The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-12
NEWS OF THE
BALLOONISTS
Desperate Plight Described in
Letter Found in Underwear

New DIX, Jan. 10y the ASSO-
ciatod Press description OF the
desperate plight OF the three Amcri-
, can naval balloonists after they had
landed in the Hudson Bay country
December II and started working
,their painful way back to haBitation
! at Moose Factory was received here
today in letter from s. Il. Ehrope,
manager OF Eevillun Freres, trading
post at Moose, Ontario.
The letter was directed to the chief
Inspector Of the company for the
James Bay district at Montreal and
! forwarded to John NJ. Revillon here.
The balIOonis,s were in pitiablc
condition when found and two OF
them had to ,e taken to the Hudson
, Bay post at Moose Factory on a sled.
the latter said. Their clothing was
torn to pieces and one of the men
was found in his underwear. having
ripped up his trousers TO bind up his
! feet.
Under date of December 19, the let
ter said, Thomas Mark picked up
three strange fellows down at about
MiddlebOro some place, who turned
OUT 10 be three American naval
service men who went up in Il bal
loon on Monday p. m, the 18th, over
New York, making observations for
the United States government.
They got carried away in a gale,
finally landing about p. m. on Tues
day, the 18th, some Is or 20 miles
back in the bush OF Nicholsons
Creek way.
'"They had not seen any signs of
anything a. all in that distance, but
eventually heard some dogs bark as
they passed over and commenced TO
descend as fast as possible and land
cd back here in the bush.
Using the balloons compass, they
steered q course back due south
east and came out at the mouth Of
NichOlSOn's creek. Seeing Tom Mark
on the ice about Middleboro, the
youngest OF them ran across to him
and he took him to his tent and
then went up to the Hudson Bay
company ana they sent a team down
TO get the other two.
one Of them was al in, not hay
ing had aynthing 30 eat but two car
rier pigeons which they happened 10
haVc with them in the balloon. Their
clothing was all torn 10 pieces, one Of
chem arriving in his underwear,
ha"tnS torn his plants mp to wrap
on their feet. They say one was in
his bare feet"
MI Gaudet and thrce men left
early yesterday morning with two
dog teams to go TO find the balloon
though l heard they are not going
10 bother with ii, SO ] presume the
! II
and get IT out, as there will be a lot
OF silk tent in it. 1t is supposed to
be worth about $4,000 thoIgh they
ha2 TO throw everything away, pos
3ibse 10 lightcn up so us to stay in
thc air till they saw some sign Of
civilization.
zone OF them is n MI Hinton who
made that transatlantic flight in one
Of those NC seaplanes, though he
says this is his first and last expert
ence in u balloon"
Air. Revillion, president OF Revil-
!on Freres said the company's post
is near Moose Factory.
COchrane, Ont, Jan. Another
day Of intense activity and excite
ment rarely experienced in this re-
gfon OF the bleak north has passed
without definite news of the approach
Of the three United tSates navy air
men battling their way out Of the
Hudson Bay wilderness.
Basing calculations on the assumlp-
tion that the intrepid little band
started from Moose Factory for the
railroad two d0vs after Christmas.
native guides and weather sharps
prepared Cochrane's population to-
night TO be in readiness to eAtcnd a
welcome TO the adventures by Sun
day at the latest.
The trail to Clune was deep with
snow today and the going bad. Revil-
Ion Frercs' packet party, due here
from Moose Factory, has not yet re-
Epo"-cd.
George w. Lee. chairman or the
Trmiskaming IL Northern Ontario
IA iway commission, telegraphed
MESA gcs of greeting to the advanc-
inE anmen to be delivered on their
arrival in Cochrane, the roads ter
mlnal. His message to Lieutenant
Hinton said:
VIII be glad to furnish free long
distance telephone communication to
Rockaway Point, ~ Y, or to govern
mcnt at Washington, whichever you
may desire on arrival at Cochrane." ="
TO the three naval officers he sent
the following:
'fhc T. & y. o. railway offer you
the most hearty congratulations on
your miraculous escape. We re-
loiced with the rest of the world
when we heard the good news OF
your safety We have very much
pleasure Iii extending to YOU free
transportation over our railway and
nope you may accept same. With
kindcst wishes"
Cochranc, Ont, Jan. 1.-THE storm
Whlch today threatened 10 blot out
thr trails over which the three