New-York tribune., 1908-10-12
FORBES AND POST
FALL 1000 FEET
AMERICAN AERONAUTS
SLIGHTLY HURT.
Balloon Bursts, but Forms Para
chute, IN International Race
Near Berlin.

a miraculous escape from death at the start OF
the international balloon race from the suburb
Of Schmargendorf to-day. The American bal
loon Conqueror. the only American built craft
IN the contest. having on board A Holland
Forbes and Augustus Post. less than two min
utes after the start burst az altitude Of four
thousand feet For two thousand feet it shot
down like bullet. and then the torn silk formed
sort of parachute. checking the rapidity Of the
descent. Coming close the earth. however.
the basket smashed into the roof OF house. but
the two men escaped with slight injuries
The race. in which twenty-three balloons took
part. representing Great Britain. France. Ger
many. the United States. Switzerland. Italy.
Belgium and Spain. started at o'clock this
afternoon in the presence Of at least eighty
thousand spectators. The day was clear and
warm Amid the strains of America and VOL
1eys of cheers the first balloon sent away
1t was the America II. under command OF James
c. Mccoy, who was accompanied by Lieutenans
voghmann The balloon was decorated with
the Stars and Stripes. and it sailed away to the
southeast at a rapid pace. the aeronauts waving
their hats
A representative OF each Of the other nations
followed the American balloon in succession at
intervals Of two minutes the national hymn OF
the respective countries ringing forth as the
ropes were cast loose.
The second batch of eight balloons was led oy
Forbes in the Conqueror. which was star'eI
with some difficulty owing to gusty wind and
too much ballast It finally shot up and reached
great altitude in an Incredibly short period. the
basket swayfng violently Then cTy OF ho1roF
arose from the crowd which saw the silk col
lapse. and shouted "The balloon is ripping up
Tho thousands stood for a u1or1ent as II petri-
6sd Some turned away fainting as they sa"
the balloon falling with ightninshke rspiolty-
A. the same time showers Of sand and appurte-
nances of the balloon SHOT downward with eq1al
ran;ditx, and then daylight was seen through the
o.-.o,o,. z-ea+s ragged edges OF the silk showing
on either side
.Thev are killed. went in husned Nnisper
through the crowd. but then the remainder OF
tbe envelope appeared TO take, first trlangu-
lar shape. and then was transformed into sorr
Of parachute at the top OF the net ana 'ne
descent was considerably arrested
T. came down slower and slower, meanvhils
,,e,r0 swept BY the wind far TO the southeast
and finally disappeared from view behind a
block Of houses The suspense in the crowds
,,os terrible. but a few minutes later a
+oleDbone message was received from FTieohSu
which announced that the men had landed anu
had not been seriously injured \ great sign .
relief went up among the people VINO 'Hre
their hats in the air for joy The otner Da'-
looms wore sent I'D after a brief delay witnous
further accident
A Holland Forbes who appeared 10 % 'si'
little the worse for his experiences. except tnse
he was suffering somewhat from shock. gave -
thrilling account of the accident
.vva had some difficulty he said. in get
.t-- on-ay but once we left the ground every
thing seemed to be right We mounted a'n''S1
rernendi~uIarIy to an aItitude-of four thousand
x.o. AsI looked at the recording instrument
-. -,.,,. q note Of the altitude heard pe-
c,,,isr swish. and said TO Post. That SOUNDS
don~erous' Immediately 1 saw tnat 'hs en-
,-s,one was rapidly Debating. the gas escaping
~ clouds. instantly threw the appendix ciea'
Of the basket and the ropes. and drawing my
toctknife. cut the ropes that were attached 10
.,,,-.,.-rirs bags Of sand hanging around ms
basket.
..Post in the mean time threw over eNerSV'n"s
,ortsbIe We could see. however. that we Were
falling more rapidly than some of the electeo
-.,o,.s 6r+ later. when the descent Of the bal
,oo,, was checked. we observed one bag Of sand
,.u into a baby carriage. which was smashed
70 Dieces. but fortunately the nurse snatched out
the baby and saved its life
Roth of US sprang up and held on to the rlns
above. hoping in this way 10 avoid the CRASH
Tho, above us could be the envelopes
.r.d,,alIv spreading out. We continued 70 fall
with terrific speed until sort Of parachute mad
hao, formed and then we knew that unless a
further ,ishap occurred would probably be
saved from death.
..Our speed did not decrease as much as We
sbo,,ld have liked. and were still moving az
a rapId pace when we reached the tops OF the
bigb houses in the streets. which greatly in
creased the danger We passed over one ROOF.
almost touching it, ami stin holding on to the
ring We avoided the next block. but finally
struc.. the nansard roof of house in the block
adjoining and the net and envelope fell To the
opposite side. The basket crashed against the
tiles and went partly through into an occupied
room The in the room was terrified. but.
recovering himself. assisted us To the roof. down
through the skyIight and 10 the street below.
where tie crowds cheered US and shook our