Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-07
FIELDING WINS BALLOON RACE
Texas Gas Bag Covers 800 Miles,
Landing Near Quebec.
SEVERAL THRILLING ESCAPES
One Basket Dips Into Lake Michigan,
Another Fails Into Lake Erie
and Third Drags Crew
Through Trees.
SEVERAL THRILLING ESCAPE;

last Of the nine contestants came TO earth
at West shefford, Quebec. 500 miles from
the starting point. This craft was the
Fielding, owned by F. ]. Fielding Of San
Antonio, Tex. 1t covered approximately
100 miles more than its nearest competitor
and is also believed 20 have captured the
prize for the balloon which remained in the
air the longest.
The contest was marked by,several thrill
ing escapes from drowning. The Vile de
Dieppe dropped into Lake Michigan soon
after tho start and for an hour or more
Colonel A. f. Mueller and George schoe-
neck, its occupants, were swept across tho
surface. finally arising with their craft to
q height Of 1000 feet. from which they de
scended TO Benton Harbor, Mich.
"A similar experience fell to the lot Of
G. H.. Perrigo and J. d. Case, crew OF the
Illinois. While endeavoring TO effect a
landing near Lake Ontario their balloon
fell into the bay Of Quinte. The a%eronauts
had donned life preservers and managed 70
keep afoat until a yacht put off from Glen
Island and rescued them. The fate Of their
balloon IL not known here. Perrigo's mes
sage to his family stating simply that he
and Case were safe.
This third serious accident took place near
Clinton, ont. The balloon Columbia could
not be controlled by Captain Peterson and
Captain Leichletier and they were dashed
against trees and dragged through barbed
wire fences. Both men were painfully I'm
jured.
Where They landed.
The landing places OF the nine balloons
were as follows:
Fielding, West shefford, Quebec.
America. Carsonville, Mich.
King Edward, Port Huron, Mich.
Chicago, Atwood. ont.
United States, Pinkerton Station. Ont.
Columbia. Clinton, Ont.
Cincinnati, Covert, Mich.
Illinois, Glen Island, Ont.
vile de Dieppe. Benton Harbor. Mich.
Colonel A. E. Mueller and George Schoe-
neck, who sailed in the French balloon
VILE de Dieppe, came to earth near South
Haven, Mich. during the night. after hav-
ing been dragged for miles along the sur
face Of Lake Michigan. They saved them
selves from a worse fate only by throwing
overheard every movable thing in the
balloon basket and taking to the rigging.
They returned TO Chicago early this morn
ing by train. Neither was injured. but
both we're soaked to the skin and a sudden
rise to u height OF 1000 feet chilled both
occupants Of the balloon.
Trip Of King Edward.
OF the other balloons, the King Edward,
Canada's entry, landed near Port Huron.
Mich. The big Chicago, OF 10000 cubic
feet capacity, came to earth near Atwood,
Perth county. Ontario, at $3.50 this morn
ing. according to a long distance telephone
message to Chicago. The occupants, c..
A.. 'Coey and Captain q. l.. Bumbaugh.
were reported we'll. The United States
landed a mile east of Pinkerton station,
Bruce county, Ontario, at $50 o'clock. The
Columbia also crossed into Canada, and
While Mr.. Leichleiter and Captain Peter
son managed to leave the car near Gin
ton. Ontario, they were bruised and cut
by being slammed into barbed wire fences
and trees, and both required surgical at
tendance. Captain Peterson suffered a
broken rib and q deep cut on his hand.
Mr.. Leichleiter's injuries consisted Of lac
e~rations OF a hand, the face and an instep.
The occupants Of the Cincinnati saw the
disaster 10 the Vile de Dieppe and landed
In Covert. Mich. in order to send a mes
cage to the llfe-saving stations notifying
them OF the accident Leslie Hadder and
George Howard, pilots Of the Cincinnati,
report that their ar craft was in good
condition. but they gave up their chances
Of inning the contest In order to aid
Mueller and schoeneck.
Crew suffers from Cold.
The cold air currents over Lake Mich.
igan brought peril to other balloons tnau
the VILE de Dieppe. Both the King Ed,
ward and the Illinois descended rapidly
soon after the start, the former touching
the water. While the occupants OF tn
Illinois were forced to throw out ballas
at a rapid rate to keep away from tho
waves. When the Vile ID Dieppe left 4
was inflated 10 but 70 per cent Of its ca
pacity, owing to a patch on the gas bag
the strength of which was problematical
Colonel Mueller said tonight that the bal
loon had Travelled less than five mile
across the lake when II suddenly sho
down like y stone. The basket was almos
completely submerged despite the frantit
efforts OF Mueller and the boy to lighter
the load. Sand, provisions, instruments
anchor. drag rope and even the Goats o
the pilots were tossed overheard. Bacl
srasped a life preserver and schoenecl
tried to leap into the water. but was PIE
vented by his older companion. The DO.
WGs ordered 10 climb into the rigging, bu
Ausller remained in the car, although tn
water was above his waist. and II wa
bitterly cold. The Cincinnati passed owe
them in this position and offered assist
Ance. but Colonel Mueller waived\them on
as the Diepps was beginning 20 right It
self. For eight OF ten miles the baske
vss dragged over the surface OF the waite
at a rapid rate. Sometimes IL dippe,
alarmingly into the waves and at other
rose a few inches above them. schoenecI
chung desperately to the r;gging, the jerI
OF the big bag nearly tearing the rope
from his grasp. so tightly was he com
PEELED 20 clench the ropes that his hand
were cut deeply by the rasplng OF tn
hemp. Without warning the balloon sven
into q stratum OF warm air and leaps,
10 a height OF 1900 feet. Tn eardrums o
sehosneck and Mueller nearly burst from
the effects OF the sudden change. the DO,
screaming with pain and shlvering wit
cold. Mueller. despite his own misery, too,
the lad In his arms and warmed him a
much as possible. Fortunately the bag di
not remain long in the high altitude. b.
ginning to descend slowly almost immed
lately.
The valve was opened gradually and IN
balloon settled slowly. At $50 they land.
gently In a field three miles from Bento
Harbor. Mich.
A hfe-savins crew had been sent out I