The Washington times., 1906-04-04
Footprints in Sand by
Airship on Long ISL
and Shore.
COVER PERFECTLY DRY
These Conditions Points to
the Aeronaut'S Being
Near By Alive.

FIRE ISLAND, y. Y. April Gap
tain Austin, OF the Jones Beach Life
Saving Station. reports that a large bal
loon. all complete, was found on the
beach there at 10 o'clock last night. The
balloon has the name "P. Nocquet. No.
- East Fifty-ninth street" on il.
The balloon alighted on the sand close
to the wars edge. A long track in
the sand showed that the basket had
been dragged some distance
Captain Austin says there were sew
ersI footprints around the place where
the balloon was found. Apparently.
many persons had been around it, No
one can be found. however. and the life
savers are making a search.
Last Seen at Eight
Nocquet. daring French aeronaut.
who came here from Paris about two
years ago. made an ascension yesterday
afternoon In a specially constructed bal
loon from t:ie Central Union Gas Works.
at 13Sth street and Walnut atenue. in
the Bronx, and was last seen about S
O'Clock last night sailing easterly above
the north shore of Long Island.
Ascending at sos o'clock in a gentle
northeasterly breeze. Nocquet sailed
SklNlA ACROSS ltlE East river. ana an
hour after he went up was still hover
ing over Long Island City. Passing
over Flushing. the balloon was over
jamaica at O'Clock, and If il had
continued directly on it's course would
soon have been carried out 10 sea But
change in the wind. first 10 the west
and then 20 the northwest. carried the
balloon between Garden City and Mine
Ola. Al , O'Clock IL above Cold
Spring HSrbor
From that time until the balloon was
found by Captain Austin nothing more
was seen Of II. Captain Austin saws
the balloon did not come out Of the
water, so il is probable that NocQuet
is safe and is making his way to some
village. which are few and far between
in that locality.
Had Life-Preserver.
Seven sand bags, weighing forty
pounds each. were placed in the car
before the ascent was made. and the
areonaut carried a life-preserver in case
Of water trip: a pocket camera. a
heavy overcoat. bundle OF newspapers
10 tear up as wind indicators. some
sandwiches. and a bottle of white wine
y fifteen-foot streamer. showing the
Stars and Stripes, flew from the netting
Paul Nocquet has attained distinction
as an artist. sculptor. and writer as
wen dS defOnaut- NenIureSOme from his
birth, he was considered one of the
most daring members of the Aero Club
OF France. He was born in BruxeIles
france, in 1871 and at the age os four
teen, studied painting under Jean Por-
tacis. His love for sculptor then in
duced him 10 study this art That he
succeeded is proved by the fact that he
carried OF the grand prize of Belgium
which gave him year Fellowship in
Paris
When Noc.t,.et came to America ne
read the books written by President
Roosevelt. and to such an extent did his
study into the Presidents shooting trips
go that he modelled in plaster and after
ward cast into bronze. figure of Mr..
Roosevelt. at which the latter and his
family were greatly amused This rep
resented the President smilingiy
dragging bear by the ear. while in his
right hand he holds aloft club
Nocquets courage has been attested
fifteen times in balloon ascensions in
France Two years ago he planned TO
cross the Atlantic ocean in a balloon,
but was deferred from his object by his
friends.