New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-17
an AV|AT0R'S TALE
Of WILD NIGHT FLIGHT
started from Fifth Avenue Thea.
ire and Was Washed Up on
Asbury Parks Beach.
uJMPED FROM HIS DIRIGIBLE
Convenient Oil Tank Served
asa Life Preserver, on Which
He Floated Three-quarters
of a Mile toi Shore.

Vnen A. J. Roberts. an English avi-
.,o- scared lightly from the roof OF
18th a Proctor's Fifth Avenue Thea =
.. on saturday in a dirigible balloon
,ound for Philadelphia, he didn't ex-
,.ct 10 be carried out to sea and nearly
,,oVned and then washed UP on the
beach At Asbury Park. Yet that is what
Poberts said befell him. when he told
The story Of his thrilling voyage in the
air on his return 10 this city last night
His tale Of adventure ran something
Ike this:
Leaving the theatre roof. he circled
over Times Square watched by thou
sands. and then sailed west under per
good and for thirty miles he made good
speed. although he struck several adj
verse currents. which the eight cylinder
engine easily carried him through.
When he changed his course down the
coast the trouble began. The winds
we're contrary and the engine began TO
show signs Of overheating. Whenever
the gusts Of air were favorab BILE Roberts
was forced 10 shut off power to case the
strain or the engine and 10 save gaso-
lene
Ballast became scarce and he was
finding it harder and harder to change
rom one strata Of air 10 another. Then
the wind again changed in his favor.
and for about forty-five miles he was
able 20 drift down the coast with A dead
engine. When forced to start the motor
again he found the old trouble Of over
heating was increasing.
To add to the difficulties he was now
using his last reserve tank of fuel. II
also had become dark. He now tried 10
tack landward, but a sharp squall hit
him and soon he was being driven out
10 sea. The aviator could see the lights
Of q city.
Tries to Make a Landing.
4 small neck of land jutted ont into
the water and on this he planned 10 land.
The wind continued gusty. and although
when he started 10 come down he was
close to shore. by the time he reached
the rip cord and brought the dirigibIe
close down from its FIVE hundred feet
elevation he was three-quarters of a
mile out to sea
Here is Mr.. Roberts's own story Of
What happened after that:
Il saw that there was only one thing
10 do. and that was TO jump into the sea.
Although the waves were running high
and the water did not look the least bit
inviting. / had TO choose between jumo-
ing or being carried out 10 sea In a osl-
loon that would now scarcely sustain
itself. l had an empty gasolene tank in
the ar, and this 1 had decided TO use as
life presever. I waited until the
basket began to trail i'm the water, and
then. throwing the tank overheard, |
jumped after IL. ] knew that the shore
was a long way off and that must save
my strength. The tank itself vas elu-
siye, and as the water became rougher
found 1t harder 10 rest my weight upon
II with any security.
1T must have been about Q O'Clock
when I began my battle with the break
ers. Not a single craft of any sort was
in sight. nor when ! arose upon the crest
Of a wave could I see any one on the
shore. II was plain that | must fight the
battle out alone with the water. I had
now been in the water for some time and
] was becoming chilled and tired. I have
no recollection Of making my way
or the shore.
Cast Up on tho Beach.
Il remember wondering whether any
one along shore had seen me and then
lost consciousness. The next that
knew ] was being worked over by two
men, whom I afterward learned were
Jimmy" De Forest, who has an athletic
training camp at Allenhurst, and an
other man whose name was William
Clark. I remember asking: Where is
the balloon? Then told them the story
Of my flight from New York. They told
me they had come down to the beach at
Deal for thoir morning swim and had
iound me lying on the sand unconscious.
i had plunged into the sea to battle
my way ashore at 9 o'clock at night, and
had been fully seven hours in the
water. Inquiries as TO the wherea bouts
OF my balloon were fruitless at that
time. as none Of the fishermen had seen
II Sffrfre, had The ca Ia o.
orifted ashore. However. before ] left
Asbury Park for New York it was re-
ported there that the gas bag had been
ssen floating a long distance out to sea
The fr3p hard ono and I'm