Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-02
LOST BALLO0N|STS
MAY FALL PREY To
POISONOUS INSECTS

! Ob~OHHOOO EEESEO . W
PENSACOLA, Fla, March 81
| With the first gray light of dawn a
big navy dirigible, accompanied by
fleet Of airplanes, today renewed
| the search for the five missing bal
| loonists, who were on board the
navy free balloon blown from here
out to sea eight days ago.
The search was directed today to-
wards a portion of swamp lands be-
| tween the mouths of the Apalachi
cola and the Chatahoochee rivers.
| hearing cries emana ting from the
midst of the swamp last Tuesday.
The fishermen, who were unable to
reach the source of the cries be-
| cause of the density of the under2
growth, declare that they seemed
| to be the shouts of several men.
Practically all hope for the rescue
of the quintet of missing aeronauts
was abandoned until the reports
from the Alphabetical swamps were
received. With renewed hope naval
planes to the vicinity, but the search
was interrupted yesterday by heavy
winds and threatening weather
Unless the men are found today,
naval authorities believe there will
remain only an infinitesimal hope
OF rescuing them.
While the blimp and planes are
circling low over the swamp lands,
scanning with telescopes every por-
of 10 n
Apalachicola and other nearby places
are endeaVoring to Cut through the
tangled underground that borders
the swamp.
Rescue by foot is considered even
more difficult than through the air.
While there is no way for the planes
or the blimp to land in the swamps,
plans are being made for the low
ering of rope ladders from the blimp
and allowing the men, should they
be found, to climb into the ship.
This would be an extremely perilous
undertaking, but according to the
authorities, it is the most eXpedient
plan. possible.
The district where the search is
being made is almost an impentrable
jungle and only supermen, with
ample preparation could exist there
for any length of time. 1t is known
that the balloonists carried far too
little food to last them until now
and were without insect netting or
other protection against the poison
Gus insects and reptiles that infest
the region in almost inconceivable
numbers.
If the ballon crew made safe
landing in the jungle, it is impossi-
BILE to imagine men faced by more
desperate situation. Water and jun
gle stretch in every direction. Hid
every few yards, into which a man
might slip and disappear within the
twinkling of an eye. Giant rattle
snakes, deadly moccasins and alll-
gators abound in the region in limit
less numbers, Boa-constrictors have
also been found there.
would have a more annoying. and
possibly a more deadly foe in the
myriads of poisonous insects, which
stings of these have been known to
make men plunge headlong into wa
ter and suffer drowning rather than
to endure the torture longer; :.
The possibility of starvation tar19td +ba Is
d e9qgh to oth e2 f6r%s The @e H
ing in excellent physical condition.
could subsist several days, or even
weeks, on the non-poisonous roots,
herbs and berries of the region 1t
perienced woodsmen to obtain GER
tain kinds of meat and fish. 1t is
very probable that they are without
means of making a fire and would
be forced to consume what they ate
without cooking.
The experience Of the balloonIsts'
should they survive, is likely to
cause them years of suffering. &C
cording to opinions Of several phy-
sicians, who have handled such
cases. Permanently bad health has
often been the result of such eeX-
posure as is theirs together with
the breathing of the poson-laden
air of the swamps for such a length
of time. Only the Seminole Indians
have been able to permanently 1--we
in the region. Few white men have
swamps without permanently IN
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION
or CASE TO BE MADE
WASHINGTON. March 31.-An Of
ficial investigation into the loss of
the five naval balloonists from Pen
sacola will be started at an early
date, Acting Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt announced today.
The disappearance Of the men
from Pensacola following upon the
experience of the balloOnists who
the navy with the necessity of de-
termining more fully the circum-
stances of such flights and the OBJ
iects which they hoped to obtain.
Mr.. Roosevelt said.
eve must determine" he said,
whether the risk that is taken in
such flights is counter-balance by
the results which we are seeking
in teh way of increased air mileage"