Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-14
CAPTAIN BERRY
Tells OF FLIGHT
IN HIS BALLOON
Landed in the Wilds Of the
Cascade Mountains-Ap-
prehension Felt for Safety
Of Others.



Portland, June 1s.-"Tt was the
worst experience ever had. We were
struck by lightning, not once but sew
eral times
This was the statement tonight of
Captain John Berry of st. Louis, hero
of a hundred flights, who arrived here
tonight from the wilds of the Cascade
mountains, 40 miles southeast of Port
land, whore the balloon he was pilot
ing, the Million Population" was rent
asunder by lightning during a storm
Thursday night, while at d height OF
$500 feet, and collapsed and fell rap
idly into a deep canyon. Captain Berry
was badly bruised and very fatigued
as a result of his experience, but was
expected to soon recover. Aide George
Y. Morrison of Portland, who accom-
panied Berry on his perilious flight,
was luninjured.
The first news of the accident that
befell the Million Population Club"
was brought to Portland by carrier
pigeon which had been taken aloft
when the huge aerostat started in the
national balloon race here Thursday.
The message the faithful bird brought
however, did not give the location Of
the wrecked gas bas.
While hundreds of men were search
ing for them, Berry and Morrison were
lost in the wilderness and found their
way out only after they climbed nearly
5000 feet up the mountain side and
came upon wood chopper, who
piloted them to the home Of Fred Lin
deau, rancher, where they spent Fri
day night.
That both men were not killed was
due to the fact that the balloon landed
in clump of trees.
Grave Apprehension Felt.
Grave apprehension was felt here to-
night for the safety of Kansas City
Ill.," carrying John Watts of Kansas
City as pilot, and Roscoe Fawcett as
aide, and the Springfield" piloted by
Roy Donaldson of Springfield, ILL.,, aid
ed by Wilbur Henderson of Portland.
Not word has been received from
either of these crafts since few hours
after the race started Thursday.
In telling Of his experience Berry
said:
The balloon was struck several
times by lightning. The last bolt that
uGh lilc pdB SCCliCu ~ lSsal IL apdl
We were up about $500 feet when this
happened and the next instant the
lower end OF the balloon was sagging
in the basket.
Il grabbed my knife and told Aide
Morrison to get ready to jump when
we struck The balloon came down
just like a big bird with its wings
broken. 1 began cutting at the ropes
49, Ir1 IA =.
we struck the ground.
When we did land I had just cut
away enough to allow us to jump. /
guess I was hurt when 1 jumped for
slid some feet after landing.
when we got free of the basket
Morrison assured me that he knew
the country, 80 I decided II was best
to walt before starting out for help.
Morrison built huge fire and con-
tinued 1t until midnight We thought
it might be seen. After eating some
of the food we brought with us both Of
US were so exhausted we fell asleep.
I'VE awoke about o'clock Friday
morning. when Morrison discovered
that we were lost. It was then he re-
leased the pigeon with the message for
help.
After eating breakfast Morrison
started off saying he was going for
help. He climbed up the side of the
canyon, always keeping within the
hearing of my voice. He climbed all
over the canyon without locating q
settlement.
1T was after noon when he returned
and we again ate Both of us were up
moving soon and about o'clock heard
the sound of a man choppIng wood.
We called but evidently he didn't hear
us. We made our way up the canyon
and found him. He directed us to the
| house of Fred Lindeau. where we
spent last night"