PICARD’S BALLOON

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1931, Page 6

PICARD’S BALLOON

BALLOON OVER, ITALY. NINE MILES HIGH. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 28. The last news of the balloon was that it was over Italy at about midnight. Experts fear that M. Picard and his intrepid assistant, whose correct name is Doctor Kipfer, and not Krappe, are dead in the balloon, and that it is drifting with the wind until a. natural escape of the gas causes its descent. According to a statement by the Reidinger Balloon Factory, the supply of oxygen will not last more than seventeen hours, after which the occupants will lose the use of their limbs, and enter a state of coma, with a rapid poisoning from the carbonic acid gas exuded from their bodies. It is assumed by scientists that if L.e occupants were conscious, they would long ago have attempted a descent . It is estimated that the balloon has reached an altitude of nine miles. This is the highest ever attained.

FEARS FOR SAFETY. (Received this day at 8 a m.) BERLIN, May 28. There was no sign of the* balloon at daybreak which deepened the fear that tile occupants had perished. No word since they .were seen yesternight at lunesbrack whereafter it is feared the cold contracted the ga,s and down thrust the balloon Alpwards. The fact that they did not answer rocket signals at Exiuuesbriiok and also did not attempt to use parachutes lias caused a belief that they were suffocated a.s soon as the post ascent. The general assumption is that it is wrecked in a remote glacier in the Alps. It is uncertain whether there were distress signals when over Venn. Airplanes were unable to get close enough to establish contact. The* failure to signal the hotel top at Tugspitze, at- a height of nine thousand feet, strengthens the theory that they are either dead or unconscious because they could at that height have opened the manhole to breathe natural air if the oxygen had given out.

A twin brother of Doctor Jean Picard docs not fear a disaster. “My brother knows lmw to handle a balloon. He is as safe as a man sitting at home. Have no doubt lie is delaying the descent till clear of the mountains.” Lufthansa and a passenger in «n aeroplane reached Munich having z'g,Xftgged the Tyrolean Alps looking for balloon, but it was traceless. FOUND IN ALPS. LONDON. May 28. A Berne message says Swift Aviation Bureaux was informed by telephone that Picard’s balloon was found on the glacier Ootz in the Alps. PICARD SAFE. ASCENDED 10 MILES. MUNICH. May 28. Picard’s balloon was observed lying near Pilch shelter hut, at an altitude |of eight thousand feet in Oetythal Alps. No signals were observed. A rescue party left Gurgl on a three hours journey. The balloon may be marooned on the Great Gurgl glacier. ! Airmen flew near the airship and saw no traces of life An unconfirmed report stated Picard and his assistant were unconscious hut a later mesasge said the balloonists ate alive and well and that they state they ascended over ten miles. PICARD’S NARROW ESC PE. (Received this Hat »• "■> "s • LONDON May 28. The “Times” Vienna correspondent states : —Villagers of Ohergurgi e relate they saw the balloon early in the morning on a mountain ledge. A rescue party was organised and started for the balloon. Presently they saw Picard and Kipfer huddled on a rocky cleft shivering with the cold and their clothes torn to shreds. Picard related tint he stood throughout the night in the same spot, in fear or losing his footing.