The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-13
Another Unsuccessful Air Trip from
st. Louis Ends by the Whole
Outfit Dropping into the
Mississippi.
DROP OF 5000 FEET
TWO Aeronauts Got Their Feet Wet
as the Only Result Of Their
Thrilling Experience
In Air.

ST LOUIS. June 1S.-J. D. Wooster
I ambert and S. Louis Won Phul, who
ascended from the Aero Club ascen-
sion grounds, at $50 a. M, yesterday,
in the $4,000 cubic foot balloon, st.
Louis No. 8, dropped into the Missis-
sppj river below the Chain Of Rocks
from height of 5000 feet, two hours
later Both escaped with wet feet.
they and the balloon were rescued by
Grove Hane, Lanbert's chauffeur, who
commandered a motor boat for the
purpose. It was Lambert's maiden
trip.
Tangled rip and valve cords and the
Stiffness OF the upper atmosphere
we're responsible for the method of
andng chosen by Won Phul, who was
plotting the balloon. The aeronauts
we're above the river Yur more than
an hour, unable to clear it. To prevent
repetition of what Is believed caused
the accident to A, Holland Forbes, in
Germany, in 1907, ballast was not dis
earded to check the descent, for 1t
was feared this would send the bal
loon up again and cause dangerous
loss of gas
No ballast was discarded until the
balloon was q few hundred feet from
the water. when four sacks were drop
ped overheard. This made 1t possible
fnr hoc - Id ~ ot<,v- 20 ord
enough to stay there. The gas in the
bag was sufficient to keep 1t from
sinking.
Hane followed the balloon to Baden
In Lambert's car. When the. balloon
began to descend Hane endeavored to
get nlotorboatman to go out into the
river in boat that was lying near
by. The boats owner or any one able
TO operate 1t could not be found. Re-
lying on his automobile experience,
Hane finally jumped Into the boat,
started the engine. and with man
70 help him, got under way.
When they reached the balloon 1t
was floating with the current near the
middle of the river. Won Phul was In
Inc basket and Lambert in the rigging
Hnere he had climbed during the de-
scent. Both aeronauts were in fairly
good humor.
Two other motor boats went to the
assistance of the party, and the bal.
loon was towed ashore without having
oeen damaged. Last night 1t was
back ON the pins in H. e. Honeywel's
balloon cellar
A B. Lambert. president of the
aero club, commended Won Phul
warmly for the manner in which lie
had managed the balloon under the
circumstances that developed. He
said
Won Phul did the very best thing
possiDie unde- the circumstances. and
very probably obviated an accident
such as A. Hollond Forbes and his aid
net when they dropped from great
Leignt and were hurt la Germany. To
nave checked the descent Of the bal
iooh by discarding ballast would have
oeeh to send 1t up again. This would
nave caused loss of gas. and after that
nau been repeated several times, they
YOU'D have been out of ballast with
nothing to do but to drop.
lhey could not get away from the
rlver because an air current could not
oe found at any elevation, from 5000
leet down, and tire only thing to dc
was TO get into 1t. If the basket had
veen allowed to touch the water light
" the balloon would have bounced off
ana the next time it would have bee7
Win less gas in the envelope and with
more chance of trouble. AS it was
mere was ballast aboard when the bas
net struck. which could have been dis
ssraed in case the envelope had mo-
nad enough lifting power to keep the
pasket from sinking"
wooster Lambert was far from be
Jug disturbed over the affair. G
@ouidn't have missed it for anything,
Ae said last night.
:, u was mighty good experience ant
earned great deal in short time
ms brother Albert and will probabl,
"'ake trip together about Saturday
Inc aeronauts were in the watel
Menty miautes before the motor ca
ssached them, floating about mile
sownstream. Won Phul stood in tn,
aser half way up to his knees ant
auioert "a sat on the concentrating
ing ,a He did not get wet. The boa
~ gaed the balloon to a nearby island
va, aere the aeronauts went aboard tn,