Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-06

from the starting point. This craft
was the Fielding owned by +. }. REID
ing of San Antonio, Texas. 1t cover
or approximately 100 miles more thail
it's nearest competitors and is believed
10 have captured the prize for the bal
loon which remained in the air the
longest.
Chicago :JuIy Col A. r. Muller
and George Schoenck aeronauts mere
sailed in the French balloon VINE Do
Dieppe from Chicago yesterday III 'he
Chicago endurance contest, put CAME
to earth near South Haven, Men, our
ing the night after being dragged l"i
miles along the surface of Lake Mich
igan. They saved themselves from
drowning only by throwing overheard
every movable thing in the pallooii
basket and taking at times to the rig
ging They returned to chicago TO-
day by train. Neither was injured, nut
both we're chilled and soaked to the
skin.
OF the other balloons the Fielding
landed near West Shefford, Que; the
King Edward, Canadas entry landed
near Port Huron, Mich. The "Chicago
Of 900 cubic feet capacity, came TO
earth near Atwood, Perthy county,
Ontario, this afternoon, according TO
telephone message received in Chl-
cagO today.
The occupants, c. A. Coye ana capt
G.. l.. Bumbaugh, reported We'll. Inc
United States landed a mile east OF
Pinkerton station, Bruce county, ont,
at $50 o'clock today. The Columbia
also crossed into Canada and while G.
II. Leichleiier and capt. Martin Pet
erson managed to leave the car near
Clinton, Ont, they were bruised ana
cut by barbed wire fences and trees
and both required surgical attendance
The America landed at Carsonvllle
Mich.
The occupants of the Cincinnati saw
thu. disaster to the Vile De Dieppe and
landed in Covert, Mich, in order to
advise the lifesaving stations of the
accident. Leslie Haddock and George
Howard, pilots of the Cincinnati. re-
port that their craft was In good con-
dition but that they gave up the con-
test in order to aid Muller and
Schoenck.
OF the nine starters the Illinois is
supposed to be still in the air and well
on the way toward the Eastern sea-
board When the Vile De Deppe left
Chicago it was inflated to only % per
cent. of its capacity, owing to patch
on the gas bag. the strength of which
was problematical Col. Mueller said
that the balloon had travelled less than
five miles across the lake when it
suddenly shot down like q stone. The
basket was almost submerged despite
the efforts of Mueller and Schoeneck to
tighten the load. Sand provisions, in
struments, anchor, drag ropes and even
the coats of the pilots We're tossed
overheard Each grasped Il life pre-
server and Schoeneck tried to leap in
to the water. but he was prevented by
his older companion. The boy SchOenck
was ordered to climb into the rigging
but Mueller remained in the car, al
though the cold water was above his
waist
For 10 miles, the basket was dragged
over the surface of the water at rapiu
rate Schoenck chung desperately to
the rigging. the jerk of the big bag
nearly tearing the cords from MS
grasp SO tightly was he compelieo
to clinch the ropes that his hands were
cut deeply by the rashing of the coroS.
Then without warning. the balloon
swept into stratum of warm air ana
leaped to height of 1000 feet Inc
ear drums of Schoenck and Mueller
nearly burst from the effects OF the
sudden change. the boy screaming with
pain and shivering with cold.
Mueller, despite his own misery TOOK
the lad in his arms and warmed him as
much as possible. Fortunately the
bag did not remain long at the high
altitude. beginning to descend slowly
almost Immediately.
The valve was opened gradually ana
the balloon settled slowly At $50
O'Clock they landed gently in field
three miles from Boston Harbor. Mich.
The experiences in which Leichlel-
ter and Peterson met their injuries
was told in the following dispatch sent
TO Secretary Pickens of the Acronauti-
que Club of Chicago.
More or less carved no by barbed
wire fences. bumped and broken by
trees and generally bunged up. Cap
tain Peterson and myself are here UNI
dergoing repairs and figuring out the
possibility of getting back to Chicago
this week The trip itself was one OF
the finest sensations ever experienced
The night was clear with good
breeze blowing steadily northeast
throughout the night and until we
struck a blazing sun, just west 70
Lake Huron we had travelled at an
average altitude of between 500 and
1000 feet
The sun same out bright and warm
at O'Clock. 1t had taken much of
our sand ballast to keen the bag up
at night, but with two sacks left and
gas expanded by the sun. we decided
to undertake the crossing of Lake
Huron and to remain up until late in
the evening. The bag stretched so
much under the hot sun and shot so
Ugh that We We're compelled to let out
considerable gas.
That was our downfall, literally. We
sailed into Canada at a GOOO-foo altitude.
but suddenly the bag began descending.
Down to 1900 feet the descent was fairly
slow. hut we completed our drop in record
breaking, bone grinding and heshtearins
order.
hn In bot %yNa n1anI