Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-07-10
TEXAS BALLOON
WINS LONG RACE
DR.. F. G. FIELDING'S SAN ANTONIO
COVERS 800 MILES FROM
CHICAGO.
FRENCHMAN DIPS IN LAKE.
Vile de Dieppe Swoops Into Water and
with Damaged Basket Rises 1000
Feet in Air.
CONTEST IS SPECTACULAR ONE

! CHICAGO. Ill, July GAIL long dis
Gance aerial speed records were broken
and possibly new worlds long distance
flight mark for balloons was set when the
Fielding-San Antonio, owned by DR..
Frederick J. Fielding of San Antonio,
Tex, and piloted by Capt. FL. E. Honey
well, descended to the earth yesterday
at o. m. at West Shefford, Quebec.
All of the nine balloons in the great
international race which started in Chi
cago descended safely, but many thrilling
escapes were reported. The Vile de
Dieppe dragged it's car into Lake Michi-
gan. The Illinois alighted in Lake On
tario. The crew of the Columbia was
cut and bruised in descending in Can
ada.
Following was the finish of the aerial
crafts and the estimated distance COW
cred in the fight to beat the long distance
record of S72 miles made by the Ger
man balloon Pommern last year:
FIELDING-SAN ANTONIO-West Sheford
Quebec, 800 miles,
dLLINOIs-Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario
UNITED Standardization, Ontario, $50
CHCAGo-west Monkton, Ontario, 300
COLUMBIA-Clinton, Ontario, $40 miles
GAMERICAN-Carson Mich, 300 miles
KING EDWARD-Port Huron, Mich, 300
cINCINNATI-Coysrt Mich, Is miles.
J Mich, 60 miles.
Record Voyage of San Antonio.
The Fielding-San Antonio left it's
mOorings Saturday at 5:45 p. NJ, at
Aero park, Sixty seventh street and
FS0uth Park avenue, and in few min
IoCc %hny i1OH
what is estimated roughly to be about
800 miles. 1t is possible the record of
the Pommern, when the corrected fig
ures are obtained. was broken.
This trip of the Fieldi4g-San Antonio
was the first the balloon nad ever made.
The big muslin, lemon-cOlored bag never
had been inflated to its fullest capacity
before. 1t also was DR.. Fieldings first
ride in the air. The owner weighs $50
pounds, which is 100 pounds extra
weight, economically.
Second place in the aerial flight was
taken by the Illinois, a Chicago balloon,
piloted by J. L. Case and G. Fl. Perrigo
of Chicago 1t travelled about $50 miles
and descended in the bay of Quinte, near
Glen island, which is near Prince Ed
ward island. Lake Ontario.
Aeronauts in Narrow Escape.
Most thrilling adventures were expert
enced by the aeronauts. One balloon
dragged its two pilots through barb wire
fences, against tree trunks, and across
Leichliter of Chicago. was severely LAGER
ated The other, Capt Martin Peter
son, has a broken rib.
But more eventful were the experiences
of Capt. A; r., Mueller of the French
balloon, Vile de Dieppe. and his II
year-old comrade, George Schoenech. a
Chicago boy. Only quick work saved
them from the waters of Lake Michigan,
and shot them skyward to an altitude of
1000 feet within seven minutes.
Dips Into Water.
! Hardly was the Vile de Dieppe out of
sight from it's starting place than it shot
downward in gull-like swoop into the
lake at a point about three miles out
from the mouth of the Chicago river.
The huge bag bounced upon the waves
like an enormous rubber ball, while the
two occupants climbed into the network
and fastened life preservers about their
bodies
Capt. Mueller quickly analysed the con-
dition of his balloon as the result of too
much ballast He cast the eight bags of
sand overheard, then the dragging an
Choir then the numerous aeronautical
paraphernalia, and finally the food and
water, leaving only the wicker basket
and its occupants.
The basket was submerged to the
shoulders of the Frenchman, who is feet
2 inches tall, and it was with difficulty
ythat he was able to get back above the
ring" of the balloon and into the net
ting. He then clasped the life preserver
about him and tied it to the netting far
above the basket.
Ready to Swim for Life.
The boy in the meantime had removed
his coat and shoes and was prepared to
Jump into the water believing that his
only chance of life rested in his ability
ITO swim three miles to shore. Capt.
Mueller beckoned to him to retain his
EpIace, and it was with difficulty that
lSchoenech was induced to stay above i'll
the netting.
Then the boy and himself were tied to
the upper cords of the bag Capt. Muel-
Her was prepared to cut the wicker bas-
Iket loose and sail upward, taking his
ichances with fate in reaching the shore
of Michigan.
One side of the basket was dipping
Enore heavily in the water than the other.
With his knife he severed the cords
ear with the bag and tied the loose ends
Ito the opposite side of the basket. The
idea came from long aerial experience.
1t worked like a charm.
Shoots Toward Sky.
Almost in a twinkling the basket
turned half over and emptied itself OF
water. which removed the weight from
the gas bag and allowed it to ascend
Like a rocket it shot upward. Inside OF
seven minutes it had assembled to an alti-
tude of 1000 feet.
But this was not the last of the aero.
nauts' perilous adventures. They had
been in the water forty-fve minutes.
Then they climbed to stratum of at
Imosphere, which the two declared was
colder than the coolest ice water they
ever drank. One side of the basket was
hanging down with its ropes cut.
Both aeronauts were forced to lean
far back over the opposite railing of the