New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-21
Balloon Racers
Rescued From
Death at Sea
Two in City Of ST. Louis
Cut Drag Rope Bit by
Bit and Throw Clothes
Out Before Sighting Ship
American Has Close Call
Armbruster, Swiss Entry,
Lands ON Irish Coast and
Captures Bennett Trophy

LIVERPOOL, Sept. 20 (By The Assoc
ciated ss).-Bernard Won Hoffman
and j. G. McKibben, competitors in
the James Gordon Bennett trophy BAL
loon race, arrived in Liverpool tonight
with thrilling story Of how their bal
loon, the City of St. Louis, fell into the
Irish Sea Monday evening and Of their
rescue by passing vessel :
Won Hoffman was the pilot Of the
balloon and Mr.. McKibben the pas
senger. They said that at 4 o'clock
Monday afternoon they were over the
water within five miles Of the Irish
coast, but that owing to the fall of
wind they were unable to land and
therefore drifted northward, with only
four bags Of ballast left. An hour
later they sighted two ships, but failed
to obtain assistance from either Of
them.
Threw Out Spare Clothes
"Then," said Won Hoffman, with only
two bags of ballast remaining we found
ourselves in very serious predica-
ment. We cut away our drag rope in
pieces and also disposed of our spare
clothing and Instruments. Then we
slowly sank toward the water.
Our case seemed hopeless, but at
s:45 o'clock in the evening we sighted
another vessel. We Immediately dropped
overheard at Holmes Light and, seeing
1T was our only chance, we bowed the
balloon to the waves.
THE captain Of the ship lowered g.
boat, but when we reached the sea Nc
Klbben was struck on the head by
lead ring and knocked off the basket
and into the water.
Relieved of. his weight the balloon
shot upward like rocket, carrying
me with it. had no option but to
rip open the gas envelope and take
sporting chance.
Dropped in Sea Safely
II descended safely into the sea and
was picked up with McKibben. We
then were taken into Heysham, four
miles southwest of Lancaster.
our position when we were picked
up was about fifteen miles off Dublin.
and l think the Swiss balloon which
we previously had seen should have
been carried somewhere in the same
vicinity"
EXETER, England, Sept. 20.-Wade
I. Van Orman, the American balloon
ist competitor in the James Gordon
Bennett cup race, who landed near here
yesterday afternoon, declared to-day
that the present race was the most re-
markable in his experience. It was
started in a dangerous wind, which
suddenly died down to virtual calm.
When he left the Belgian coast at
Dunklrk, Van Orman said, the wind
was blowing forty miles. an hour. and
he and his companion were in great
anxiety as to whether it would take
them over England
Carried Toward Sea
Early yesterday, when the balloon
was over Exeter, the wind died down.
but even then the balloon continued to
be carried toward the sea. Another
current was struck eventually, and the
balloon began working back again. The
aeronauts by this time had thrown ali
their equipment overboard in order to
keep the balloon afloat.
LONDON, Sept. 20.-With the land
ing to-day Of the Swiss balloon piloted
by Paul Armbruster, all the fourteen
competitors in the international race
for the James Gordon Bennett trophy.
which started Sunday at Brussels, Bel
GUM, have been accounted for.
The Swiss entrant landed at Lanbay
Island, off the east coast of County
Dublin, Ireland, and therefore wins the
cup.
According to a cablegram received
by the Aero Club of America in New
York last night, Ralph Epson, plotting
the American balloon Belgica /, and
Henry Spencer, English entry, have
apparently tied for second place, their
balloons landing near each other in
Wales.
Whether or not Bernard Won Hoff-
mans City Of st. Louis. which landed
in the Irish Sea fifteen miles from Dub
lin, will qualify for prize was not
known here tonight.
Koenig Advises Women