The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-09-28
STILL NO TRACE
OF BALLOONIST
HOMER HAZARD MAKES Assem-
SION AT HouoHToN LAST
NIGHT AND HAS NOT BEEN
, SEEN SINCE.

II
trace had been found of Homer Haz-
ard of Lansing a balloonist whose ex-
hibitions were TO have been feature
of the Copper Country Fair and who
assembled I'm his balloon shortly after
o'clock last evening. A light breeze
carried his balloon over the lake and
the wind was blowing eight miles an
hour at the time. The last seen of
him by the crowds at the fair was
near Ripley The balloon was found
on the Ripley sands early in the even
ing but there was no trace OF the par
achute.
When Hazard did not put in an ap,
pearance II was feared some accident
had happened TO him. The fair Off
GERS Immediately telephoned all around
the vicinity of Houghton and the lake
to find a trace OF him but their eff
orts were unavailing. At about IL
o'clock Henry Speaker. an employe of
the Portage Lake Foundry * Machin-
cry company reported that he had
seen the balloonist make his para
chute drop and come down into the
middle of the lake at a point a little
east of Pryor's lumber yard. Hazard
declared he was all right when Speal-
er called to him and Spealer drove on
his way 10 Ripley.
searching party was then organic
ed headed by Manager Mcnamara of
the fair who returned about o'clock
this morning without having found a
trace of the man. Another searching
party was then formed headed by
Speaker who piloted the party to the
place where he had seen Hazard make
his descent. but their efforts brought
no results.
When morning came and Hazard
had not reported, IL was feared his
doom had been sealed and that he had
come TO an untimely death in the
waters of Portage Lake Chief OF
Police Voetsch organized another
searching party and began a system
attic search OF the waters OF the lake.
Not an Advertising Scheme.
The theory was exploded this morn
ing that Hazards disappearance was
merely an advertising scheme Of the
fair management. When Secretary
Mcnamara heard OF this he was very
Indignant and branded the rumor as
false. and merely an attempt OF ignor-
ant wits 10 make sport Of what is a
serious affair
Before making his ascent. Hazard
was asked about his ability to swim
and stated that he was as much at
home in the water as in the air and
that no precautions need be taken be-
cause Of the presence Of the lake The |
ascent would have been made earlier |
in the afternoon but for the wind. but !
about O'Clock IL Gained down and |
Hazard began initiating his balloon. |
This took some time and when the |
bag was filed it was after six. II
was pointed out TO the balloonist that |
he was taking a risk but he made the
attempt.
II is the theory OF the searchers |
that Hazard felt confident Of his abn-
ity to swim ashore.
Voeteh's Search Fruitless.
Chief OF Police Louis Voetsch re-
turned at noon today from search |
for Hazard. He reports that man
named Sutton, who is employed at the
Ripley brick yards was out cruising |
In his motor boat last evening at |
about 7 o'clock. when he ran along
side Of what he supposed was an old |
scow Upon investigation however II |
proved 20 be the balloon and 1t was
taken ashore.
The mate on the barge Kirby. re-
ports that he saw Hazard making his
parachute drop and that he seemed 10
be directly above Portage Lake. but
was endeavoring TO swing the para
chute towards the shore. He states |
that when the parachute and aeronaut
passed out Of view. they were beyond |
the Michigan College Of Mines. and |
that he could not see whether or not |
they had fallen into the lake.
Beyond these discoveries. the in
vestigation Of chief voetsch threw no
light upon the mysterious disappear
ance OF the daring balloonist.