BALLOON IN THE SEA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1298, 29 November 1911, Page 4

BALLOON IN THE SEA.

EXCITING ADVENTURE IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. The Sussex town of Hurstpierpoint, ] about eight miles north of Brighton, and the surrounding country wero thrown j into considerable oxcitement oil Thursday , morning, October 19, by the descent of a , derelict balloon- j Tho balloon was conveved to a shed be- . longing to Mr. P. Challen, of Langton Farm, Hurstpierpoint, and the Aero Club i in London wns communicated with in the < hope of light being thrown on the mys- ( tery. In the car of tho balloon were found three overcoats saturated with sea water, } a roast fowl, French rolls, champagne ( and brandy, and a bottle of turpentine. ( There was also a portmanteau containing a, revolver, several maps of France, and collars and cuffs. It was apparent that the balloon had. come from France, and it was feared that tho aeronauts in charge of it had ; been drowned while crossing t.ho Chan- - nel, as tho saturated overcoats showed that tho car had been in the water. All anxiety was, bowovcr, set nt. rest in the evening, when it was learned from 1 Paris that the missing aeronauts had been rescued in the Channel. The bal- • loon, named H.oletio, left tho Aero Club •' park at St.. Cloud shortly before mid- *■ night on Wednesday, October IS. It was piloted by M. Edou.irri Bonrdoriat, 1 accompanied by M. Darnis and Jf. Ton- E rette. They intended to mako a cross- ] channel trip, but when half-way between ' t Dieppe and Ncwhaven the balloon fell L into tho sea. The occupants were able to attract tho attention of the fishing smack Jeanne, I which by skilful manoeuvring picked ] them up and took them to Dieppe, w-here I they landed at 10.15 a.m. on October 19. f Relieved of their weight, tho balloon rose and disappeared in the mist, finally land- .1 ing in Sussex. T