FALL FROM A BALLOON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 August 1907, Page 4

FALL FROM A BALLOON.

o EIGHT MEN KILLED AND SIX INJURED. FARM DESTROYED. Budapest, June 2!i. A terrible balloon disaster occurred at llajdu Boszonueny, near Dubreczeu, in Hungary, on Friday night. I A dairy fanner named Fekcti was awakened by a strange noise on the roof of his house He awakened the farm servants and took them with him to discover the cause, audthey found that a large balloon with no car attached had descended on the roof. While they were examining the balloon with their lanterns the gas exploded with terrific violence. Fekcti and four of the farm hands were killed on the spot and six others were seriously injured. The farm buildings caught lire and were destroyed entirely, with a large stock of cattle.

The mystery of the missing car was explained later. It was been to become detached from the balloon and to full to the ground about ten o'clock on Friday night, fifteen miles from where the balloon descended.

A number of peasants rushed to the spot and found the throe occupants of the car dead on the ground. They had lieen killed instantaneously by their fall.

Some doubt exists as to their nationality. One report says that two of them wore the uniform of French, officers, and the third was apparently an engineer. Another report, however, says the car carried the Austrian eagle and colors.