Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-16
AER0NAUTS, NEAR
DEATH, RESCUED
ON NORTH SEA
GERMAN BALLOON BUSLEY DRAGS
AIDING PARTY IN SMALL BOAT
OVER THE WAVES.
THE AIRSHlP BREAKS AWAY.
International Racers Picked Up Only
with Great Difficulty and Are
Utterly Exhausted.
TWO GASBAGS ARE STILL MISSING.

BERLIN. Oct. 1.-THE German bal
loon Buslcy came down yesterday morn
ing at . O'Clock III the North sea. The
two men on board were rescued by Il
passing steamer.
This news was received in a telegram
from Edinburgh and caused the great
est relief. for there was great anxiety
regarding the fate Of this airship. The
BUsley is one Of the twenty -tIrce bal
looms that started in the race for the
international trophy last Sunday from
Il suburb of Berlin, and now every one
Of the contestants has been accounted
for. There are still, however, two bal
looms missing. These are the Plauen
and the Herself. which started out
Monday in the endurance test.
Saw Coaling Steamer.
The dispatch received by the Aero
club from Edinburgh says that the Bus
ley carly csterday morning got into com
munIcatIDn with Il coaling steamer hound
for Edinhurgh al point in the North
sea 10 tn" northwest of Heiigoland. The
steamer signaled that she would stand
by The aerOnauts then opened their
safety valves with the idea of bringing
the balloon down. In the meantime, the
steamer had launched small boat to
pick the two men up. The balloon fell to
the sea and was driven by a strong wind
away from the steamer. The men III the
boat pulled their hardest, and finally
managed to get I line fast to the car.
which WAS being dragged amid clouds Of
spray over the tops of the waves. They
hung on until the two aerOnauts Dad
been rescued.
The transfer Of the balioonists to the
small boat was attended with the great
est difficulty. As soon as they were safe
nboard teh connecting line was cut and
the balloon. free of the weight of the
boat, went carcening away over the sea.
Aeronauts Are Exhausted
The aeronauts were half naked aud
utterly exhausted. TheE We're taken back
to the steamer. where they received ev-
cry attention and were given food and
restorativeS. The men rescued from the
Busley are DR.. Niemeyer and Hams HE
demann. They landed at Edinburgh this
morning and Immediately started for
home by way of London. The point
where they were picked up IS ten miles
from Helgoland.
While news Of the rescue of two bal
loonists from The HuSley was heartily
welcome, the most serious apprchenSionS
are entertained for the safety of the 9th
or two airShipS. 1t is now three full
days since the Clauen and the HcrgeSrll
days since the Plauen and the lIergcsell
meteorological observations Indicate that
they were driven out over the North
sea.
Making Thorough Search.
The German admiralty is conducting a
thorough search of this body of water
The surveying ship Xeten. fourteen tor
,,aIn IF 4;
smacks are constantly engaged One Iii
vision is Steamin@ i'll radiating lines from
Helig0land 10 the English coast. 2 sec
0nd is cruising along the west coast Of
ScheswigHolStein and third is patrol
ling the north Tristan aud Dutch COASTS
Helvetia Is Rescued.
Advices are at hand from Moldo. Nor
way, telling of the descent of the Swiss
balloon Hclvetia TO the ocean and Tho
rescue OF Col. Schaecli and +. MesSnpr.
4 dispatch read as follows: "A fShin.
boat rescued occupants of the balloon
Helvetia at the last moment as they
were sinking. the gas being totally cX-
hausted. The balloon was saved
Schaeck and McsSner remained here over
night and proceed 70 Christiansand to-
morrow.
Molde IS only thirty-two miles south
west of ChriStianSand and to reach this
point The helVetia must nave Travelled
about 1850 kilomet1rS, or 40 miles in
a direct line. and must have Travelled
over the Skagcrrack or the still greater
body of the North sea.
This is by far the greatest distance
vet reported 10 the credit Of any Of the
contestants. the majority of whom either
took circular course or were compelled
10 descend on account of their proximity
to water.
English Balloon Wins.
It is estimated that they Travelled 81
miles before they came down. Although
no award has been made officially, the
English balloon Banshee. which came
down on the coast Of Denmark. is regard
ed as the winner of the International
cup contest. The French balloon Condor
is second and the Belgian BeIgira third
As II is not practicable to hold long
flights In the British isles the Banshcn
may rive over first place to some other
country.