The San Francisco call., 1910-04-04
BALLOON FALLS
INTO BALTIC; 3
DEATHS RESULT
Chapter of Accidents Precedes
Disaster Which Claims Toll
of Lives
Collision With Telegraph Wires
and SmOkeStaCk DiSabIes
POmmern

STETTIN. Germany, April 3.-The
German balloon Pommern. which made
an ascension here this afternoon, met
with a series of accidents which ended
in a disaster in the Baltic sea under
most tragic circumstances. Three men
lost their lives. including the radical
member of the reichstag, Werner Hugo
del Brueck
Herr del Brueck and another mem
ber Of the party were drowned, third
occupant OF the car was picked I'D un-
conscious and died from his injuries,
while the fourth was rescued in a seri-
Gus condition.
The POmmern, carrying Del Brueck,
who was acting as pilot: a banker,
Herr Sommelhardt. an architect Herr
Bcnduhn. and man named Helm as
ceuded early in the afternoon at the
gas works. The wind at the time was
blowing q gale and the Pommern broke
away before she had been completely
ba lasted
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS
The chapter Of accidents began i'm
mediateIy. The balloon collided with
telegraph wires. which broke. almost
overturning the basket tt then
dashed against the roof of a ueighbor-
=
stack. With the basket sWaying wildly
ma half OF jts ropes cut. the balloon
SCARED TO q great altitude and disap-
peared in the clouds at a terrific speed.
ThOusa nds Of Onlookers. including a
detachment Of soldiers, which had as
sisted in the ascent, ran along the
roads, expecting the basket to break
away The ba llOOn, however was not
seen again until il reached Swine
m1nde. 36 miles northwest Of Stettin
over which ii passed at a height Of
5000 feet in the direction Of the sea
Tugs followed in its track, and one
of them, which had outdistanced the
others was almost directly under il
when suddenly the balloon fell into the
sea. Tie tug steamed TO the spot
quickly. but the work Of rescue was
oimculty. Already Del Brueck and Ben
duan had ppeared. but Sommel-
raTdt and Hahn were clinging to the
ropes and they were dragged aboard
Lle vessel
DESCRIBES EXPERIENCE
Describing their terrible experience
Iferr Sommelhardt when he had been
revived said
our collision with the telegraph
lines and the factory roof had the
most horrible consequences, Del
Brueck sustained a broken leg and a
severe injury Of the head. Benduhn
Lad an arm and leg fractured. Helm
received bad contusions Of the head.
] was knocked senseless, but recovered
in . moment 10 find I had a crushed
knee and chest The network around
the envelope was torn in such a man
ner that he feared every second the
Eas bag would slip ont nd we would
crash 20 the earth from height of
5000 feet. to which we had ascended
like Q ia sh.
Del Brueck. i'm spite Of his awful
condition. vainly endeavored TO open
the valve. the cord of which had be-
come entangled.
We knew not what 10 do. but merely
waited our fate.
In the meantime we passed over
Swinamunde at q great altitude and
soon found ourselves above the sea
We thought possibly we might land in
sweden, but the balloon was caught
in 2 raincloud, which drove us down
until we were within $50 feet of water.
Del Brueck was suffering agony. but
he succeeded in pulling the ripping
cord and we fell into the water like
q log All managed to get clear of
the basket. ]. with Helm. swan and
caught hold Of the network. but Del
Brueck and Benduhn sank 1 remem-
ber no more until I found myself in
the boat that rescued us"
Helm died soon after being taken
on the tug, and Del Bruecks body was
washed ashore this evening.