The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-10-16
.AtR0NAUIs FAIL 1000 fit
Americans Have Miraculous Escar1s
From Death In Balloon Race
ID Germany.

Berlin, Oct. 13. - The international
balloon race, which started yesterday
from the suburb of Schmargendorf
was the occasion of a thrilling acct
dent, two American aeronauts hayin4.
miraculous escape from death
The American balloon Conquerer, the
only American-built craft in the con
test, having on board A. Holland
Forbes and Augustus Post, less than
two minutes after the start, burst al
an altitude of 1000 feet. For 1000
feet it shown down like q bullet and
then the torn silk bag assumed the
shape of parachute, thus checking,
the rapidity Of the descent. Comina
close to the earth, however, the bas
ket smashed into the roof of house
but the two men ESCAPED with hui
slight injuries.
Twenty.three in Race.
The race, in which twenty-three,
balloons participated, representing
Great Britain, France, Germany, the
United States, Switzerland, Italy, Bel
GUM and Spain, started at 8 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon in the presence
of at least 10000 spectators. Amid
the strains of america" and volleys
of cheers the first balloon was sent
away. 1t was the America H." un,
der command of James c. Meow
who was accompanied by Lieut.
Voghmann.
A representative of each of the 9th
er nations followed the American ball
loon in succession at intervals of two.
minutes, the national hymn of the re.
spective countries ringing forth as the
ropes were cast loose.
Crowd Cries in Horror.
The second batch of eight balloons
was led by Forbes in the "Conqueror,"
which was started with some difficuN
ty, owing to a gusty wind and too
much ballast. But eventually it shot
up and reached high altitude in an
Incredibly short period, the basket
swaying violently. Then, almost in.
stantly, cry of horror rose from
the crowd. who saw the silk bag col.
lapse and shouted '"The balloon is
ripping up"
Some turned away fainting as they
saw the balloon falling with lightning.
like rapidity and then daylight was
seen through the envelope, great rag.
ged edges of the silk showing on
either side.
Not Seriously Hurt.
'They are killed." went in hushed
whisper through the crowd, but short.
ly the remainder of the envelope an,
peared to take first a triangular
shape and then was transformed into
sort of parachute at the top of thd
net, and the progress of the wrecked
balloon was considerably arrested.
1t came down slower and slower
meanwhile being swept by the wind
far to the southeast, and finally dis,
appeared from view behind block Of
houses. The suspense among the
crowd was terrible. But a few min4
utes later a telephone message was
received from Friedenau, which an.
nounced 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
the air for joy. The other balloons
were sent up after brief delay, with
out further accident
Third Bennett Cup Race.
This is the third International bali
loon cup race for the James Gordon
Bennett trophy. The first race was
held at Paris in 1906 and was won by
Lieut.. Frank P. Lahm of the United
States cavalry by flight of 4O2 miles.
The second contest was held at st,
Louis in October, 1907. 1t was won
by the German balloon "Pommern,''
which landed at Asbury Park, N. J.,
having covered 1874 miles in an air
line. 1t was p1oted by Oscar Erba.
loch. The French balloon "LIsle de
France" piloted by Alfred Leblanc,
was second, having covered six milej
less than the "Pommern."