Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-22
RESCUING PARTY
TO GO IN QUEST
OF BALLOONISTS
AVIATOR C0EY TENDERS USE
OF HIS GAS BAG
MISSING BALLOON SEEN NEAR
SECOND RANGES
1t Is Thought Six Men, Headed by
Aeronaut Mueller, May Have
Landed in Mojave
Desert
/ RELIEF nartv NAV he sent out hy

4 RELIEF party may be sent out by
| u balloon to rescue the six men who
IA ascended with the American"
Saturday afternoon from Tournament
park, Pasadena, through heavy fog
and subsequently must have found
themselves at the mercy of violent
gales, and who are supposed to be
somewhere in the "bad lands" between
the second range and the Mojave des-
ert.
Charles A. Coey has offered his big
balloon, the Chicago" If needed for
this purpose, and if utilized it will be
equipped with a large siren, operated
by compressed air, which will search
the canyons for the missing balloonists.
Mr.. Coey will postpone his pleasure
trip planned for this afternoon in case
no word is heard of Capt. Mueller's
party this morning from the forest
rangers or other searching parties. He
suggests that the balloon, the gas for
which will have lifting power of more
than two tons, be towed up to Mount
Lowe. From that point start can be
made, Mr.. Coey thinks, which will per-
NIT search that may determine the
whereabouts of the "American's' party.
Searching Parties to Start
The government rangers and search
ing parties from Mount Wilson and
Pasadena will start out this morning
to look for the balloonists, of whom no
trace has been learned since the balloon
was seen just before dark Saturday
evening, when it was surmounting the
second range. Searching parties from
Mount Wilson and Alpine tavern went
out on the trails over the second range
yesterday looking for the missing bal
loonists.
If. as is feared in Pasadena, the bal
loon was brought down in the bad
lands, it will take the party several
days to reach communicating point
They carried enough food for a day or
so, but undoubtedly have suffered from
the cold. AS the mountain trails We're
unknown to any of the party it will be
doubly severe, although Captain Muei-
Ter is an experienced mountaineer. The
party carried compasseS and other in
struments.
May Have Landed
The party may have made a landing
| beyond the ranges and in the Mojave
desert so far removed from a railroad
or telephone that no word could be sent
to their homes.
The Associated Press last night made
efforts to reach them, but no trace of
| the balloon could be learned from any
correspondents on the other side of the
mountains. 1t is thought the view that
! the American is still this side of the
desert is the more likely one.
| AS the American must have carried
| little ballast as it surmounted the Sec
ond range 1t could hardly have gone
very far under the weather conditions
prevailing. The men who are familiar
with ballooning conditions were OF the
belief last night that the party would
| be found to be safe, although they
might not be heard from for day
\ or SO.
81 do not think they came to any
danger" said Roy Knabenshue. but
they may have come down to wait for
| better weather at point where no
word could be obtained from them"
II believe they are all safe,'' said
Dick Ferris, but am wondering if
shall ever see the balloon again. It is
not difficult to make landing, but it
is sometimes hard to get the parapher-
MALTA out. l am sure that we will hear
in day or so at most of the safety OF
all six men,"