Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-06-18
AERONAUTS REACH
CAMP Of RANGERS
IN SORRY PLIGHT
Donaldson and Henderson Es-
cape From Oregon Forest,
Nearly Dead From Har-
rowing Experience.
WERE LOST I'M THE WlLDS
Pilots of Balloon Springfield
Travelled Only Forty Miles
From Portland-Gas
Bag Wrecked.
WERE LOST IN THE WlLDs

Portland Ore, June lS.-Roy Dom
and aide of the balloon Springfield are
safe. The men. for whom rangers and
searching parties have been conbing
the country for days staggered into
the forest rangers camp at Walkers
Prairie today.
Homer Williams and A. Mitchell.
the forest guards stationed at Walk
er's Prairie. We're astonshed when the
two lost scronauts stumbled into their
camp. their clothing hanging in shreds.
The men staggered up one of the
paths leading from a nearby creek and
fell exhausted at the cabin door
Were Nearly Exhausted.
"Who in thunder are you?" asked
Mitchell. springing to his feet.
Donaldson and Henderson told him.
The rangers had been instructed by c.
l.. Henson. chief ranger of the Bull
Run district to look for the balloonists.
They Immediately set out meal and
made the aeronauts comfortable in ev-
cry way possible
The Springfield settled down with
the grace and ease of a bird on a rocky
slope of table land near Blue Lake.
This is about AS miles northeast of
Portland. The balloon was wrecked.
Unlike the three other crews III the
race, which was started from Portland
last Thursday, Donaldson and Hender-
son did not have to dodge the spikes
of pine trees in coming down. But
they had their heapedup share ct
hardships when they started to come
in. One of the most discouraging dis
cpverics came when they searched
through their kits and found no
matches. They struck out at once for
the nearest stream and started follow
ing it westward. AT night the cold
81 ry~y,ly
of their bones. They could not build
q fire and had to eat what canned
food they had raw.
Lost in Forest.
The 1S-mile walk to Walkers Prairie
was one of extreme fardships. net
work of thick underbrush and fallen
trees disputed every foot of the way.
No attempt was made to save the
balloon.
The Springfield was forced to descend
at S O'Clock last Friday morning on a
rocky slope of Table mountain. about
is miles on a direct line from Walkers
Prairie ranger station. The aeronautS
had wandered until this morning, liv-
ing on half rations OF uncooked food.
Donaldson said the balloon was
wrecked
Wandered Four Days.
After the balloonists landed Friday.
they started to find their way to a
settlement All day Friday, Saturday.
Sunday and Monday they wandered
through the trackless forest. 9ester-
day morning they struck a creek, which
they decided to follow, and in the even
ing they came across d path construct
ed by United States forest rangers.
They camped on the trail and early to-
day arrived at the ranger station.
Neither is in u serious condition. They
We're forced to land on the slope of
able to pass oyer it's peak They hit i
clearing. but the balloon dragged along
the jagged rocks and was badly torn.
Members of the Portland Ross festi-
val aero committee, which conducted
the race under the auspices OF the Aero
Club of America. We're clated over the
escape from death OF Donaldson and
Henderson Every one of the four ball
looms in the race Uncle Sam. Million
Population club, Kansas City Ill and
Springfcld-me disaster and their
pilots and aides narrowly escaped with
their lives