The New York herald., 1921-03-25
BALLOON SINKING
TOSEA WITHDREW
Messages by Carrier Pigeons
Tell of Peril to Missing
Craft in Florida.
PLANES AND BOATS SENT
Naval Officials Express Fears
for Safety of Party of Five
Making Night Flight.

PENSACOLA, March 24.--A naval free
balloon, carrying Ave men, was re-
ported missing tonight by the naval
air station here.
The balloon, in command of Chief
Quartermaster e. w. Wilkinson, ac-
companied by a machinist mate and
three marines as students, left here
Tuesday night
The last information from the miss
ing aircraft was received early to-day
when two carrier pigeons returned
with messages, one saying the balloon
was off st. Andrews Bay, Florida,
drifting toward the open sea. The
other arriving a little later, said all
ballast had been thrown overheard and
that the balloon was then at an alti-
tude of only 100 feet and slowly sink
ing
\ naval dirig iblc and number OF sea-
planes and flying boats Immediately
We're sent in search OF the missing bal
loonists but up to late hour tonight
the searchers had been unable 10 and
SililtT lne DdiloOn OF Hily Ol It's crew.
Naval officials tonight frankly ex-
pressed fears for the safety OF the miss
ing men and ordered the search contin-
ued. with an Eagle boat added to the
forces.
The men in the balloon when II left
here. in addition 10 wilkinson, were r.
V. Bland. the machlnists mate, and E.
l.. Kershaw. j. C.. Elder and w. Ill.
Tressry, marine students.
The balloon left the station here at
O'Clock Tuesday evening for an all
night fight. The prevailing winds at
tho time were southwesterly, and the
balloon drifted over western Florida in
q northeasterly direction.
Naval officials tonight held out some
hope that the balloon might have struck
& northerly current Of air when II
dropped 10 the 100 foot altitude. and
thus have been carried over the land.
The buoyancy of the balloon would In
crease as the altitude decreased, 1t was
explained. and the pilot may have been
able to keep his craft in the air long
enough TO reach the land.
There are few towns atong the coast
in the vicinity of st. Andrews Bay and
the balloonists may have landed in some
remote region from which II would be
impossible for them TO communicate
with the naval station. The entire coast
is protected BY a barren outer reef
varying In width from few yards 70
several miles. and If the balloonsts
reached this reef they may have landed
and would then be forced to walk. per-
haps forty or hfty miles before reach
ing a pass through which boats enter
and leave the inner watcrwa-. In this
case 1t might be days before they were
able to make their presence known un-
less they were able to construct a raft
Of driftwood or fallen trees.
The eagle boats and sub chasers ans
searching all the passes In this reef
from Apalachicola to Pensacola, ani
in the morning the aircraft from the
station here will renew their search,
paying particular attention to the reefs.
All merchant vessels in the gulf have
been asked by wireless 70 aid In the
search.
Chief Wilkinson Is both 4 free balloon
and dirigible pilot and served with
distinction In France during tha world
war. lie has been an instructor In the
lighter than air division at the naval
air station here since he returned from
overseas and Is rated as one OF the most
competent men at the station. He IL
serving his second enlistment and is
unmarried. The other four men arc on
their first enlistmcnts.