FATE TEE MISSING FRENCH AERONAUTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8986, 25 February 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

FATE TEE MISSING FRENCH AERONAUTS.

ENGULFED IN THE WAVES OF

[ THE ATLANTIC. I if. Wilfred de Fonvielle has received particulars from Mr. Macdonald, the master of the steamship Prince Leopold, respecting the fate of the Paris aeronauts, MM. Lhosteand Man pot, who were lately lost in the Atlantic. On November 13 last, the "Arago"' balloon, in which were the two men, was seen from Cape Antifer and from the decks of the steamer commanded by Mr. Macdonald. The aeronauts were making westward, and were evidently trying to get into the upper currents of air, as they had lost the wind which had accompanied them on their departure from France. Later in the day they descended, either because they lacked ballast or because they deemed it safe to get into the wake of the steamer. About four o'clock they touched the waves and Mr. Macdonald at once changed the course of his ship and made preparations to launch a boat in order to rescue them. The weather at the time was, however, too rough. A tempestuous gale was blowing, the rain was falling in torrents, and the waves were very high. The aeronauts seemed dazed by "the elemental war which was raging round them, and had no longer the mastery of their balloon, which made frequent bounds in the air and then fell helplessly on the water. Suddenly a terrific gust from the north-east struck the car and capsized it* The Prince Leopold was steered to the spot, but before even a rope could be thrown out the ill-fated Frenchmen were engulfed in the warring waters. The vessel had to steam away from the spot as quickly as possible, as the night was falling fast and the place was dangerous. It was about thirty-nine miles south-west of the Isle of Wight.