New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-12
BALLOON UP 10000 FEET
Forbes and Yates Were Be-
numhed by SnoWStorm.
NEITHER SERIOUSLY HURT
Rip Cord Worked Too Well,
Causing Sudden Drop-Mrs.
Forbes Feared Mishap.

Center. XIV, Nav i1--Numbed by snow
storm encountered at an altitude OF zp'o''
feet and dropped rapidly to earth from
considerable height because OF i1ahlhty 10
control the balloon. A. Holland Forbes OF
Fairfield. Conn vice-rresident Of the Aero
Club Of America and J. c. Yates, OF New
york suffered severe injuries last night
after a fight of four hundred miles tom
Quincy. III Their balloon. the Viking. oe-
soended near this place with such speed
that both aeronauts were bruised ana
stunned and the balloon was partly
wrecked The balloonists viii recover
They were unconscious all last night, large
ly because Of cold. The worlds official
altitude recorded is 1o.sco metres or nearly
$500 feet.
The injured balloonists are at the farm
Of Tilden Boston suffering from severe
bruises and sprains but are not seriously
injured They expect TO be able TO traVei
within two or three days.
we left Quincy, H., al $50 o'clock on
Monday evening" said MI Forbes We
were hop;nc TO strike favorable air cur
rents from the west that might gives US
G chance at the long distance record. We
were carried in q seni-circ1e, however
RAISING over parts Of Illinois, Missouri,
Indiana and Kentucky.
Tuesday morning we encountered IN
tense cold and q severe snowstorm at an
altitude of $4,000 feet Tuesday after noon.
erain at an altitude of IL. o00 feet, we ran
into another snowstorm. Shortly afterward
ve shot up TO 2o.600 feet through the snow
The cold was so intense that we became
benunabed and half stupefed. We gradual
~ lost power TO control the balloon. / can
not tell what the altitude was just before
ire made our final drop. but efforts TO let
out gas by the valve did not bring US down
as fast as desired. Finally 1 used the rip
cord. for fear we might soon lose conscious
ness In some manner as Vet undiscovered
the cord worked entirely too well and ripped
the bag almost from top TO bottom The
descent was terrific and / Judge that for
the last hundred feet there was little gas
left in the balloon. as il fell like a stone
Telesraphic instructions from New York
TODAY to bring the Injured men there could
not be complied with owing TO their condi-
ton.
The balloon was first sighted south of
Center about o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Those who saw il could discern no passen-
gers and suspected that something was
wrong. It was going at the rate of about
Eve miles an hour As Fl moved over
Center and TO the north il appeared to be
settling toward the ground. when sudden
II the bag collapsed and the dash to the
earth followed
Farmers soon reached the spot where the
balloon had fallen in q field. They freed
the two apparently dead men and car
RED them to the nearest farmhouse, where
restoratives were administered II was not
rrtil several hours later that Forbes showed
signs Of returning consciousness, and ne
rallied only for a few minutes at q time.
He seemed to have no knowledge of what
had hsppened Yates has reused for
few moments but like Forbes, was unable
10 zive any details.
The balloon had an erratic fight. II
assembled at Quincy. H., on Monday even
ing. and travelled southwark slowly. Early
Yesterday morning It was sighted AZ Vent
VILE No and ii -passed-over the Mississippi
River within the limits of 81. Louis. It
was next reported in Southern Illinois. At
Nashville. III. the drag rope touched the
tree tops Ballast vas thrown out at
North PrsTrie, and the balloon assembled 10
an altitude Of 3.aaa feet and slowly sailed
toward Kentucky.
Fairfield Conn. May 1.-THE following
telegram from A. Holland Forbes was re-
ceived tonight ny Mrs Forbes: Landed
in Kentucky viii be home Tuesday.
a message has also been received from
Yates. saving Forbes ard I perfectly
safe Returning shortly
Mrs. Forbes says she feared the mishap
because she had had no word from her
husband. it being his custom to send a
telegram to- her giving particulars Of