The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-04
THREE MEN LOSE
LIVES IN BALLOON
Air Bag Breaks Away and Is
Carried to Sea by Furious
Hurricane.
OCCUPANTS ARE DASHED
AGAINST BUILDINGS
Fatally Injured Men Taken
5000 Feet High, Then
Dropped Into Sea.

sTETTIN. Germany. April 3.-Ths
German balloon Pommern. which made
mn ascension here this afternoon. met
with scries 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 rechstag, Werner Hugo
Del Bvuech.
Herr Del Brueck and another member
of tho party were drowned. a third oc-
cupant of the car WAS picked mp uncon-
scious and died from his injuries. while
the fourth was rescued in a serious con-
d;tion.
The Pommern, carrying Del Brueck,
VINO was acting as pilot; banker. Herr
Sommclhardt: an architect. Herr Ben
duhn, and man named Helm. assembled
carly In the afternoon at the gas works
The wind at the time was blowing
hurricane. and the Pommcrn broke away
before she had been completely bal
lasted.
The chapter Of accidents began imme-
graph wires, which broke. almost over
turning the basket. II then dashed
against the roof OF a neighboring fac
tory. destroying the smokestack. With
It's ropes cut, the balloon SCARED 10
great altitude and disappeared in the
clouds at terrific speed. Thousands OF
onlookers Including a detachment of SOL
ran along the roads, expecting the bas-
lSet to break away. The balloon, how
ever. was not seen again until il reached
Swinmundc. thrty-siX miles northwest
OF Stc.tin. over which II passed at a
height of 5000 feet In the direction OF
the sea.
Tugs Follow Balloon.
Tugs followed In its track, and one OF
them which had outdistanced the others
was almost directly under it, when sud-
he hzl ~
tug steamed TO the spot quickly, but
the work of rescue was difficult.
Already Brueck and Benduhn had dis
appeared. but Sommelhsrdt and Helm
were clncing to the ropes, and they
were dragged aboard the vessel.
Describing their terrible experience,
Herr Sommelhardt. when he had oecn
somewhat revived. said.
Our collision with the telegraph lines
and the factory roof had the most horri,
BILE consequences. Del Brueck sustained
head Bcnduhn had an arm and leg
fractured Helm received bad contusions
of the head. ! was knocked senseless
but recovered In a moment TO find
had a crushed knee and chest. The net
work around tho envelope was torn In
such a manner that we feared every
second the gas bag would slip out ana
height OF 5000 feet. 10 which We had as
cendcd like a fash.
"Del srueck. in spite Of his awful con-
dliOn, NalnlN enocdNoIcd 10 open '''c
valve, the cord of which had become en-
tangled. We knew not what 10 do. but
merely awaited our fate. In the mean
time We passed over Swinemunde at
great altitude and soon found our
selves above the sea, We thought pos
sibly we might land in sweden. but the
balloon was caught in rain cloud.
which drove us down until We were
within $50 feet OF the water. Del Brucck
was suffering agony, but he succeeded
i'm pulling tho ripping cord and We fell
into the water like log. All managed
TO get clear Of the basket. |. with Helm.
swan and caught hold of the net work:
but Del Brueck and Benduhn sank. [
remembered no more until ] found my
self I'm the boat which rescued us.
Helm died soon after being taken on
the tug and Del Bruccks body was
washed ashore this evening.