Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-07
CAPTAIN BERRY AND AIDE LAND
NEAR MASON CITY BUT CRAFT
SAILS AWAY.
TRAVELLED OVER GREAT LAKES
AND BACK INTO IOWA
and Suffer Intensely - Berry Bruised
BY Fall Of Twenty Feet in Trying to
Anchor craft-condor Lands at
Minao-one Still Missing.
Special to Times-Republican.

Mason City, Oct. 7.-Wrecked ana
running wild In the air for twenty
hours was the experience Of Capt John
Berry and his assistant Paul J. Nc
Cullogh, who were in charge Of the
Million Population Club balloon of
st. Louis. The balloon was in the
James Gordon Bennett cup race.
All night long and up to 5:45 last
evening the men were high in the air
in the thick Of rain. sleet and snow,
and 50 benumbed and confounded that
they didn't know where they were
and, according to their story. did not
much care. They left Kansas City
Thursday night at o'clock. They at
once went into d very high altitude
and there remained.
Lost in Storm.
At 10 o'clock they lost all sight OF
land, for the storm came on, the rain
fell and the temperature settled to
40 above. Just where they have been
they do not know. During the night 1t
is their opinion that they travelled at
q rate exceeding seventy-five miles an
hour Yesterday morning about )
o'clock there was rift in the clouds
and they could see that they were
over some large body Of water. The
men are confident that they passed
over one Of the great lakes. which one
they did not know. It was about this
time when the wind shifted and they
were taken back in almost the same
course they had been brought.
Decided to Land.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
they decided to attempt to make a
landing and the valve was opened for
sthe descent. They were quite awhile
going thru the clouds. When about
'<,te miles northeast of this city the
I!alloon was first sighted and the tele-
phones were at once brought into re-
quisition. People in this city We're in
formed that It was coming in this d.
rection and several men gathered on
the top Of the First National Bank
building and saw the big balloon as it
was just settling about a mile north
east Of the city.
Berry Falls Twenty Feet.
A few made for the scene but just
before arriving It was seen to again
ascend into the air. one man clinging
TO the cordage. He held on for nearly
a mile and then let loose and fell a
distance Of about twenty feet to the
ground This was Captain Berry in
charge Of the balloon. They had come
down at the Gabler farm and had cast
anchor Mr.. McCullogh had gotten out
OF the basket and was getting to the
anchor to give It a more permanent
anchorage. A gust of wind tore the an
chor thru the telephone and telegraph
lines and wrecked the basket.
Balloon Scars Again.
Captain Berry saw the position of
his $500. balloon and he clung to the
cordage, but it was useless. Before he
let lose he endeavored to open the
valve and tie the cord but he is not
confident that 1t held. If it did not it
may be hundreds Of miles away.
Both men were given an impromptu
reception last night at Hotel Cerro
Gordo. All their clothing. with some
money and gold watches were in the
balloon and local parties fitted the
men out with suits. They will return
to St. Louis today.
Captain Berry and his aide Of the
balloon Million Population. who lost
their balloon here. spent the day gath
ering up their clothing and other
property. which was scattered for sew
eral miles in different directions. The
balloon has not been found but Is be-
lieved to be far south Of here.
Runaway 10 Sighted.
A Wild balloon, thought to be the
Million Population Club, which last
night broke away from the pilot, Capt.
John Berry. and assistant, Paul Nc
Cul!ough, in this city. came down at
Kesley. forty miles southeast of here.
After skimming the ground for some
distance 1t again arose, continuing it's
course southeast.