Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-06
ADRIFT IN A BALLOON.

Experience at Sea of international Bal
loon Racers.
On board the steamship Prinz VIII
helm, which recently arrived at Leith,
Scotland, were DR.. Niemeyer and his
assistant, Hans Heidemann, the crew
of the German balloon Busley, one of
the competitors In the great interna-
tional balloon race which was held at
a suburb of Berlin.
DIR. Niemeyer and Herr Heidemann
arrived in London wearing cheap
ready made clothing which they
bought In Edinburgh, virtually having
been naked when rescued The sail
Ors of the collier which picked them
up lent them garments until they could
purchase others.
Their story of the hours when they
believed they We're facing death upon
the night waves OF the North sea IS
thrilling, says Il special London cable
dispatch TO the New York Sun After
being blown over Cuxhaven they
We're not alarmed ut the prospect of be-
ing carried across the sea On the
contrary, they We're elated. for the
wind was driving them northwest, and
as it was estimated their gas would
last fifteen hours they saw a prospect
of landing in England and winning the
race. But little later the wind veer-
ed and, blowing with terrific force.
drove them northward through pitch
darkness and bitter cold. When they
realized the situation Dr. Niemeyer
exclaimed, Now we have done it!''
Yes, We are in for it, responded
Heidemann. and each was silently busy
with his own thoughts.
Presently they saw the lights of two
or three ships far below. They shouted
and signaled with their electric lamps
in vain. They We're driven helplessly
for two hours About dawn they saw
the lights of the Prinz Wilhelm and
signaled frantlcally. and at last the
steamers foghorn answered them.
DR.. Niemeyer. telling the story. said
'Heidemann shouted. We are savedr
Dut VIC illtlC hLcW. uC NOISI w do y "
to come. Suddenly we realized that we
were travelling much faster than the
steamer and unless we opened the
valve and dropped the chance of res
cue would be gone. opened the valve
of the balloon, and the car struck the
waves with tremendous force. The
car, being weighted with ballast. in
stantly sank, and we were submerged
to the armpits.
eve climbed the ropes and graspe6
the extension ring There was enough
gas left in the balloon to keep it above
the water, but the whole thing was
driven Topping through the waves
which buffeted us in the darkness. We
were suddenly thrown into consterna
ton to see the Prinz Wilhelm's light.
growing DINNER, and we watched then
lessening until they almost disap
peared
1--WE could not believe that we wer,
abandoned 1t must be that we wer,
still speeding faster than the steamer
The gas bag acted as a sail. and ou
only hope seemed to be to rip it. Pull
irg the ripping cord with all tn,
strength left in my numbed arms, tn
envelope collapsed on the water, an,
the ear sank deeper.
Half frozen and choked by TIN
waves, which we could not avoid, wit
eyes smarting from the salt water an,
| naked except for our trousers, havin
hastily stripped in readiness for
| swim. we still held on for our live
| with our hands. having lost all foot
/ hold when the basket sank.
The steamers lights were now mer
| specks In the darkness. SO they ha
| abandoned us. Men. men. how Gil
| you forsakc us? 1t isn't human.
shouted futilely.
.'Then the lights vanished altogether
We saw ourTcnd near Isaid to Held.
mann, 1 cannot bold out much longer
"'Nor can L. he answered quietly.
CAS- we gripped the netting fora ne'
hold our EslEds touched. We involui
tarily clasrei fingers.
.'Goodbyr | said. 1T won't las
much longer
'Goodbyr responded Heidemann.
81 shut Ely eyes to await the ell,
Suddenly out of the darkness we hear
! shout 1t was a human voice, th
sweetest sourd ever heard. Rapid
nearing US was boat which the Prin
Wilhelm had sent to End us.
"'Catch held CT the carr shouted
voice in the German tongue, and th
boat drew alongside, and the bray
sailors with difficulty helped us o
/ board.
II hardly know how we fought deaf
| and won. Twenty minutes later til
steamer came up and took us on boar,
1t picked up the balloon too The cal
tain and crew treated MS in the bel
possible manner, and, thank God. n
are here to say so. But we are disal
pointed that we did not win I'll
trophy"