The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-16
BALLOONISTS DROP
over 1000 FEET DURING A
RACE IN GERMANY.
A. H. Forbes and A. Post, While 1000
Feet in Air, Meet With Horrible Elk
Decentralization Takes Sudden Drop
for 1000 Feet and Then It Forms a
Parachute, Saving Their Lives.

Berlin, Oct. 12.-The international
balloon race, which started Sunday from
the suburb of Schmargenberg, was the
occasion of a thrilling accident, two
American aeronauts having a miracu-
lous escape from death. The American
balloon ~Conqueror, the only American
built craft in the contest, having on
board A. Holland Forbes and Augustus
Post, less than two minutes after the
start burst at an altitude of 1000 feet.
For 2OOO feet it shot down like a bull
let and then the torn silk bag assumed
the shape of a parachute, thus checking
the rapidity of the descent. Coming
close to the earth, however, the basket
smashed into the roof of a house, but
the two men escaped with but slight
injuries.
The race, in which % balloons par
tieipated, representing Great Britain,
France Germany, the United States,
Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and Spain,
started at 3 o'clock in the presence of
at least 5000 spectators. The sunshine
was brilliant and the heat was that of
summer. Amid the strains of "Ameri-
ea' and volleys of cheers, the first bal
loon was sent away. 1t was the Ameri-
can H., under command of James C.
Mccoy, who was accompanied by Lieu
tenant Voghtmann. The balloon was
decorated with the Stars and Stripes
and it sailed away to the southeast at a
rapid pace, the a%eronauts waving their
hats.
A representative of each of the other
nations followed the American balloon
in succession at intervals of two min
ntes, the national hymn of the respect
i've countries ringing forth as the ropes
were cast loose.
Conqueror Rises High, Explodes.
The second batch Of eight balloons
was led by Forbes, in the Conqueror,
which was started with some difficulty,
owing to a gusty wind and too much
ballast. But eventually it shot upward
and reached a high altitude in an in
credibly short time, the basket swaying
violently. Then almost instantly a cry
Of horror arose from the crowd, who saw
the silk collapse and shouted, "'The bal
loon is ripping up"
Thousands who had gathered stood
for a moment petriied. Some turned
away fainting as they saw the balloon
falling with lightning-like rapidity. At
the same time showers of sand and ap-
~purtenances of the balloon shot down
ward with great rapidity and hen day
light was seen through the envelopes,
great ragged eddies of the silk showing
on either side.
"They are killed, I" went in a hushed
whisper through the crowd, but shortly
the remainder of the envelope appeared
to take at first n triangular shape and
then was transformed into a sort of
parachute at the top of the net and the
passage downward of the wrecked bal
loon was considerably arrested.
1t came down slower and slower,
meanwhile being Swept by the wind far
to the southeast and disappearing from
sight behind a block of houses. The
suspense among the crowd was terrible,
but a few minutes later a telephone
message was received from Friedonaub
which announced that the men had
landed and had not been seriously in
jured. A great sigh of relief went up
among the people, who threw their hats
in the air for joy. The other balloons
were sent up after a brief delay, with
out further accident.
Later Report.
The Swiss balloon has the record
having covered 775 miles, dropping in
the ocean neal Norway. Navigators
and balloon were rescued. The German
balloon is the only one u~naccounted
for.
BRIEF NEWS NOTES.