Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-11
Forbes, Holder Of Lahm
Trophy, is Hurt in
Kentucky.
AFTER DISTANCE MARK
Balloon CoIIapSeS and He and
Astronomer Yates Are
Badly Battered.


numerous cuts and bruises and posi-
bly, internal injuries and with only
occasional periods of any approach to
consciousness, A Holland Forbes of
New York, holder Of the Lahm trophy,
and ]. c. Yates, a New York astron-
omer, who accompanied him in a flight
against the balloon distance record,
are lying in a farm house six miles
north of Center. which is about 20
miles from this city.
Balloon IL n wreck.
The Viking is a mass of tangled silk
and cord torn beyond repair. During
intervals, when the aeronauts were
partially conscious, neither OF them
could explain the accident yesterday,
but it is believed that gas escaping
from the big bag caused them to lose
control of the Viking and that the gap
enlarged until drop followed.
First Seen mt 4 I'm.
The balloon was first sighted south
of Center about o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Those who saw it could
discern no passengers and suspected
that something was wrong II was
going at the rate of FIVE miles an hour.
AS it moved over Center and to the
north it appeared to be settling toward
collapsed and a dash to the earth fol.
lowed.
Al First Appeared Dead.
Shortly after O'Clock farmers
reached the spot where the balloon
had fallen in a field. They freed the
two apparently dead bodies and car
ried them to the nearest farm house.
where restoratives were administered.
1t was not until several hours later
that Forbes showed signs of returning
consciousness and he rallied only for
a few minutes at a time. He seemed
to have no knowledge of what hap
pened. Yates was aroused only for
a few moments, but, like Forbes, was
unable to give any details.
Say Forbes VIII Live.
This morning physicians in attend
ance upon Forbes and Yates returned
from a call to Center and report
Forbes injuries are not serious and
that, while they are uncertain about
Yates injuries, they believe there Is
a chance for him to recover. Both
men are still conscious only at inter
walls.
Passed Over Four states.
Forbes. during his conscious mo-
ments. made disconnected statements.
declaring the balloon had passed over
portions of Illinois, Missouri, Tennes-
see and Kentucky He said they were
in Illinois yesterday morning. He
failed to say what happened to tho
balloon, but an incoherent statement
about the leakage of gas caused some
of the country people who heard about
them to declare the aeronauts had
been overcome by escaping gas from
the balloon, but the supposition was
hardly borne out by anything Forbes
said
Plainly Lost Control.
What appears certain is that control
Of the balloon was lost in some manner
and that it drifted until it's buoyancy
was so far spent that a gust Of wiud
or a sudden loss of gas sent it down
ward with great force.
Pulled Rip Cord.
Later Forbes said he lost control OF
he balloon yesterday afternoon, and
to land. pulled the rip cord.
The entire side of the balloon was
ripped open, causing the bag TO de-
scend with great rapidity Yates CON
iition is still serious.
Forbes and Yates left Quincy, Ill.
Monday night in an attempt to break
he long distance record for balloon
lights.
Remote from Wire and RnIl.
Center. KY, May 1.-The aeronauts
ire at Brush Hill, remote from either
wire or rail communication, and mes
iengers have been sent from here to
the particulars Of the acci-
lent and to learn what aid the injured
men need. No intimation OF the cause
II the catastrophe has yet been re-
eived here.
Little Hope for Yates.
Louisville, KY, May 11.-A tele-
hone message from Glasgow at 10 this
morning was to the effect that Yates
5 injured internally and it is feared
atally.