Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-05
Two Balloonists Die
When Bag Explodes
On Midnight Flight

BELLEVTLLE, Ill. June 3.-The
mangled bodies Of DR.. c. Leroy
Messenger, Of the United States
weather bureau, Washington, and
Lieutenant James It. Nicely, of Phila-
delphia, who left Scott field late yes
terday in the army balloon SO for
the ninth of a series of air test
flights, were found near Bement,
Ill, today. The balloon had eX-
ploded and was destroyed by fire.
Bement is about $50 miles north
east of Scott field. A watch on
Lieutenant Neely's body had stopped
at 11:15, seven hours after the
flight started. Both men were pi-
lots, but Lieutenant Nicely was in
charge Of the balloon while DR..
Messenger made his observations.
ONE OF THEIR BALLOONS
RECENTLY FELL IN GEORGIA
WASHINGTON. June 3.-Dr. c.
l.. Messenger, killed in the explo-
sion of a balloon near Monticello,
H., was one of the foremost meteor
ologists in the United States. He
was attached to the weather bureau
here and with Lieutenant James T.
Nicely had been engaged in extern.
sive balloon flights to test atmos-
pheric currents and conditions.
The runaway balloon that settled
recently near Woodstock, Ca, was
one in which DR.. Messenger and
Lieutenant Nicely had started from
Scott field, and had abandoned aft
err riding several hundred miles be-
fore a storm. The two had Travelled
h.
a gale, to gather data.
The compilation or information
covering cyclonic disturbances was
one of the main purposes of the
work and in doing it the two bal
loopists repeatedly rode out severe
storms.
Examination Of the wreckage con-
firmed the belief that the balloon had
been struck by lightning. DR.. Meis-
singers body was found in the bas-
get which sank two feet in the reath.
Half mile west was found the body
Of Lieutenant Nicely. A quarter of
mile northeast was the wrecked par
achute and a quarter mile farther
was the silk bag, in which a large
hole had been burned.
The flight of the balloonists was
undertaken particularly to prepare
a chart Of the air at 1000 feet ele-
walton. The SO, a balloon of So
900 cubic feet capacity, left here
about 4 p. m yesterday and was
last seen headed in a northeasterly
direction.
Scott field officers declined to ex-
press an official opinion as to the
cause Of the accident but It was
assumed that the gas in the bga had
become ignited by lightning.
The TC-3 left Scott field soon aft
er II a. m. for Monticello to bring
back the bodies.
DR.. Messenger, who was one OF
the foremost meteorologists in the
country, came to Scott field, March
80 and completed arrangements for
a series Of ten or fifteen test flights
in a free balloon to heights Of ap-
proXimately 10000 feet The first
flight was undertaken with Lieuten.
ant I. A. Lawson as pilot, the craft
landing at WATERFORD, S. c., CTS
miles distant, after drifting two days.
Two other flights were made sub
sequently / ma balloon piloted by
Lieutenant Nicely, the flights end
ing at st. Thomas, Ontario, and near
Appleton, Wis, respectively.
At the time the United States en-
tered the world war DR. Messenger
was doing graduate work at the
University Of Nebraska. He enlisted
in the signal corps az an instructor
in meteorology. 7 At the close Of the
war he became connected with the
United States weather bureau, spe-
cializing in the study Of upper air
conditions.
Lieutenant Nicely was about 80
years old and unmarried. He served
in the World War in both the British
and American armies.