Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-02
BALLOON OVER NIAGARA
Aeronauts Just Escape Land
ing in Whirlpool Rapids.
APPARATUS FAILS TO WORK
Airship in Hazardous Plight Over
Lake Erie.
THREE HURT AND IN HOSPITAL
Two Boys, Sons Of Owner, in Basket
as It Bumps Over
Earth.
APPARATUS FAILS TO WORK
THREE HURT AND IN HOSPITAL

NIAGARA, FALLS, September I'm a
balloon from which all the ballast had
been thrown and which was descending
rapidly as it swept toward the Devils
Hole. near the swirling gorge of Niagara
from death yesterday afternoon. AS it
was all three were injured.
In effort to make landing on earth
and prevent the balloon from dropping
into the turbulent waters of the gorge
from which escape would have been i'm
possible. Capt E. A. Mueller. the chief
aviator, made frantic efforts to release
the gas from the huge bag with its
capacity of 5000 cubic feet.
He pulled the rip cord, which should
have cut cash in the bag and allowed
the gas to escape in great volume, but
it failed to work properly. Then an
anchor was thrown out. 1t caught in
clump of trees. but it failed to hold.
The balloon, with the basket, to which
the aeronauts were clinging with every
ounce of strength, bumped along for a
thousand feet, colliding with many OBJ
StacleS before ii came to a StandStill on
the edge of the Devils Hole and within
200 feet of the most dreaded spot in the
gorge.
In the balloon besides Capt. Mueller
were two boys, Perry Gregory, sixteen
years old. and his brother, Gerald Greg
DRY. eighteen years old. They are the
sons of Charles f. Gregory, secretary of
the American Federation of Aerial Clubs
and owner of the balloon Vile de Dieppe.
Hazardous Trip.
No aeronaut ever survived a more
hazardous trip than did the two boys 1t
was Perry Gregory's first trip aloft and
L.
severely from nausea every time the bal
loon reached high altitude.
The Vile de Dieppe was entered In the
race. starting at Columbus, Ohio. 1t left
Columbus at $50 o'clock Monday night
Capt Mueller announcing that he intend
ed to break all flight records for distance
and time.
The air journey was uneventful until 8
am yesterday. when troublesome air cur
rents over Lake Erie were encountered
To get out of them the balloon was al
lowed to drop until 1t hung about 80 feet
over the lake. Ballast was thrown out in
quantities. Capt. Mueller deciding to hunt
for favorable air currents at great alti-
tude. The balloon shot up to a height of
5000 feet. At this altitude Perry Gregory
became nauseated, but pluckily uttered no
complaint.
The balloon was swept back and forth
and in circles. Ballast was dropped over
board at short intervals, and early i'm the
afternoon. when it was lowering over the
torrent of Niagara Falls. 1t was practical
ly without ballast
There was storm brewing on Lake
Ontario. and fearing a current of air
might sweep them out over the broad tur-
bulent waters of the lake, Capt. Mueller
decided to make a landing at the first
| favora able opportunity.
Starts for Whirlpool.
Shortly after pm. the balloon began
to descend rapidly. and for a time it
looked as if it would drop squarely into
the heart of the whirlpool rapids. A
slant of air sent it dipping toward the
freight yards of the New Yorh Central
| road.
The three occupants of the basket could
be seen working like madmen to control
the huge contriVance, and the voice of
Capt Mueller as he yelled orders to lis
young assistants was plainly heard by
the people breathlessly watching The
spectacle.
the basket hitting a freight car as il
swept across the railroad tracks Then
IT banged into barn. 1t wa: these col
lisions which injured the three aeronauts
All the time Capt. Mueller was working
to get the gas out of the bag and the
anchor was hanging over the ground fail
ing to get good hold The balloon was
driving closer and closer to the gorge and
the rapids when the anchor finally held
and the basket hit the ground with a ter
| rife jolt.
Little Perry Gregory was LING I'M
| conscious in the bottom of the basket
His left ankle was sprained and his body
| covered with bruises. Gerald Gregory
| was bleeding, two teeth having been
knocked out. Capt. Mueller was the
worst hurt. He was bruised and cut in
many places and it is feared has internal
| injuries. All three were removed to the
| Memorial Hospital.