The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1908-10-16
THEIR BALLOON
LOST AT SEA
The Saint LCulS Met Disaster
OFT German Coast.
OCCUPANTS SAVED BY VESSEL

Americans In international Balloon
Race Lost Their Bearings at Night
and We're Carried to ssa-Lsnesd
In Water and For An Hour We're
euffetsd BY the Waves, When Life
boat Came to Their Reseue-At
tempt to Save Balloon Failed and 1t
Was Washed Away.
Berlin, Oct. 14-The second OF the
three American balloons that started
in the race for the international trophy
on Sunday from Schmargendorf has
met disaster In the North sea. The
Saint Louis, manned by N. II. Arnold
OF North Adams, Mass, and Harry J.
Hewitt. was carried overland by
treacherous air currents, and later In
the haze the aeronautH lost their bear
ings until suddenly they saw the guard
lights OF an unknown coast.
This meant that they must descend
or risk the danger OF being driven far
ont OF the track OF vessels. They chose
the former course. and for an hour
they we're buffeted by the waves al
most giving up in despair,
Eventually they we're rescued by a
lifeboat and the hrst intimation that
an accident had occurred to the Saint
Louis was conveyed in q wireless mes
SAGE from Arnold. saying: Lost
everything In the North sea"
Mr. Arnold told a graphic story OF
their descent and rescue by lifeboat
lie said.
"All day Monday with the excep-
ton OF the early afternoon, we we're
unable to see the earth, and we low
cred the balloon repeatedly to COM
municate with the people to ascertain
our whereabouts. Apparently we eoula
not make them understand, but this
probably was due to our poor German.
Finally We decided to risk proceed
ings. still having twenty sacks OF bal
last.
Moving in a northwesterly direc'
ton In the evening, we passed city
the lights OF which were visible nVe
miles to the west, and we learned
later that II was Bremerhayen. Soon
afterwards we noticed lighthouses and
buoys which convinced Us that We
were moving above big water but we
had no idea where we were.
"In order to avoid drifting out OF the
line OF ship trafic We concluded to &c
down 10 the water, but before doing
so we put on life preseryers. This wal
a perllous 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 al
hopes OF rescue, Hewitt, who hac
climbed into the rigging. discovered
aasblight. and soon after we saw
lifeboat approaching us. The boat
however. could not reach us, as W.
we're being dragged through the waVsl
At the rate OF about fifteen or tWentl
miles an hour. The boatmen shouted t
US to jump overheard, which We did.
Il tried to save the Saint Louil
clubs balloon by ripping IT up, but th'
rope was jerked out Of my hands
About ten minutes later J was PICKED
up by the boat. which in the mean
time had saved my companion, Mr.
| Hewitt"
Three of the balloons in the interna
tional race are still unaccounted Tor
They are the German balloon Busley
the Spanish balloon Castillo and th'
Swiss balloon Hslyetia
A report received here from Vans
erloog island, in the North sea, say
that a balloon passed over there, bu
that there we're no further tidings o
il. The hotilia Of torpedoboat destroy
ers il searching the North sea, wher
a thick fog prevails.
The English balloon Banshee, 80 ia
as present estimates go. has covere
the longest distance in the race, II
miles