Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-11-06
'ADRIFT N A BALLOON
Experience at Sea Of lnterna-
tlOnaI Balloon Racers.
FACING DEATH IN THE DARK.

How Or. NioTeySr and Hans Hsids-
mann Were Blown From Rescue Ship.
claspod Fingers In Farewell While
ciiBsins 70 Ropes--IiaiI From Boat
Sweetest Sound They Ever Heard.
On board the steamship Prinz VII
helm. which recently arrived at Leith,
Scotland, were DIR. Niemeyer and his
assistant Hans Heldemann, 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.
Dr. Nlemeyer 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 were facing death upon
the night waves OF the North sea Is
thrilling, says a special London cable
dispatch to the New York Sun. After
being blown over Cuxhaven they
were not alarmed at the prospect Of be-
ing carried across the sea. On the
contrary, they were elated, for the
wind was driving them northwest, and
as 1t 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 DIR. NIemeyer
exclaimed, Nov we have done it!v
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 were driven helplessly
for two hours. About dawn they saw
the lights Of the Prinz Wilhelm and
signaled frantically, and at last the |
steamers foghorn answered them.
DR.. Niemeyer, telling the story, said: |
"Heidemann shouted, We are aayedp |
but we little knew. The worst was vet |
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,
I'VE climbed the ropes and grasped
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 bufeted us In the darkness. We
were suddenly thrown into consterna,
ton 70 see the Prlnz Wllhelm's lights
growing DINNER. and we watched them
leasening until they almost dlsap.
peared.
I'VE could not believe that we were
abandoned. II must be that we were
still speeding faster than the steamer.
The gas bag acted as a sail, and our
only hope seemed to be to rip It. Pull.
Ing the ripping cord with all the
strength left In my numbed arms, the
envelope collapsed on the water, and
the car sank deeper
Half frozen and choked BY the
waves which we could not avoid, with
eyes smarting from the salt water ana
naked except for our trousers, having
hastily stripped In readiness for a
swim. we still held on for our liyea
with our hands. having lost all foot.
hold when the basket sank.
The steamers lights were now mere
specks IN the darkness. So they had
abandoned as. Men. men. how can
roa forsake usf II Isn't humanF /
shouted futilely.
Then the lights vanished altogether.
We saw our end near l said TO Helda-
mann, 4 cannot hold out much longer,
Nor can T. he answered quietly.
"As we grlpped the netting for a new !
ioid our hands touched. We lnyolun. :
artly Clasped 6ngers
GoOdbyr I said. IL won't last /
much longer !
Goodhyr responded Heldemann. :
Il shut my eyes 10 await the end.
suddenly out Of the darkness we heard
J shout Il was a human voice. the
weetest sound ever heard. Rapidly {,
tearing Ms was boat which the pr.ns =
Wilhelm had sent 10 find Us.
Catch hold % the oarr shoute,I =
oice 10 the German tongue. and the Il