Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-13
FELL 1900 FEET.
Horrible Death of Severe, the
Aeronaut at Paris.
Balloon Took Fire in Air--His En-
gineer Burnett Death.
Santos Oumont Fears 1t Will Be Set
back to Aerial Work.

Paris, May 12.-The death of Senior
Severe, the Brazilian aeronaut, who
with his assistant was killed, Monday
morning. by the explosion of his air
ship La Paix, IN which he was making
a trial trip created terrible consterna-
ton. Senior Severe had invited a
number of friends to. witness the as
cension and his wife and a number of
relatives were following the course OF
the balloon in motor cars. Suddenly
the spectators were Mortified by bright
flash of light, followed by a loud ex-
plosion. The balloon, which at this
time was 1850 feet above the ground
fell rapidly, landing on the roof of a
house.
The aeronaut fell into the street and
was dashed into pieces. The bones of
his legs we're forced through the soles
of his boots. The engineer who accom-
panied him was burned to death.
The accident is said to have been
caused by leakage of gas.
Senior Severe started with the in
tontion of sailing to the military pa
rade ground at Issy, and large num-
Der of his relatives ana friends were
proceeding in the direction Of that vii
lagc, situated five miles southwest of
Paris.
With an engineer named Sachet, Sc
vero sailed out Of his balloon house
near the Boulevard de Vazegirard, at
$50 "A. NJ, i'll excellent spirits and full
of confidence, the aeronaut put his air
ship through a series of evolutions be
fore starting in the direction of Issy.
There seemed to be some hitch with the
steering gear and the rear propclling
screw turned with difficulty.
Nevertheless, after several stopDages
the airship sailed off, moving steadily
enough through a light breeze. Sud
denly puff of wind caught the ship
and whirled it over the Avenue Du-
maine. The ship turned completely
around and veered about in a fashion
showing that control Of her had been
lost. Then. from the center of the outer
envelope, a tongue Of flame darted out.
This was followed by a loud report.
resembling a cannon shot and the shin
sank like stone falling on the roof Of
a house, thence into some trees and
finally reaching the Avenue Dumaine.
almost on top of its occupants, who
stone pavement.
The fearfully manglcd corpses Of
Severe and Sachet We're conveyed to a
neiGhboring police station. The bodies
presented Il horrible spectacle, especi-
ally that of Sachet. The flame which
caused the explosion burned the engi-
neer in most shocking manner. Prac-
tically not a bone OF either victim was
left unfractured, and both skulls were
terribly crushed.
Santos Dumont. who has been con-
fined to his bed for three DAVIS suf-
fering from nervous trouble, said to n
representative of The Associated
Press:
Il do not want to talk about Severe.
as I did not see the disaster, have not
read the accounts in the papers and
only know what my friends have told
me. From what Lachambre, the
builder Of Severo's and my balloons.
says, / think Severe lost his head. I
understand he threw out ballast as the
airship was rising rapidly This if
true, is sufficient to explain the acct
dent. Rapid rising would drive out the
gas through the valve and send ii
against the motors, thus causing an
explosion. One defect Of Severos air.
ship was that the motors were too near
the balloon.
mo, the catastrophe does not dis
courage me; but fear there will be a
set back to aerial navigation. 1t will
| frighten many persons and discourage
those who We're inclined to spend
money in such undertakings"
1