The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-08
MIX DESCRIBES BALLOON TRIP Ohio Man Makes Memor-
 able Voyage. WINNER OF BENNETT TROPHY Sails Through Thick Banks of
 Cloud. By Husbanding Ballast, American suc- ceeds in Breaking All Records fn International Aerial Event
 at Zurich.
WINNER OF BENNETT TROPHY

Paris. Oct. 7--Kdgar W. Mix of Co., lumbus, O.. the winner of the interna- tional balloon race for the Gordon Ben- nett trophy. which started from Zurich Sunday. has sent the following account of his memorable voyage to the Asso- ciated Press. His dispatch is dated Warsaw:
 Leaving Zurich Sunday at 3:57 p. m.. we were able to recognize our route only as far as Constance. Then to the finish. the weather was so thick that direction could only be deter mined by compass. During Sunday night the balloon. in a drenching rain. sometimes seemed to be at a complete standstill. We ascended and descend ed 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 frightful velocity. plunging into chasm of fog which seemed bot tomless. It was as if the earth had opened to swallow us up. The bal loon several times crashed through tree tops. After two hours. we emerged from the valley and got q northeast erly slant of wind.
 When clear of the mountains. we moved at a lively rate. The guide rope dragged over farm houses, break ing tiles and chimneys. The peasants rushed out with cries and impreca- tions.
 We then found that guide rope had become unravelled and hoisted it Into the basket for repairs. which were most difficult, as we were at the same lon An prevent the balloon from rising. A few hours later we recognized sew eraI villages and then the town of Konigstadt. We sighted a balloon to the eastward with peasants hanging onto the guide rope.
 Throw Out Ballast.
 "After passing over Konigstadt. which cost three sacks of ballast, we rose through the clouds to an altitude of 4,600 meters (about 15,000 feet, and saw above the clouds balloon to the north, about 100 meters higher. We began to descend at 1850 D. m. emerg- ing from the clouds about 460 meters above the town of Waldenburg and we were obliged to jettison eleven sacks of ballast and half of our provisions to keep clear of the roofs, but as 1t was, the guide rope dragged over the wings of the fortresses and railroad station, creating consternation among the yelling population. We rose to 2.S00 meters, near Breslau. throwing overheard the life savers, mattresses and the remainder of our provisions.
 Gradually we continued to -sdescero after that altitude until o'clock in the evening. With good equilibrium. we managed to keep afoat until 3 o'clocF Tuesday morning, without expendltuf of ballast, of which. as matter of fact there was not an ounce lert.
 "The balloon landed and became wedKed between pine trees in the for est of Gustova. We waittN until 6:3o before dehatinR 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, a forest guard wantonly killed one of the peasants dogs. arous- ing great indignation. We accompa- nied the owner to the proprietor of the estate to lodge a complaint. and found peasant woman speaking little French. who registered an entry of oui landing in the 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 fol our release. We were treated excel lently"