The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-11
AER0NAUTS ARE
BADLY INJURED
Balloon Viking Drops to Earth
Near Center, KY, with Two
New York Men
One HOLDER OF lAHM TROPHY
w. A. Holland Forbes, BalIoonist, and
j. c. Yates, Astronomer, Make Fu-
tile Attempt to Break the
Distance Record.

Glasgow, KY May 11.-Bearing nu-
merous cuts and bruises and possibly
Internal injuries, and with only occa-
sional periods of any approach to con-
sciousness, w. A. Holland Forbes of
New York holder of the I.ahm trophy
and j. c. Yates. a New York astron-
omer, who accompanied him in flight
in the Viking against the balloon dis
tance record. are lying in a farm
house, six miles north of Center, which
Is about twenty miles from this city.
The Viking is mass of tangled silk
and cord torn beyond repair. During
intervals when the aeronauts were
partially conscious neither of them
could explain the accident of yester-
day, but it is believed that gas es-
Gaping from the big bag caused them
TO lose control Of the Viking and that
the gap enlarged until the drop fol-
lowed
The balloon was first sighted south
of Center about o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Those who saw 1t could
discern no passengers and suspected
that something was wrong It was
going at rate of five miles an hour.
Balloon Drops to Earth.
p As IL moved over Center and to the
north. II appeared to be settling to-
ward the ground when suddenly the
bag collapsed and the dash TO earth
followed. Shortly after o'clock farm
Vs reached the spot where the balloon
had fallen in the field. They freed
two apparently dead bodies and car
ried them to the nearest farmhouse
where restoratives were administered.
1t was not until several hours later
that Forbes showed signs of return
ing to consciousness and he rallied
only for few minutes at a time. He
seemed to have no knowledge of what
happened Yates was aroused only for
a few minutes but like Forbes was un-
able to give any details.
Forbes Will Recover.
This morning physicians in attend
ance upon Forbes and Yates, returned
from the call to Center and report
Forbes injuries are not serious and
that while they are uncertain about
Yates injuries. they believe there is a
chance for him to recover. Both men
are still conscious only at intervals.
Forbes during conscious moments
made disconnected statements. declar-
ing the balloon had passed over por-
tions OF Illinois. Missouri. Tennessee
and Kentucky He said they We're
over Illinois yesterday morning. He
failed to say what happened TO the
balloon but incoherent statement about
people who heard about them
To declare the aeronauts had been
overcome by escaping gas from the
but this superstition was hard
y borne out by anything Forbes said.
What appears certain is that the con-
troll of the balloon was lost in some
manner and that It drifted until its
buoyancy was so far spent that a gust
Of wind or sudden loss Of gas sent it
downward with great force.
Are in Remote Region.
Center, KY, May 1.-THE aeronauts
art at Bruces Hill, remote from either
wire or rail communication, and
has been sent from here to
ascertain particulars of the accident
ard to learn what aid the injured men
need. No lntimation Of the cause OF
the catastrophe has yet been received
hero. VVN
Yates May Not Recover.
Louisville. May 11.-A telephone
message from Glasgow this morning is
10 the effect Yates is injured internally,
md 1t is feared. fatally.
Lost Control OF Balloon.
Glasgow. KY. May 1f.-Forbes said
ne lost control of the balloon yester-
lay afternoon and in attempting to
and pulled the rip cord. The entire
side OF the balloon ripped open. caus-
ng the bag to descend with great rap
dity. Yates condition is still serious.
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