Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-15
BALLCON|STS'
NARROW ESCAPE
Balloon Burst but Formed q Par
achute and Saved Their
Lives.
TWO AMERICANS ABOARD
Fell 1000 Feet Mt Rapid Rate whsp
Parachute Formcd-The Balloon
Was One Oe the n COntcstnrts
in the n~tcrnationn FOR
ncnnet Trophy.

Berlin, Oct. 1.-THE internationa
balloon race, which started to-day from
the suburb of Schmargendorf was the
occasion of a thrilling accident. two
American aeronauts having a miraculous
escape from death. The American balloon
Conqueror, the only A~merican-built craft
IN the contest, having on board A.
Holland Forbes and Augustus Post, less
than two minute after the start. burst
Mt nm altitude Of 1000 feet. For 1000 feet
II shot down Ike n bullet. and then the
silk ssumed the shape for a parachute
and the rapidity of the descent was
checked. Coming close to the earth. how
ever. the basket smashed into the roof OF
a house. but the two men escaped with
but slight injuries.
The race. in which g balloons parti-
cipated. reprcsentating Great Britain.
France. Germany. the United States.
Switzerland. Italy. Belgium and Spain
started at three o'clock this afternoon
the presence of Mt least 80. 900 spectators.
The fret balloon was sent away was
the american II" under Of
James G. Mccoy, who was accompanied
by Lieut.. Workman. II was decorated
with the stars and stripes and sailed to
the southeast at n rapid pace tho
aeronouts waving their hats.
a Representatives Of each Of the
other nations followed tho American
balloon In secession at intervals Of
two minutes. the national hymn Of the
respective countries ringing forth as
the ropes were cast loose.
Tho second batch OF eight balloons
was led by Forbes In the Conqueror.
which was started with some difficult
ty owing to a gusty wind and too
much ballast. But eventually 1t shot
up and reached a high altitude In an
Incredibly short period, the basket
swaying violently. Then almost In
stantly a cry OF horror arose from the
crowd which saw the silk collapse and
shouted The balloon is ripping up"
SPECTATORS P%ETRIFIED.
The spectators stood for a momen,
petriied, some turned away fainting,
as they saw the balloon falling with
lightninS-like rapidity. At the same
time, showers of sand and appurten-
ances Of tho balloon shot downward
and then daylight was seen through
the envelope. great ragged edges OF
the silk showing on either side.
They ore Killed" ran through he
crowd. but shortly the remainder Of
the envelope appeared to take, first
a triangular shape and then was
transformed into a sort OF parachute
at the top Of the net. and the progress
OF the wrecked balloon was consider
ably arrested.
1t came down slower and slower
meanwhile being swept by the wind.
far to the southeast and finally disap-
pf~red from view behind a block of
houses. The suspense among the
crowds was terrible. But n few min
utes later n telephone message was
received from Friedman. which an
bounced that the men had landed and
had not been seriously injured. a
great sigh OF relief went up among the
people who threw their hats in tho
air for JOY. The other balloons were
sent up, after Il brief delay, without
further accident.
FORBES TELLS EXPERIENCE.
a. Holland Forbes. who appeared to
be- very little the worse for his ex-
periencc. except that he was suffering
somewhat from shock rave the Asso-
ciated press this account Of the acci-
dent:
W had some difficulty" he said.
in getting away, but once we left the
Rroun everything seemed to be right.
We mounted almost perpcrdicularly
to an altitude Of 1000 feet. As | look
ed at the recording instrument to
| make a note Of the attitude. l heard a
peculiar swish and said to Post that
sounds danKerous.' Immediately I
threw tho appendix clear Of the bas-
hot and the ropes. and drawing my
,acknirc. cut the ropes that we're at
tacbe, IN the 40 bans OF sand hanging
,ror,1 tho hasket
..pos, +, tho meor.,me threw over
.or,,n,,u oo,,oh,o We could see. how
~ ,n,, NO u.ra calling mora repidly
,hor snmo y, ,bo elected articles. But
,a,a. n.ho, ,,o descent ~ tho balloon
mN 1870. W. ohs.ryad ono bag 81
""' ~ x.n, o.rr,a.. yrh,cb
N 49,, ,or,rroto,v
80 ~. hohv and
~ ~
.,, ,.h ~, 70
T.. .,,. "a %
$3.50 "p -. oo,,,
.auv .nra..,n1
a.. ..o.u,o .nm ,v,,n ,,rr,,,o
sna .n na" 80 nan
sS. nu. .ns. -.
,rr,har ,,,,hon o. NO .y,u,d
probably be saved from death.
CAUGHT ON A HOUSE.