Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-03-24
Balloon Landed
In Mountains.
OCCUPANTS SUFFERED FROM
COLD AND HUNGER.
NARROWING EXPERIENCES
Of Six Men Who Assembled in the
Racing Balloon "America" at Pasa-
dena, CAL, Last Saturday.

Los Angeles, March 23.-After one
of the most narrowing experiences in
the history of ballooning, Captain A
E. Mueller and five companions who
ascended in the racing balloon Amer
lea, at Pasadena, on Saturday, landed
in the Sierra Madre mountains Satur-
day, and arrived on foot at Switzers
Camp, on the slopes of Mount Wilson
unharn:ed today Many searchers had
been securing the mountains for the
aeronauts.
Series of Hardships.
The men passed through a series OF
hardships, the details of which have
not reached Los Angeles Arriving al
Swilzer's Camp this afternoon, they
were provided with horses and began
the descent of the mountain trail to
Pasadena over q tortuous and slippery
way
A single telephone wire across the
mountains brought the first word OF
their arrival at the camp to relatives
in Pasadena The telephone then failed
and little information regarding their
hazardous trip could be obtained until
the men reached Pasadena late to-
night.
Carried Over Summit of Mount Lowe
The balloon was in the air less than
two hours. 1t was carried by the
strong north wind over the mile high
summit of Mount Lowe, and swept on
across the intervening peaks and can
yons to the lofty summit of Mount Ga
briel. Their. ballast was thrown out
and the balloon scared away toward
Strawberry Peak, in the third range
Crossing this at a low altitude, the
balloon encountered a strong current
Of cold air, which brought il rapidly to
earth.
Landed on Strawberry Peak.
A successful landing was effected on
the north side of Strawberry Peak, in
what is known as Little Tejugga Can
yon, about O'clock Saturday after
noon. less than two hours after their
ascension at Pasadena The distance
covered was less than fifteen miles in
a direct line, but by any possible foot
route it was many times that dis
tance.
Wandered AimlessIy About.
The aeronauts wandered aimlessly
over the mountains until 1.30 O'Clock
Sunday afternoon when they unex-
pectedly came to Colby's ranch, an iso-
lated habitation from any road and
without communication with the out
side world.
Caught in Terrific Snow Storm.
In the meantime a terrific snow
storm had swept over the mountains
and for hours the men suffered from
cold. The meagre supply of provisions
which they carried was sufficient to
guarantee against hunger until their
arrival at the ranch.
Arrival at Pasadena.
At the ranch the party remained un-
til Monday afternoon, when the storm
ceased. They Immediately took up the
snow-choked trail across the noun
tains toward Pasadena. The party
Travelled through Monday night and
until this afternoon, when they reached
Switzer's Camp, in the side of the
mountains, about ten miles from Pasa-
dena by a direct route. A party of
rescuers on horseback was at Switz-
er's, having just returned after a twen-
ty hour search for the missing men.
With Captain Mueller in the America
were J. p. Gillian, Richard Halsted,
Sydney Gray, Harold Parker and Ed
ward Dodschutz, all residents of Pasa-
dena.