Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28
BALLOON TAKES SWIM
Five Passengers Have Narrow
Escape From Death.
GAS BAG THRICE RIPPED
Two Brave Women Are Among the
Aeronauts.
THEY KEEP THEIR HEADS
Successful But Tame Ascension at
North Adams, Mass.-No Wind
and Little Action.
GAS BAG THRICE RIPPED
THEY KEEP THEIR HEADS

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, June 21.-Two
women and three men, who ascended in a
balloon from the extreme southwestern
section of the city late today. had a mar
row escape from death when the envelope
containing the gas split, causing the bal
loon TO rapidly descend to earth and land
on the muddy banks of the Schuylklll
river. The passengers were not hurt.
hut were soaked with mud and water. 1t
was a most thrilling experience. and was
witnessed by crowd of several thousand
persons powerless to render any assist
ance. The balloon was brand-new and be-
longed to the Aeronautical Society of this
city The passengers were Miss Carrie
Durham Kilgore, who Is a practicing law
yer of this city; Mrs. NJ. E. Lackington
of the society. DIR. Thomas E. Eldridge,
Dr. George H. Zimmerman, and Prof.
Samuel King, an aerOnaut whose ascents
are numbered by the hundred.
The balloon had been inflated at the
grounds of the United Gas Improvement
Company and made the ascent few
minutes before o'clock. An easterly
breeze carried the balloon toward the
Schuylkill river, and it rose to height
of 5000 feet, according to the instru-
menrs in the air craft. While sailing
along serenely the occupants of the bas-
ket heard kissing sound and the veteran.
King. instantly OWNED what had occur
red and ordered all hands to help throw
out ballast to prevent rapid fall. The
balloon, however. began to sink and the
spectators who had watched 1t leave the
earth realized that something had gone
wrong.
The women, without losing their nerve
helped the men. Bag after bag was
thrown over the side and at times the
balloon hung stationary, only to again
sink as the gas continued to escape. AS
the balloon travelled slowly westward it
narrowly grazed the roofs of buildings
and finally it fioated to the river. Hun
dreds of persons followed 1t to the water
and were Mortified to see the basket bob
up and down as ballast was thrown out
in the effort to keep it out of the water.
Several times the basket touched the wa
ter only to brace up again. and finally It
stuck in the mud on the western shore of
the river in about two feet of water.
Men who had witnessed the flight from
the western shore were quickly on the
spot, and. wading into the water. pulled
the basket close enough to dry ground 10
permit the five frightened passengers to
land. Before this has been done the big
gas bag had completely collapsed. The
river where the balloon crossed is not
very wide. which fact no doubt saved the
occupants from a most serious experience
Mrs. Kflgore and her companions were
pale but composed. They said they had
not been badly frightened. though they
realized how close they were to death.
NO" said Mrs. Kilgore. II am not
afraid to go again. My regrets are that
this trip was spoiled by the accident.
When 1t can be arranged 1 hope to make
a more successful ascension"
An examination of the balloon showed
three rents, one of them about three
yards long. The bag had been made of
specially prepared calico and was thought
to be safe beyond question. 1t had re-
ceived three coats of varnish and the bal
loon complete cost about $1,000.
Nearly one-third of the members of the
Aeronautical Recreation Society are
woman and it had been planned that they
would make ascents in turn during the
summer.