Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-07
Aeronaut Allen Takes Trim
Out on the Atlantic.
Picked Up Miles at Sea
by a Fishing Schooner.
His Graphlc Story Of Remarkable Trip and
Rescue From Death.

bo''eo'i' 'oiy o-AIIer one or the most
remarkable experiences in the history
OF aerial navigation, James X. Allen.
the aeronaut. who made a balloon as
ccnSlon at Providence on the Fourth OF
july, was brought to this port late to-
day on the fishing schooner Francis V
Sylvia, having been picked up at sea
OIL the lower end of Cape Cod Yesterday
morning.
Allen had a narrow escape from
death by drow ming, the winds that pre-
vailed Wednesday having blown his
balloon far out over the Atlantic. I'M
til news of his arrival here this evening
became known. it had been thought
that he had met his death, as it was
known at the last time he was sighted
on Wednesday evening he was travel
ing out to sea.
That Allen is alive tonight is due
wholly To fortunate shift of the wind
When he made his ascension at Provi-
dence on Wednesday the wind was
blowing brisk breeze from the south
west. The aerOnaut was carried in his
balloon in a northeasterly direction and
passed over the town Of Attleboro. He
had his balloon under perfect control
at that time and while in the vicinity
of Attleboro he descended twice, and
twice he re-ascended.
From Attleboro the airship Travelled
| in the direction of Brockton and the
lasts cen of the aeronaut by observers
on shore was when he passed over
| Scituate early in the evening.
At that time the balloon was headed
straight out to sea. When Thursday
| a W, lai
| ell from Allen and it became known
| that the last time he was seen was
when he was on the ocean shore headed
| out to sea, it was then believed that
he would never return and that another
| cha pier would be- added to the list Of
tragedies connected with aerial naviga-
| tiOn.
| After Allen passed beyond the limits
| Of the coast his plight was most peril
| Gus. Unless the wind shifted the aero
| maui could not hope TO reach land. as
| there was not enough gas in the bal
loon to carry him across the Atlantic.
| Fortunately the shift of wind came
| 1t was during the night that the air
| currents over the ocean turned their
| course from southwest to northeast and
| the car retrdced its course. Instead of
| returning to Providence, the starting
point, the wind carried the balloon con-
silierably to the southwark and when
daylight daWned Allen was off Chdt-
| ham, Mass
| When the balloon descended Allen
| WAS picked up by the Boston fishing
schooner Francis Y. Sylvia and brought
here. The balloon was also saved and
taken on board the fisherman. As soon
as Allen landed he telegrtphed his fam
lily and friends in Providence, telling
them that he was safe.
| Fl knew | WAS over the water" said
Mr.. Allen. land I knrW was pretty
low. but it was terribly dark and /
could not see thing. ! let out all the
drag rope about 800 feet feet. and it
caught the water and held me about 100
feet above. | should think, most Of the
night. | was not going very fast then,
although the wind was pretty stiff. for
the 500 feet Of drag rope held me back
pretty well.
at must have been soon after mid
night when, got my first ducking. The
wind carried my basket against the wa
ter. The minute | touched the water
| grabbed the ropes over my head and
was none too quick, for the basket
was almost submerged. 1 threw out Il
few handouts of sand and | went III.
again to about 100 feet. | guess, but
about an hour later | struck the water
again and got another good soaking
| then threw out 4 little more sand
and went up again, but came down
once more and struck the water
held onto the ropes. I Didn't see a
think until dawn. Then | saw a steam
er. She was going one way and | TIN
other. | shouted. but | guess she didn't
see me, for sh" paid no attention.
III about an hour after that | met :
tug with several barges | shouted
again and the tug cut loose. from th'
Il bargeS ana chased me. but soon gave i
up as | was going to fast for her.
. was about 100 feet above the water
The rope and anchor We're still in the
sea, but she's a big balloon and as th'
/ wind continued to blow Stitiiy | Wen
tearing along at Il pretty good Pace
. in spite Of the dr'g. At this time
Ehad the balloon under perfect contro
and felt no danger. About 80 Thurs
day morning | sighted a fishing srho"n
er and was rescued"
Allen said that when the men in on
of the big dories made his rope f2S
| the balloon pulled the d"ry to Son'
| distance. but when he let the gas on
| there was no difficulty in descending
| Alien thinks he was nearer Block Is
land than he was to Chatham when III
| was rescued but the fishermen Sa,