New-York tribune., 1907-06-30
BALLOONING TRAGEDIES.
Coming To Be of Rather Common
Occurrence.

The fndir g of the body of one Of the two
missing army aeronauts who went up at Alder
shot in the last days of May in exhibition ar
ranged for the entertainment of the King and
MS guest, Prince Fushimi removes all doubt as
to the tragic ending of that ascent. writes "E.
II. c. in THE Boston Transcript" In the
same batch of cable news come few details
OF the connected series of frightful catastrophes
Following upon an ascent from Budapest First
d dwelling house is wrecked by the explosion of
the gas bag which has collapsed upon 1t, with
the loss of half dozen lives; and then the bas-
hel OF the balloon is found miles away from the
scene Of this disaster containing the bodies of
the aeronauts, who have evidently been dashed
from height TO the earth Balloon accidents
are coming to take their place with the drown
ings of amateur yaChtsmen and careless canoeists
ABOUT this time. Every days report must have
Its sample of the deaths by balloon and by
automobile.
Inc Budapest incident shows that the dangers
are not all to the occupants of the aerial cars.
ana lhat the advance to practicable aerostation.
II we take that stride will be at the cost of not
only numberless lives among those who essay
the sleeps OF air, but also among those who are
prudent enough 10 remain on terra firma. Here
IoIore men have considered themselves tolerably
siIe IN their own habitations far their roofs
were concerned. But 1t is lust that exposed
sufIace-otten with convenient chimneys, hatch
ways top-housinSs and skylights-wherein the
anchors OF flying ships viii catch = man may
CialIi immunity and protection from molestatiOn
from the surface OF tho ground to the centre
OF the earth; but how about his riparian rights
INTO the atmosphere? Can the householder de-
reno himself from trespass by the new wayfarers
of the air?
The circumstances Of the loss Of tho two Rrit
lsh military aeronauts as they are now recalled
were most painful. Several times the balloonists
descended so low during the evening after their
ascent as to be able to speak to the villagers OF
olnerent places At their last inquiry for the
name Of the place they had fully realized the
udhser Oh being carried out to sea by the wind
prevailing, as they requested the people to catch
hold OF the ropes which were at the time dang
ing over the house of a Mr.. Atkins. While Miss
Atkins went to summon assistance the balloon
scared away seaward, and as the event proved
theIF last chance was gone. The average country
man Is apt TO regard baIoonlng as lunacy and
the whole thing sort of joke. Tho Dorsetshire
rustlcs only grinRed when they heard the fran
tic yclls Of I'eutenants NIartin-Ieake and eau
He!u. Inc story Is told Of a farmland in that
neighborhood who, when asked to catch hold OF
balloon, recently caught in tree until the
aeronauts could CxtrCate themselves from the
basket which was enveloped in the cordage
only gaZed at the knot OF people imprisoned in
tho car and grinning stody remarked: MY,
but ye be the funniest thing I ever did seel e
look like turkeys in a crate. for all tho world
blessed If ye bain't." The automobile clubs have
succeeded IN stretching a pretty thorough line
Of signs through the main travelled roads. Tho
aero clubs viii have 10 be taking some such
preCautton for giving names and distances to
passing aerOnauts; and above all they should
circulate simple general directions and in
struCtiOns FOR the countryside people regards
assisting a balloon 10 alght and taking mea-
for the safety Of the occupants of a
wrecked stranded car hung up roof or tree
The last seen of the doomed English Neuten-
ants when tho coast guard at AbbotSbury
saw the balloon touch the water and rebound
into the air. This rebound is taken TO mean
that the two officers had been precpitated into
the Next morning the balloon, half full
of gas, was picked up by fishing vessel. Tho
~ hnI
fifteen minutes past o'clock. In one Of the
places they went through tho balloon sailed
for hundred yards parallel with the road
which runs the length OF the village. The men
did not appear TO be perturbed, and the people
thought they meant 10 descend on the hillside
half Il mile away The aeronauts, to be sure.
called out, Get hold Of the rope" But this was
thought TO be Joke. as the rope was swishinS
about on the ground in erratic fashion fol-
lowing the swift movement Of the balloon on
the wind When the cry was repeated IN plain
distress several Of the villagers then started to
try 10 catch the rope TWO Of them chased the
balloon TIL It's way took TO rough open country
and it was mounting very rapidly before high.
gusty wind. Further old woman was
shouted TO from the balloon and asked how
many miles 10 tho town BTidport (on tho sea).
and answered About ten" on passing 81 hill
a little further on they again dragged the rope
and called TO the people, Where are we" They
told they We're going straight for the sea.
and then came agoni2ed begging of the peo-
pie 20 catch hold Of the guide rope which was
stu trailing among the trees.
But the speed OF the balloon was too great,
and before anything could be done II was
gone When II reached the sea it seemed TO
swoop down upon IT, pushed by a puff of wind:
the car was seen 70 strike the wave with ter
rife force and in all probability at that time 1t
was overturned and the men left clear OF 1t to
struggle and to sink to their Watery graves.
For the balloon in second or two was seen
TO shoot up into the air again, as If relieved
fI,o ,fyfrr the VQriy
ham fishermen caught sight OF the derelict ball
loon floating on the water and looking like a
gigantic haystack" Eagerly the wreckage was
explored but there was sight of the lieu
tenants The flshornen's experience in catching
the unwieldy and inflated mass was something
new TO them. The weight OF the sand bags
sank the car beyond reach Of their boat hooks,
and the only way to capture the mountain OF
silk soufie was to let 1T drift. and sailing around
and ahead of it secure the gasbag as 1t ap-
Droached the starboaTd quarter. Prayers had
hAen offered I'D at all the churches along the
coast for several Sundays for the safety of the
officers and the whole region was In wild anX-
iety about them for weeks
Still the ballooning sports Will go on just the
same These chances are what give the new
cars their high flavor for true sports" Major
Baden-PowelI, who has been one of the first of
British military authorities to sketch out a
balloon drill for the army. has lately written a
hook OF instructions for military students. But
bis most general conclusion is that, delightful
as baIlooning may be sport, II cannot yet be
taken seriously in any relation of life. The truth
is that the balloon is just where it was when 1t
was first invented. about twenty years before
tranlSlin identified electricity and what strides
have been made in that. while from the balloon
has come practically nothing but Just what
Montgolher put into 1t, hot air."
INDIA'S SACRED FIRES.