Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-11
FoRvEs AND scIEN-
TIsT YATES FOUND UNcoN.
sclous IN wREckAeE.
YATES FATALLY HURT,
FORBES CONDITION SERIOUS
Men Conscious Only at Intervals and
Unable to Explain Cause of Accident
Wore Trying for Distance Record
Balloon Wrecked Beyond Repair
Forbes Holder Of Lahm Cup.

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. A. Holland Forbes. of New
York, holder of the Lahm trophy, and
j. G. Yates, a New York astronomer
who accompanied him in the flight
against the ballon distance record, are
near death in a farm house six miles
north of Center, which is about twen-
ty miles from this city. The balloon
Viking is mass of tangled silk and
cords. torn beyond repair.
The men ascended Monday night at
Quincy, III. During intervals when the
aeronauts were partially conscious
neither Of them could explain the ac-
cident yesterday, but it is believed that
gas escaping from the big bag caused
them to lose control Of the Viking and
that the gap enlarged until the drop
followed.
Balloon Seen to Collapse.
The balloon was first sighted south
of Center about o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon. Those who saw it could dis
Germ no passengers and suspected that
something was wrong. 1t was going
at the rate of five miles per hour. AS
it moved over Center and to the north
it appeared to be settling toward the
ground, when suddenly the bag col
lapsed and the dash to earth followed.
Shortly after O'clock farmers reached
the spot where the balloon had fallen
in a field. They freed the two appar-
emily dead bodies and carried them to
the nearest farm house, where restora-
tives were. administered. 1t was not
until several hours later that Forbes
showed signs of returning conscious
ness and he rallied only for few
minutes at time. He seemed to have
no knowledge of what happened. Yates
was aroused only for few moments,
but like Forbes was unable 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 that
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 his conscious moments
made disconnected statements, declar-
ing the balloon had passed over por-
tions of Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee
and Kentucky. He said they were
over Illinois yesterday morning. He
failed to say what happened to the bal
loon, but an incoherent statement
about the leakage of gas caused some
Of the country people who heard about
them to declare that areonauts had
been overcome by escaping gas from
the balloon, but the supposition was
hardly borne out by anything Forbes
said.
Fell With Great Force.
What appears certain was that con-
troll of the balloon was lost in some
manner and that it drifted until it's
buoyancy was so far spent that a gust
Of wind or sudden loss of gas sent it
downward with great force.
Balloon Ripped Open.
Forbes said he lost control Of the
balloon yesterday afternoon, and at
tempting to land, pulled the rip cord.
The entire side of the balloon was rip
ped open, causing the bag to descend
with great rapidity. Yates condition
is still serious.
Extra medical assistance for Forbes
and Yates, the injured aeronauts, was
hastily summoned this afternoon. Both
are said to be so badly injured they
could not sit up in bed or talk, ex-
cept briefly.