The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-03
Rips a Trail Across Kansas
And Still Going.
Huge Army Gas Bag Breaks
Away at Omaha, Neb.
PLAYS HAVOC TO PHONE LINES
Aviator Starts in Pursuit From
Fort Sill, Okla.
Reports This P. NJ. Indicate All
Trace of Balloon Lost.


from Fort Sill, Okla, has gone up in
search of the huge captive balloon
which broke from its moorings at
Fort Omaha, Neb., late yesterday and
which was reported to be drifting
near the Oklahoma line early today,
according to reports received here
this afternoon.
Totally Lost This p. Nj.
At D. m. today all trace of the
balloon had been lost. Inquiry at
towns in northern Oklahoma and
southern Kansas toward which the
balloon was believed to be heading
revealed that the craft had not been
sighted this forenoon. AS no further
reports of damage to wires came IN
the belief grew here that the balloon
had settled in some out of the way
place However, it was thought pos
sible that changing air currents might
have caused the bag to veer in its
course.
Order to Shoot 1t Down.
Omaha, Neb., Dec. 3.-Lieut. Col.
Hershey today telegraphed instruc-
tions to United States army aviatorsl
in Oklahoma to shoot and puncture
the army balloon which broke away
from Fort Omaha Sunday afternoon,
dragging a six thousand foot cable.
Last reports here said the balloon
had passed the Oklahoma state line
and was headed in the direetion or
Fort Sill. 1t passed over Camp Doni--
phan, near Lawton, about noon.
Trailing 2-Inch Gable.
Wichita, Kan, Dec. 3.-Somewhere
over Kansas or Oklahoma early today
was wandering in aimless flight the
giant army balloon which late yeSter-
day broke from its moorings at Fort
Omaha, Nebraska, and began racing
to of
its tail" 5000 feet of two inch steel
cable, Dragging the ground and tear
ing out telephone and telegraph wires
a mile at time. Reports from Fort
Omaha state army aeroplapes are IN
pursuit of the runaway.
Latest reports indicated that the
balloon was nearing the Oklahoma
line about 3 a. m. Whether the bal
loon would continue its speed and
general direction I-ould largely de-
pend upon air conditions. several par
ties of men went out early today to
search for the balloon, acting upon the
theory that the big bag probably
would settle to earth before long. All
wires between Medicine Lodge and
Harper Kan, ana between Kingman
nd Harper were torn up by the cable
early this morning.
reaveIs 45 Miles an Hour,
Wichita, Kan, Dec. 3.-The army
balloon which broke away from its
moorings at Fort Omaha, Nebraska,
yesterday, was still aloft early today
and drifting southwest. 1t had reach
ed the Oklahoma state line about 2:45
a. m. and was reported travelling at a
speed of forty-five miles an hour. All
telephone and telegraph wires be-
tween Medicine Lodge, Kan, and Har-
per, Kan, have been torn down, as
well as all wire communication be-
tween Kingman, Kan, and Harper.
MANY Toll Lines Wrecked
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec 3.-The huge
army balloon, escaped from the Fort
Omaha balloon school Sunday after
noon, was reported early this morn
ing at Attica, Kan. The balloon was
still travelling at high rate of speed,
but had, commenced to settle and 5000
feet of cable which was dangling
downward when the bag escaped was
destroying telephone and telegraph
wires in its path.
offices here received the report from
Attica and also said that they had
received word of large number of
toll lines destroyed by the dangling
cable. While the balloon was still
travelling fast before a strong wind
driving it southwest, it was thought
that the force of the gas would be
expended within a few hours more
travel and that the bag would come
to earth.
Unwinds All Its Cable.
While being prepared for ascen-
sion, the balloon broke the brakes on
the big drum used to lower and raise
it and unwound the entire six thou
sand feet of cable before it could be
/ checked. When the cable unwound
the bag jerked loose from the ground
and sailed away There were no oc-
/ cupants in the basket.
The balloon, according to Omaha
| dispatches, is of a new French type,
filled with $4,000 cubic feet of gas.
The first report came from Humboldt,
Neb-, IN the extreme southeast portion
| of the state. 1t had travelled one
| hundred miles in less than one and
one-half hours at that time and was
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