The Washington times., 1931-05-28
OXYGEN FAILS,
CAUSING END
Of CLIMB
2 Swiss Scientists Surprise
Searching Parties While
Walking in Alpine Peaks

L
claimed to have set a new alti
tude record for any type of air
craft, ascending to greater height:
than ever before achieved by fret
balloons or heavier.than|air ma
chimes.
Prof. Picard unfolded th'
story of his epic flight to tht
Telegrafen-Union correspondent
at Obergurgl, in the Austrian Ty
rol, the first outpost of this mum
dane world to welcome him aftel
his expedition into the skies. HI
said:
az have beaten the worlds
altitude record by 1000 meters,
and 1 am happy to say we sue
ceeded in reaching the StratO-
sphere.
Oxygen Supply Gone
''It was a glorious flight. The
balloon was under control
every moment, and it was only
exhaustion Of the oxygen sup
ply in our aluminium gOndOIa
that forced us to descend before
reaching the plains of upper
Italy, where I had planned the
flight to end.
"We obtained plenty Of ma
terial which / believe to be Of
the highest scientific value.
II am highly satisfied with
the scientific results of the ex-
petition. All our instruments
functiOned perfectly, and the
Paragraph recorded an altitude
Of $4,000 meters $1,000 feet),
placing the balloon definitely
outside the earth's atmosphere
and in the stratOspheric area 1
have tried so long to reach.
1--WE had ideal weather for
observations. The gOnd dOla
proved absolutely alright and
the oxygen and atmospheric
pressure devices worked with
out a flaw.
Observations Perfect
'This faultIess performance
of our mechanical cOntrivances
enabled us to make detailed
scientific observations of that
far-Off layer of space where
the rules governing the earth's
atmospheric conditions cease to
exist"
Prof. Piccard's trip was made
primarily for the purpose of
studying the origin of cosmic
rays, the discovery of the Ameri-
can professor Millikan, as we'll as
observing atmospheric and elec-
trio phenomena at that great
height.
The two explorers chose the
smooth surface of the glacier as
the likeliest place for a safe land
ing.
They planned to proceed i'm
mediately to Obergurgl, but found
the journey too hazardous at
night. They returned to their
warm gondola, spent the night
there, and started the trek early
this morning.
Professor Picard declared:
eve could not land in the
daytime, because the balloon
had too much bOuyancy, and it
was necessary to wait until night
fell.
"The landing was smooth and
even, and the gOndOla was only
slightly damaged.
The two air explorers were met
by a searching party consisting OF
Franz Faulkner, the village school
master Of Obergurgl, and two
other villagers.
Scientists Were Hungry
Picard and Kipfer were some,
what tired and exceedingly hun
CRY, and they fell with relish
upon the store of bread, bacon
and tea which the Searchers car
ried.
Piccard's first thought was OF
his wife. He asked Faulkner to &c
ahead and cable Nine. Picard
at Brussels as speedily as posi-
BILE.
When the professor himself
reached Obergurgl. he put in a
long distance call to his wife. He
told her he needed rest anc
planned to stay in the Tyrol for
a time to recover his stranded
balloon and check up his Scien.
tific instruments.
Balloon Is Located
A great wave of relief swept
over the Innsbruck Airport as
word came through Of the Scien-
lists safety. Searching parties,
Unaware of the events that trans.
pired during the night. located
the deserted balloon this morn
ing.
Seeing no sign of life, the
Eearchers jumped to the conclu.
sion Picard and Kipfer were
still imprisoned in the gondola,
either unconscious or dead.
Those engaged in the search
never dreamed that the explorers
had landed safely and with the
self-reliance characteristic of men
of their stamp, started out in the
dead of night to battle their way
down the slippery slopes of a
glacier to civilization.
Shot Up Immediately
Picard and Kipfer left Augs
burg, Bavaria, at 3:5' a. m. yes
terday. The giant balloon shot up
almost Immediately to a tremend