Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-08
MIX TELLS OF HIS VOYAGE
Ohio Aeronaut Describes Trip Which
Won Bennett Cup.
THRILLING PASSAGE OF ALPS
Balloon Lands Between Pine Trees
After Travelling Many Hours in
Rain and FOE-BalInst
Finally Exhausted.
THRILLING PASSAGE OF ALPS

PARIS, oct. Edgar w. Mix OF Co.
lumbus, o., the winner Of the international
balloon race for the Gordon Bennett trophy,
which started from Zurich Sunday, has sent
the following account OF his memorable
voyage to the Associated Press. His dis
patch is dated Warsaw:
Leaving Zurich Sunday at 1851 D. m, we
were able to recognize our route only as
far as Constance. Thence to the finish the
weather was so thick that direction could
only be determined by compass. During
Sunday the balloon, in a drenching rain.
sometimes seemed to be at a complete
standstill, We assembled and descended in
search OF better currents Of air, without
appreciable results. BY 4 o'clock in the
morning half Of our ballast had been used.
The passage of the Bavarian Alps,
through rain and clouds, was thrilling.
once we swooped down the mountain side
with frlghtful velocity, plunging into a
chasm of fog which seemed bottomless. It
was as II the earth had opened to swallow
us up. The balloon several times crashed
through the tree tops. After two hours we
emerged from the valley and got a north
easterly slant of wind. When clear of the
mountains we moved at a lively rate. The
guide rope dragged over farm houses.
breaking tiles and chimneys. The peasants
rushed out with cries and imprecations.
Passes over KOniEstRdt.
1--WE then found that the guide rope had
been unravelled and hoisted it into the bas-
ket for repairs, which were most difficult,
as we were working hard with the balloon
to prevent 1t from rising. A FEW hours
later we recognized several villages, and
then the town of Konigstadt. We sighted
a balloon to the eastward with peasants
hanging onto the guide rope,
After passing over Konigstadt, which
cost three sacks of ballast, we rose through
the clouds to an altitude of 1900 meters
(about 1900 feet) and saw above the clouds
a balloon to the north, about 100 meters
higher. We began to descend at 1:4O p. m,
emerging from the clouds about 400 meters
above the town of Waldenburg, and were
obliged Go ~iettison eleven sacks of ballast
and half Of our provisions to keep clear Of
the roofs, but as it was, the guide rope
dragged over the wires Of the fortress and
railroad station, creating CONSERVATION
among the yelling population.
I'VE rose again to $500 meters near Bres-
lau. throwing overheard the life savers,
mattresses and the remainder of our pro-
visions. Gradually we continued to descend
after that altitude until 8 p. m. With good
equilibrium we managed to keep afloat
until 3 o'clock Tuesday morning, without
expenditure Of ballast. of which, as a mat
ter of fact, there was not an ounce left.
Lands Between Pine Trees.
1.-THE balloon landed and became wedged
between pine trees in the forest of Gustova.
We waited until $50 before debating and
then searched for help. We found peasants,
one Of whom had been In America and
spoke a little English. With their aid we
loaded the balloon on carts. While this
was in progress a forest guard wanton1y
killed one of the peasants dogs, arousing
great indignation. We accompanied the
owner to the proprietor of the estate to
lodge a complaint and found a peasant
woman speaking a little French, who regis
tered an entry Of our landing in our log
book. While the peasants were conveying
the balloon to Ostrolenko the woman gave
us a primitive meal of potatoes and water.
"On our arrival at Ostrolenko we were
stopped by the police. who took us, to-
gether with the balloon, to the station,
where we remained until instructions were
received from st, Petersburg for our re-
lease. We were treated excellently."
Salem Cup Goes to Publ.
ST. PAUL, Oct. is. Louis Publ, pilot,
and Joseph M. O'Reilly, aide Of the bal
loon St. Louis III, unofficially winners of
the Lahm cup and a 5000 prize offered by
the Aero club of st. Louis, who landed
in their balloon at Waukon, Mimi, arrived
in st. Paul late today.
Awaiting them here was a telegram from
E.. A. Faust OF st. Louis, reading:
"Unofficially you are the winnears of the
Centennial and Lahm cup. We all send
congratulations"
The aeronauts brought with them their
big gas bag, which they overhauled here
and packed it for shipment to st. Louis,
whittier they went tonight.
Speaking of their trip, Mr.. Won Publ said
regarding the raising OF the question that
he was not qualified for the race:
The fact that 1 entered the race was
notification enough. Anyway, whether l