The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-10-08
PASSAGE OF THE ALPS
THROUGH RAIN AND CLOUDS
Plunged Into Chasm Of Dense
Fog Which Seemed
BOttOmIeSs

Lny Assuciated Eress.l

10Y AocOAidttU iitoosf
Paris, Oct S.-Edgar W. Mix of Col
umbus. Ohio. the winner Of the in
ternational balloon race for the Cor
don Bennett trophy. which ed
from Zurich sunday. has sent the fol
lowing account of hi, memoraDle voy-
age to the Associated Press. His dis
patch is d ted Warsaw
Leaving Zurich sunday at 1857 p.
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 night the balloon.
IN drenching rain, sometimes SEEM
ed TO be at a complete standstiil. We
ascended and descended in search OF
better currents of air, without ap
preciable results. BY o'clock in the
morning half our ballast had been
used
Drops In Chasm of .cg
'''rhe passage of the Bavarian Alps
through rain and clouds was thrilling.
Once we swooped down the mountain
side with frightful velocity. plunging
into cnasm of fog which seemed
bottomiess. II was as If the eartn
had opened to swallow US up.
The balloon several times crash
ed through tree tops. After TWO hours
we emerged from the valley and go
noftheasterly slant of wind
When clear Of the mountains we
moved at lively rate. The guide
rope dragged over farm houses, break
ing tiles and chimneys The pess.
ants rushed out with cries and impre
cations.
we found that the guide rope had
become unraveled and hoisted 1t intt
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
konlgstadt We sighted a balloon q
the eastward with peasants hanging
onto the guide rope
Provisions Thrown Away.
After passing over konigstadt
which cost thlee sacks OF ballast, wt
rose through the clouds TO an alti
tude Of 1900 metres about 15,00l
feet and saw. above the clouds, bal
loon 10 the north. about 100 metres
higher We began 10 descend al f.4l
! D. M, emerging from the clouds abou
AGO metres above the town Of Valdez
+. burg, and were Obliged TO throw on
, eleven sacks of ballast and half o
our provisions to keep clear OF th'
! roofs. but ais II was. the guide ropl
dragged owes the wires of the fortress
! aud railroad station, creating con
] sternation among the yelling popula
! lion
we rose again 10 $500 me res nea
Breslau. throwing overheard the lii
savers, mattresses and the remaindc
; Of on provisions Gradually we con
tinued to descend after that altitua
until o'clock In the evening WI
good equilibrium we managed to kee
ufloat until o'clock Tuesday morn
ing without expenditure OF bahast, 9
which as matter of fact there wa
not an ounce left
Stopped By Pine Trees
The balloon landed and becam
wedged between pine trees IN the fol
est Of Gustava We waited until 6:S
before debating. and then searche
for help With the aid OF peasant
we loaded the balloon on carts.
While this was In progress foi
est guard wanionly killed one OF tn
peasants dogs. arousing reat indi.
nation We accompanied the owne
to the proprietor Of the estate TO lodg
complaint, and found peasant VIZ
man speaking a little French, VIII
registered an entry Of our landing |
the log book. While the peasant
were conveying the balloon to 0strs
lenko. the woman gave us a primitiy
meal Of potatoes aud water.
sOn our arrival at Ostrolanxo VI
were stopped by the police, where W
remained until Instructions were r.
ceiyed from st. Petersburg for on
release. We were treated excellently