New-York tribune., 1906-04-04
LONE AER0NAUT LOST,
SAILS ETHER BY NIGHT.
Paul Nocquet IN Big Balloon Last
Seen Soaring OUer Jericho.

Driven by brisk wind straight toward
Montauk Point. big balloon containing lone
aeronaut sailed over Jericho. Long Island. at
dusk last night. The aeronaut. who was Paul
Nocquet a sculptor. was apparently making no
effort to descend
II was believed. however. that as night was
coming on. he would release the gas and alight
somewhere in the wild country east Of West
bury.
1t was reported however, at the Automobile
Club about II p that druggist OF Jamaica
had seen the balloon lowering over Jamaica
Bay at O'Clock. This could not be verified 1t
was said that as Mr.. Nocquet had plenty Of bal
last, and IL a moonlight night. he would
probably try TO stay up long as he deemed it
safe. - s1&iEA
At the club members of the Aero Club dis
cussed Mr. Nocquet's flight and possible fate
with interest Count de la Vaulx jokingly said:
in Paris. when one wants to impress people
that it is big thing to go up in balloon, he
hides for several days TO give an air OF mys-
terry to it."
At the club it was figured out that at the rate
Nocquet was travelling he could continue for
about ten hours eastward along Long Island
without coming to the open sea should he desire
to continue by moonlight.
Considerable anxiety expressed among
the members of the Aero Club over the lack Of
any news from Nocquet. Mr. Bishop said:
4 hope no accident has befallen him. for it
would hurt the sport However think he has
landed in some Long Island town and is hiding
from the newspaper men
In case of a sudden cross current, it was
pointed out he would have TO open his valve
and come to land The only danger that the
members Of the club would admit was that the
valve might not work. Just what would happen
If it did fail they did not care TO discuss
NocQuet having caught the aero fever" made
an ascension from the Port Morris gasworks
13Sth street and Walnut avenue in The Bronx
yesterday afternoon. He had no companion He
rose some Ihirty-1ve hundred feet in the air
and sailed out across the entrance 10 the Sound
and over 10 Long Island.
The sculptor planned 10 make the ascent in
the presence of only few personal friends He
is a modest man. and did not want the noto-
rety an announcement of his plans would nave
brought None Of the members Of the Aero
Club knew OF the proposed ascension until noon'
and then only few of them.
Although a FrenChman by birth. Nocquet Is d
naturaIzed American citizen. and streamer or
the stars and Stripes flew from the netting OF
the balloon Before coming 10 this country
three wears ago. Nocquet made number of as
tensions in Paris, but his mother was much
opposed to the sport. and he stopped IT,
He sent 10 Cammazza, an aeronsut In italy
for a balloon. which arrived recently. The bag
-
that II can be collapsed inside Of a parachute
which caps the gas bag. This parachute OF
nOngee silk is about thirty-fve feet across.
When the gas bag is Debated by means of
valve at the top IT collapses inside the para
chute which brings the basket safely to the
earth.
Nocquet accompanied only by George l. Bum
baugh an experienced aerOnaut, arrived at the
gasworks with the balloon at 1 p. m. II took
Aser TCv3h "a
been sent 10 Leo Stevens and NJ Levee, who
have made the ascensions for the Aero Club. and
they arrived at 1 p. m. IN time to assist in the
final arrangements and IN getting the balloon
away.
DIR Julian p Thomas. who made an ascension
ON Monday. and Mrs. Thomas arrived in their
automobile about the same time. Half an hour
later Augustus Post also of the Aero Club. ar
rived Count de Ia Vaulx was not present. nor
was Cortland Field Bishop. or any other mem
hers of the club Mrs ". Curtis and Miss Mary
Montgomery. friends OF Nocquet came OUT 10
him of.
T,be dav was perfect for ascent II was
hrtgbt and clear and scarcely breath of air
was stirring on the ground II was 40V Q cioJH iS.
when the balloon slowly left the ground- StIa5snI
up in the air il went for about thIee hunGI u, 81
feet and then started in the direction OF Glen
Island Ballast was thrown out and NocqueI
slowly went higher. Then a new current OF WIN
80 Struck and the balloon tackled over toward
College point and OF toward Flushing
Dr THOMAS Mr. Post. Mr. Stevens ana NJ
7 80 riiylhsd mn a swaying stairway 10 the top
OF The 1sll-foot gas tank from which point OF
vantage they watched the slowly moving ye1oS a,s
sphere until IL was beyond the rsi4s' VI W
glasses - -, No., .ba ,ri,5
was from the north. and NocqGet . saIu n r pbtIs
nv n stav mn until he reached Trenton or Fhits
deIphia Much to his disappointment the nSHIe HI
breeze shifted before the balloon gov aWaS. -
ouet carried I'm addition 20 seven oass OF - -,
last a luncheon a bottle OF sauterne ana a sile
camera Several OF those present asked tor per,
mission 10 accompany him. but the sculptor SAID
he would rather go alone.
rba West shore Railroad is the s. 10 line to Buf
fsio and Niagara Falls Up the hudson anu