Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-04-07
THREE PERISH IN
TRIP To CLOUDS
Chapter Of Accidents Attends Nh
Unluoky Ascension Made at
3tettin, Germany.
BALLOON DROPS IN BALTIC SEA
collisions Break Ropes and In
jure Aeronauts-Pilot Un-
able 10 Check Swift Rise
in hurricane.
BALLOON DROPS IN BALTIC SEA

stettin. Germany. April The Ger
man balloon Ponmcrn. %hich snade an
ascension here this afternoon. met with
series Of accidents which ended in a
disaster under most tragic circumstances
In the Baltic sea. Three men lost their
lives including the radical member OF
the 2eichstag, Werner Hugo pcelbrtiecl,.
Herr Delhrueck and another member Of
the party were drowned. n thlrd occu-
can't Of HE car was picked M uncon-
scious ard died from his injuries. while
the fourth wna rescued in serious con-
Gi:ior.
Thc Pomnierr. carving Dolbrnerl,, who
WIS acting ~ pilot. banker Herr Sem
rnehardi an architect. Herr Renduhn.
ana a man named Helm asccnded this
afternoon AZ the zoe work. The wind
was blowing a hurricane and tho Pom
mcrn broke ava. hoforc sho rad been
completely balasted.
y chapter Cf accidents i.,non-
ieta!y. The balloon collidcd wru telc-
graph wires. which broke. almost over
Mrnlng the basket. It then dashed into
the roof Of neighhorlns factory. des-
troyirR tho emokestack with tho basket
swaynG wildly. ana half o? its ropes cut.
the balloon SCARED 20 great altitude
and disappeared i'm tho clouds ct n Terri
&c speed Thousands Of onloo';ers !nclud-
Ing detachmen, of military. which hal
assisted in The ascent, ran niong the
roads expecting the basket to break
away.
TUGS FOLLOW IT CLOSELY.
the balloon, however, was not seen
again until it reached Swnemunde g
miles northwest OF Ste,tin. over which it
passed at a height of G,oo0 feet. in the d.
rection Of the sea Tugs followed in is
racks. ard one of them which had
outdistanCed the others was almost di-
rectly under ii when suddenly the ball
loon fell into the sea. The tug steamed
TO the spot quickly but the work of res
cue was difficult. Already Delbrueck and
Benduhn had disappeared. but Semmel-
hardt and Helm were clinging to the ropes
and they were dragged aboard tie YES.
sell
Describing their terrible experience.
Herr Semmelhardt, when he had been
somewhat revived, said:
"Our collision with the telegraph lines
and the factory roof had the most
horrible consequences. Delbrueclx Sis
tanned Il broken leg and a severe injury
of the head. Benduhn had an arm and
leg fractured. Helm received had contu-
sions OF tho head. ! was knocked sense
less, but recovered in a moment to ind
that | had crushed knee and chest.
HOPED TO REACH SWEDEN
"Delbrueck, in spite of his awful con1i-
lion, vainly endeavored to open the valve
which had become entanglcd We knew
not what to do, but merely awaited our
Rate.
In the meantime. we passed over
Swlnemunde at a great altitude and
room found ourselves above the sea
We thought possibly that we Nigh
land in Sweden. but the balloon was
down. until we were within $50 feet
OF the water. Delbrueck was suffer
ing agony. but he succeeded in milling
the rip cord, and we fell into the
water like a log. All managed to Get
clear of the basket. | with Helm swan
and caught hold of the network. but
Delbrueck and Benduhn sank. re-
nembered no more until | found my
self in the boat which rescued us"
Helm died soon after being taken on
the tug. and Delbreck's bod, was
washed ashore this evening.
The Pommern, with the aeronaut
Oscar Erbsloeh In command. won the
International balloon race at st. Louis
In 1907