The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-05-09
Twelve Observers in One Day
Trust to Parachutes in
Leaps for Life.
PERIL IN BURNING GAS BAGS
Flames Likely to overtake the De-
scending observers-Many Mar
row Escapes From Death-one
Relates Experiences.

Behind the British Lines in France.
Leaps for life from burning observa-
ton balloons when attacked by Ger
man airplanes were described Dy Cd
servers of the British Royal frying
corps to an Associated Press corre-
spondent when he visited one of their
camps behind the lines few days ago.
A balloon ascent at the front is new
er a light undertaking, and on one day
recently when the correspondent Wis
tied station in fairly inactive part
of the line six balloons containing II
men were shot down by German air
planes, all within sight of one another.
One of the IL officers who were COM
PEELED to reach terra firma by the para
chute route told the story of his trip.
1--WE were perched at $500 feet" he
said, land had been up only half an
hour when column of smoke two
miles southwark attracted our notice.
"There goes No. 49," said my observer.
'sTwo white fiecks floating earthward
told us that the two passengers OF the
balloon had got clear in time. Just
then two similar specks appeared sud-
denly from under, another balloon
warning us that the Boche was out for
a wholesale killing this time. Six
more white specks now appeared. and,
since 1t was evident that the entire
line was being attacked, l gave the
order to haul down.
Sudden Attack by AirpIane.
7 Hr6O hn viii oh
stopped. No more balloons had been at
tackled, and although ours was now
the only one up, | could see British
fighting planes ascending from the air
dromes behind us to chase away the
enemy. So / decided to venture up
again. We assembled to 1900 feet this
time, and soon were at work again.
"Then suddenly something happen
ed. 1t happened swiftly as in a dream.
We didn't even see the German Alba
tross approaching, but our ground Off
Ger and his scouts gave us the alarm
just q second or two before the hawk
was on us. I heard my observer, at
the telephone, say suddenly, What's
that? Stand byI Good Heavens Z
1Ueu HC luIuCu CHILLY W luS anu Sttlu
with a smile, Sorry, old man, we must
get out at once He helped me over
the side first
"I dropped and heard a 'wumph' as
the parachute left its case. This was
the last sensation l attempted to ana
lyze as I fell like a stone for 300-feet.
/ saw the balloon shoot violently up
ward, and then my view was blotted
out by large white umbrella which
suddenly appeared above my head, and
/ realized that the parachute had open
ed. 1 didn't look down, as I felt my
body swaying easily in the breeze. The
roar above told me that the AlbatroSS
had done its work and the balloon was
afire. You cannot, of course, maneuver
parachute and there is always the
possibility of the burning balloon over
taking you and burning your only
means of escape.
But before 1 reached the ground l
saw far in front the Albatross crash
ing to earth minus O wing. She had
been hit by a cluster of antiaircraft
shells.
1.-THE next thing knew was that |
was lying in the middle of a plowed
field, while a short distance off | saw
my observer coming across toward
me-"
All II of the officers of the wrecked