Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-10-12

beIIlI, Ocl. lI.-lne international
balloon race which started today from
the suburb of Scmargendorf was the
occasion of thrilling incident two
American aeronauts having mira
| culOuS escape from death.
The American balloon Conquerer
the only American built balloon in the
contest, having on board A. Holland
| Forbes and Augustus Post, 10 minutes
after the start, burst at an latitude OF
1000 feet. For 1000 feet it shot down
| like bullet, the aeronauts clinging
| to the overhead ring, and then the torn
| SILK spread out like parachute and
| the rapidity of descent was checked.
Coming close to the earth, however,
| the basket dashed into the roof of a
house, but the two men escaped with
but slight injuries.
The race. in which 23 balloons par
ticipated, representing Great Britain,
France. Germany, the United States.
Switzerland. Italy. Belgium and Spain.
began at 3 o'clock this afternoon in
the presence of at least 10000 specta-
tors The sunshine was brilliant anc
the weather was that of summer.
Amid the strains of america" and
NolleyS VI CHEERS, lIle ItISl DdIloOIl Was
sent away 1t was the america II"
under command of Jas. G. Mccoy, who
was accompanied by Lieut.. 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 the ether nations
followed the American balloon in sue
ceSsion in intervals Of two minut Vs.
the national hymn Of the respective
country ringing forth rs the ropes
We're east loose.
Tha second batch of eight balloons
wa; led BY Forbes IN the Conquerer,
which was started with some difficult
ty owing to a gusty wind and too
much ha last But eventually it shot
up and reached a high altitude in an
incredibly short period, the basket
swayng violently. Then almost in
stantly cry of horror arose from the
crowd, who saw the silk collapse and
shouted: The balloon is ripping up.
The thousands who had gathered
there stood for a moment petri5ed
some turned away fainting, as they
saw the balloon falling with lightning
ers of sand and appurtenances Of the
balloon shot downward with equal
rapidity and then daylight vas seen
through the envelope, great ragged
edges of the silk showing on either
side.
They are killed. went up husled
whisper through the crowd but short
iv the remainder of the envelope APP
Feared to take a triangular shape and
then was transformed into 4 sort OF
parachute at the top of the net and
the progress Of the wrecked balloon
was considerably arrested. 1t came
down slower and slower. meanwhile
being swept by the wind far t. the
southeast and finally disappeared from
view behind block of houses
The suspense among the crowd was
terrible But a few minutes later !. tel
ephOne message was received from
Friedman, which announced that the
men had landed and had not been Sc
riously injured. A great sigh Of relief
went up among the people. who threw
their hats in the air for joy.
The other balloons We're sent up af-
ter brief delay. without further ac-
cident
A. Holland Forbes, who appeared to
ue very little the worse for his expe- |
ricnce except that he was suffering
from the shock. gave The
Associated Press thrilling account of |
the accident. |
I'VE had some difficulty ne said |
in getting away, but once we left the |
ground everything seemed to be right |
as | looked at the recording instrument |
TO make q note of the altitude, l heard |
4 peculiar swish and said to Post: |
That sounds dangerous Immediately |
saw that the envelope was rapidly |
lef1ating, the gas escaping in clouds. |
Instantly l threw the contents clear Of |
the basket, and, drawing my jack
Knife, cut the ropes that We're attached |
10 the 80 bags of sand hanging around |
he basket
Post in the meantime threw over
everything portable. We could see,
however, that we were falling more |
ranidly than some of the elected ar
ticles.
But later when the descent of the |
balloon was checked, we observed one |
bag of sand fall into a baby carriage,
which was smashed to pieces. but for
the nurse snatched out the |
baby and saved it's life.
Both Of US sprang up and held onto
The ring above, hoping in this way to
avoid the crash. Then above us could |
DC seen the envelope gradually spread
ng out. We continued to fall with ter
rihc speed until a sort Of parachute
rad been formed and then VIC knew
hat unless a further mishap occurred |
We would probably be saved from |
death.
Our speed did not decrease as much
as we should have liked and We We're
moving at rapid pace when we reach
~ the tops of the high houses in the
streets. which greatly increased the
Hanger. We passed over one roof. al
most touching it and still holding ontol