The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-10-09
BALLOON VOYAGE
ACROSS the ALPS
Edgar Mix Tells Of His Thrill
Ing Journey.
ASCEADED THREE MILES
Passage over Mountains Was Made
In a Dense Fog, With the Basket
Frequently Crashing Through the
Tree Tops.

Paris. Oct s-Edward w. Mix. OF
Columbus. o.. the winner OF the inter
national balloon race for the Gordon
Bennett trophy. which started from
Zurich Sunday. has sent the following
account of his memorable voyage. His
dispatch is dated Warsaw:
Leaving Zurich Sunday at 1851 y.
m, We we're able TO recognize our
route only as far as Constance. Thence
to the finish the weather was so thick
that direction could only be deter
mined by compass During Sunday
night the balloon. in drenching rain.
sometimes seemed TO be at complete
stsndstill. We assembled and descended
In search of better currents of air.
without appreciate results. BY
o'clock in the morning half OF our bal
last had been used.
Thrilling Passage Through Alps.
The passage OF the Bavarian Alps
through rain and clouds was thrilling.
Once We swooped down the mountain
side with frightful velocity. plunging
into a chasm OF fog which seemed bot
tomless IL was as II the earth had
opened to swallow us up. The basket
several times crashed through the
tree tops After two hours We emery
ed from the valley and got north
easterly slant of wind.
when clear OF the mountains We
moved at lively rate. The guide rope
dragged over farm houses. breaking
tiles and chimneys The peasants
rushed out with cries and impreca.
lions.
We then found that the guide rope
had become unraveled and hoisted ii
into the basket for repairs. which
were most difficult. as we were at the
same time working hard with the
blower to prevent the balloon from ris
ing. A few hours later We recognized
several villages and then the town of
Konigstadt We sighted balloon to
the eastward. with peasants hanging
on TO the guide rope.
After passing over konigstadt
which cost three sacks OF ballast. we
rose through the clouds to an alti.
tude OF $4,000 feet. and saw above the
clouds g balloon to the north. abou;
$50 feet higher We began to descend
At 40 p. m emerging from the clouds
about 1900 feet above the town OF Wal
denburg. and were obliged to pettisOn
eleven sacks OF ballast and half OF our
provisions 10 keep clear OF the roofs.
but as IL was. the guide rope dragged
over the wire Of the fortress and rail
road station. creating CONSERVATION
among the yelling population.
We rose again to 2S0O metres near
Breslau. throwing overheard the life
savers. mattresses and the remainder
Of our provisions. Gradually we con
tinued to descend after that altitude
until 6 o'clock in the evening. With
good equilibrium we managed to keep
afoat until 3 O'Clock Tuesday morning
without expenditure of ballast. Of which
as a mater OF fact there was not an
ounce left.
Wedeed In Pine Trees.
The balloon landed and became
wedged between pine trees in the for
est of Gustova. We Wanted until $50
before debating and then searched for
help We found peasants. one OF whom
had been in America and spoke lit
tie English. With their aid we loaded
the balloon on carts While this was
in progress forest guard wantonly
killed one of the peasants dogs, arous'
ing great indignation. We accompanied
the owner to the proprietor OF the es
tate to lodge complaint. and found a
peasant woman staaking a little
French. who registered an entry OF
our landing in the log book. While the
peasants we're conveying the balloon
to OstrolenkO the women gave us a
primitive meal OF potatoes and water
ON our arrival at Ostrolenko we
we're stopped by the police. who took
us. together with the balloon. to the
station. where we remained until in
structIons were received from st. Pc
tersburg for our release. We were
treated excsllently."