in aeronautics, and
before he came to this country, had
come to be considered one of the most
daring members of the Aero club Of
France Two years ago he planned to
attempt crossing the Atlantic in bal
loon, but was deferred by friends.
Among NOcQuet's Well-known works
in sculpture are Effort and Football
Players" which have been presented to
Columbia university. He was award
ed third prize for a bronze door for
the naval academy at Annapolis.
SUICIDE OF PREACHER.