The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-14
AER0NAUTS MET
FEARFUL DEATH
Car Became Separated From the
Airship Proper.
DE BRADSKI FOLLOWS SEVERE
LATEST ATTEMPT AT NAVIGAT-
ING THE AIR FAILS.


killed by falling from a dirigible
balloon today. The balloon started
from the aero station at Vaugiriard.
suburb Of this city. at 7;55 a. m on a
trial trip. After preliminary maneuvers
with a rope attachment. De Bradski
released the balloon and proceeded
southwark at a height OF 800 or 400
appeared to work well; the rudder,
however. was not quite successful.
At 500 the balloon had returned 20
above the point OF departure. and then
IL gradually mounted higher and high
er until II disappeared in the clouds.
About $3.50. when the balloon was
above ST. Aims. near st. Dennis. about
hVe and a half miles from the center
OF the city. the ropes attaching the
car TO the balloon broke from some un-
known cause and the car, with its oc-
eupants. De Bradsld and NORM. WAS
dashed 20 the ground and the aeronauts
met instant death. The balloon itself
disappeared IN the clouds.
Wire Ropes Broke.
When the balloon arrived over ST.
Dennis the aeronauts called TO some
workmen In the fields asking the direc-
ton 90 Pantin. De Bradsh and NORM
were seen moving about the car. Sud
denly one Of the wire ropes broke and
then another gave way, and the car.
weighing $50 pounds. crashed TO the
ground, burying the aeronauts beneath
Il. They were crushed. their legs were
broken and their faces were bloody,
but they were not disfigured. The bodies
were taken TO st. Dennis.
De Bradsii was ready TO ascend early
last week but postponed the attempt
on account OF the windy weather. The
balloon in which he assembled today
was an Improvement on his original
design, it's size being increased, as 1t
was found inadequate TO carry the
weight intended. and this entailed
lengthening the car, rearranging the
suspension wires and other changes II
was IN the form OF cylinder ending
In a cone thlrty-five feet long In front
and twelve feet long behind, the same
length as the Santos-Dumont airship.
which won the Deutsch prize. though
its volume was larger because the
length OF the cylindrical part was
longer.
Features Of Airship.
The balloon proper contained 2slo9
cubic feet. The frame was seventy
feet long and was made OF steel tubes.
II carried car sixteen feet long. sus-
pended below the envelope of the bal
loon. which guarded II against risk OF
fire from the sixteen horsepower
petroleum motor. The frame weighed
500 pounds. The airship was propelled
by a screw twelve feet in diameter and
had a rudder with a surface of i've
square Yards A notable feature was
a sail apparatus. consisting OF wings
made OF light canvas thirty-siX feet
long and I'VE feet wide, fixed TO the
right and left OF the envelope, giving
II the appearance of an enormous
aeroplane and intended to enable the
airship to sail about or descend slowly
in case the motor stopped.
The catastrophe sent a thrill of hor-
ror through Paris, following the dis
aster 10 the Brazilian aerOnaut. Severe,
who was killed May II last, and whose
balloon started from the same shed
The principle OF the latter ship had
been warmly discussed and its ascent
was awaited with the keenest interest.
Wife waited Anxiously.
A number Of aeronauts. friends Of De
Bradski. and the latter's wife were
present at the start. His wife, though
anxious that her husband should DEM
onstrate the success OF his invention
witnessed his departure with much
emotion, and especially as the CONVEX
satiOn Of the spectators turned on the
fatal ending OF the experiment.
De Bradski first tried the ascension
al screw. situated below the car. and
the airship, held by ropes, rose easily
and maintained its equilibrium. De
Bradski was satisfied and said he
would maneuver over the drilling
ground. A whistle was blown and re-
leased the ropes the propeliing screw
behind was set in the proper direction
when suddenly a southwest wind
sprang up and the airship swerved u
the northwest instead OF the northeast
Crossing the main boulevard the craft
executed a number OF evolutions. but
continued northward with the wind
eventually disappearing over the great
white basilica Of the Church of the
Sacred Heart and the top of the hill
OF Mont Matre.
The aeronauts wife and their friends
waited al the shed from until II
o'clock and grew anxious at the pro-
longed absence. When the balloon was
perceived at an immense height this
increased the anxiety, as IL was known
the airship was never intended TO rise
70 such point. 1t was. however, mere
~ the inflated envelope which driftec
back across Paris after the accident
had relieved It or the weight OF ths
car. A few minutes later a telegram
arrived with the news Of the disaster.
Story Of Eyewitness
An eyewitness gave the following
account OF the accident: I was stand
ing on the steps OF my building when
heard a voice calling. I looked up and
saw an airship 100 yards In the air. NJ
NORM was leaning out Of the car and
asked through megaphone where wa;
Z suitable spot TO descend. I indicated
a place in the neighborhood, ard th'
airshIp proceeded in the direction l hat
indicated. A few moments later saw
the balloon turn sharply. and al th'
same moment heard a noise like TIT
tearing OF q cloth. The piano wire
attaching the front OF the car TO th'
balloon had broken Other wires FOL
lowed suit. the car became detaches
and II fell 10 the ground 200 yards DIS
taut. The balloon itself bounded al
in the air and disappeared. hurried &
the spot and found De Bradski dea'
and terribly bruised III Norm va.
wing under the remainder OF the cal
He lived but a few moments
De Bradsld was a Hungarian baron
So years old. rich and clever, and ha'
been in the diplomatic service. H
made his FIRST ascension in 1901 Morii
vas his engineer. He leaves a widow
and three children
Ia Chambre, the constructor or N
airship. says he had no confidence i
The mechanical part of the airship cu
eve the halio0n had perfect stability
and constituted real progress. inasmucl
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