The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-15
Mishap to Helvetia Robs
Her of International
Race Cup.
BANSHEE DECLARED
ENDURANCE WINNER
Two Vessels Still Missing and Are
Thought TO Have Been Watt
ed TO Their Fate.

BERLIN. Oct. I5.-The international
cup balloon race committee this after
noca discovered that the Helvetia, which
had been announced as the winner or
the race. had been towed mile 10
shore after alighting IN the North Sea
near M0lde. Norway.
For this reason she was disqualified,
and the race WAS given to the Banshee.
The German balloon Busley was re-
ported 20 the international Race
Commission today as having fallen
into the North sea Dr. Me
never. the pilot. and Herr Held
mann. his assistant. were rescued by a
steamer and taken 20 North. Scotland
An OF the balloons that entered the
James Gordon Bennett Cup race are
now accounted for, though the Heger-
sell and Piauen, two German entries IN
the endurance race, are still missing.
They sailed on Monday, and Il Is GER
tain that they have either fallen into
the sea or on some inaccessible spot oE
land Every hour increases the proba-
biIity OF a fatal termination Of their
flight
The Swiss Helvetia is the winner Of
the cup race. its flight 10 Borgset, Nor
way. $50 miles from Berlin. breaking
all balloon records for remaining in the
air. The HeIvetia was believed yester-
day 10 have fallen into the sea, but
Colonel Schaeck, the pilot. and his as
sistant Herr MESSENGER, report that at
no time was their balloon I'm danger.
The English Banshee wins the second
prize.
The crew OF the Busley deliberately
attempted 90 cross the North sea, and
their daring was repaid by one Of the
most thrilling experiences that ever fell
TO an aeronaut- While not as near
death as Messrs. Arnold and Hewitt.
the crew OF the St Louis. which also
I zen into the North sea- they endured a
much longer period OF terrible suspense.
Story Of Flight.
In a statement 10 the race commission
the pilot said AT l o'clock wednesday
morning we ~assed over Hamburg, GO
+ ing in a northwesterly direction. We
saw the sea before US. but as we still
! had seventeen sacks OF ballast and had
lost but little gas. a rapid calculation
/ convinced rs that We could cross the
I sea and reach England.
After sailing about one hundred miles
/ over the ocean, the wind suddenly
/ changed TO the northward. threatening
/ 20 carry Us 70 the Arctic ocean We
/ recognized the desperateness Of oul
plight and thought we were doomed
No ship vas IN sight and we were
: drifting steadily from the usual tracE
I Of ships
/ Hours passed in this terrible situa
tion when finally we sighted a ship
the Prinz Wilhelm. The captain saw
l our distress signals. We opened tht
/ balloon valves and fell into the sea
/ close to the steamer. Boats were pu
I out and We were picked UP withou
difficulty. We lost everything excep
our lives and consider ourselves tn
iuckiest balroonists IN the world"
Is Disqualified.
The Buslev is disqualified from shar
ing in the money, as a descent upo1
the sea docs not constitute a landing
I according to the cup race terms.
The Busley makes the third balloon
that fell into the North Sea, the other
being the American St. Louis and Span
ish Castillo These mishaps, with N
bursting OF the American COnquero
and the Spanish Monates. make IN
race the most disastrous yet held.