The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-10-16
AerOndutS Saved by Grew
of Passing Steamship.
MORE I'LL LUCK FOR RACERS.
Accident Happens to the st. Louis
One of the Three American
Entries In the Inter-
national Contest.

Berlin, Oct. 14.-The second of the
three American balloons that started
IN the race for the International trophy
from Schmnrgcndorf has met disaster
In the North sea. The st. Louis,
manned by n. ii. Arnold of North Adj
ans, Mass, and Harry j. Hewitt, was
carried overland by trcachcrous air
currents, and later IN the haze the
ucronnuts lost their bearings until sud
unknown coast
This meant that they must descend
or risk the danger of being driven far
out of the track of vessels. They
chose the former course, and for an
hour they were buffeted by the waves,
almost giving up in despair.
Eventually they were rescued by a
lifeboat, and the first intimation that
an accident had occurred to the st.
Louis was conveyed in a wireless mes
sage from Arnold, saying, Lost every
thing in the North sea last night"
Following 50 closely on the dramatic
experience of a. Holland Forbes and
Augustus Post, the navigators of the
Conqueror, which burst at an altitude
of 1000 feet soon after the start of
the race, both men having thrilling
escape from death, the disaster to the
st. Louis was the subject Of excited
interest in Berlin.
Correspondents were able to COM
municate with Mr.. Arnold at VIII
,helmshaven, to which place he had
been transported by one Of the torpe-
do boats which was sent out to render
assistance to any Of the balloonists
who might drift out over the water.
Mr.. Arnold told graphic story Of
their descent and rescue by lifeboat.
He said:
"All day Monday, with the exception
Of the early afternoon, we were unable
to see the earth, and we lowered the
balloon repeatedly to communicate
with the people to ascertain our where
abouts. Apparently we could not make
them understand, but this probably
was due to our poor German. Finally
we decided to risk proceeding, still
having twenty sacks of ballast.
Moving In nOrthwesterly direc-
tion In the evening, we passed city
the lights of which were visible five
miles to the west, and we learned later
that 1t was Bremerhaven. Soon after
ward we noticed lighthouses and
buoys which convinced us that we
were moving above big water, but we
had no idea where we We're.
"In order to avoid drifting out of
the line Of ship traffic we concluded to
go down to the water, but before do
ing so we put on life preservers. This
was perilous task, for it was dark
and there was great danger Of being
swamped in the basket
"After pitching about in the water
for almost an hour and giving up all
hopes of rescue Hewitt, who had
climbed into the rigging, discovered
flashlight.
preaching us. The boat, however
could not reach us, as we were being
dragged through the waves at the rate
Of about fifteen or twenty miles an
hour. The boatmen shouted to us to
jump overheard, which we did.
"About ten minutes later was pick
ed up by the boat which in the mean
time had saved my companion, Hew.
it,"
Captain ]. G. Mccoy, the commander
Of the American balloon America IL.
which landed, reached Berlin. He gave
an interesting account Of his journey
In the air.
''We flew $50 miles," he said, "and
then were becalmed for four hours
The wind shifted, and we returned ir
the direction of Berlin. We then trav
eled northward in thick fog and
were unable to read the maps. Sud
denly we discovered that we We're ovel
water and decided to descend. This
was accomplished with some difficulty
and we landed In treetop near Wis
mar, on the shores of the Baltic. We
were within ten yards Of the steel
cliffs, but we climbed out of our dan
fishermen.
Eve were obliged to cut down the
trees In order to save the balloon.
"The duration Of our flight was 8.
hours 7 minutes, during which we die
not sleep at any time. Although We
were obliged to descend, we had suffi
Client ballast to stay up for another
day"
Three of the balloons in the race are
still unaccounted for. They are thu
German balloon Busley, the Spanish
Castillo and the Swiss Helyetla,