BALLOON ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 4 June 1907, Page 5

BALLOON ACCIDENTS.

ANXIETY OF THE KING. \ By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. j London, June 2. King Edward has expressed his grief and anxiety as to the fate of the missing balloonists, Lieutenants Caulfield and Leak. The cordage of the balloon and' the car are not damaged, and the safetyvalve was closed. . (Received June 3, 10.20 p.m..) London, June 3. The balloonists, when passing over Winterborne Abbas,. in Dorsetshire, shouted to the inhabitants, "clutch the rope," which was dangling almost on a level with the roofs of the cottages. The balloon almost immediately soared seawards. I One of the officers was seen in the rigging,, apparently endeavouring to do something to the mechanism. j The balloon, later reports say, was so near the ground at several places in Dorsetshire that the two officers could have slipped down the rope.; It was not brought up because they | had no grapnels with them. ITALIAN OFFICER KILLED. (Received June 3, 10.20 p.m.) : : Rome, June 3. When the King and Queen of Italy were participating in the national fete yesterday, lightning struck and set fire to a, military balloon. The balloon burst, and its occupant, Captain Ulivelli, fell to the ground. The .King spent half-an-hour in the hospital at the bedside of the injured officer, who died a few hours later.