Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-29
'SIashing Of Partof Santos
Dumont's Airship.
Ascension Therefore Cannot Be
Made on the Fourth.
catss 1t the Worlds Fair Have Been
Equipped With seventy-five Electric
Coin Control TurnstiIes, Which Work
to Perfection.

Worlds Fair Grounds, st. Louis, June
28.-Some time during the night the gas
bag of Santos Dumont's airship was cut
and slashed in such a manner as to pre-
cIude all possibility Of its being repaired
in time to allow an ascension, July 4.
The work was apparently done with a
tackknife. There are at least 20 long rips
in the bag and Prof. Carl Meyers, who
has charge of the aeronauts' contests,
declares that 1t will take at least two
weeks to repair the damage.
The big gas bag had not yet been tax
en- from the crate I'm which 1t came from
Paris. The cover had been removed
by a customs inspector and the crate
was rolled into the center OF the big
shed prepared for the airship. Being
of an adhesive material, the bag was
hung in folds from Stats nailed near
the top OF the crate and in this way
was prevented from becoming a solid
mass because Of its own weight. There
were several folds Of the bag over each
stat and the vandal drew his knife
across these, cutting through from
three to four thicknesses OF the mate
rial with each slash. The work was
evidently done in haste, as there were
about a dozen Stats covered with folds
of the bag and only four or five OF them
were cut. When the damage was dis
covered a messenger was sent to MIR.
Dumont at the Hamilton hotel and he
hurried to the scene.
"Well," he said, after critical ex-
Elimination Of the damaged bag, 1T Is
Just as 1 told the fair people. This
place is not secure enough"
What will you do?" was asked.
81 do not KNOW" was the reply.
II must first see how much damage
has been done. 1t will be impossible to
get a new bag and if an ascension is
made, this one must be repaired. l can
think of no reason why anyone should
want to destroy my airship."
Prof. Meyer made careful examina-
ton OF the cuts and said:
II can repair the damage, but 1t Will
probably take two weeks and possibly
longer. / cannot tell definitely until
the bag is taken from the crate and
spread out. To me the cutting seems to
have been done with dull jackknife.
believe the cutting was done with no
object but malicious destruction OF
property"
Secretary Walter Is. stevens, OIL the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Co,
said that as soon as the fair officials
could consult, measures would be TAX
en- for experimenting the vandal and
for the protection of the airship.
When the damage was done, the shed
that sheltered the gas bag was pa
trolled by Jefferson Guard and a spec
iaI Waterman. who was one of Mr.. Du-
mont's employees. Neither saw any
thing of the vandal.
Gates at the Worlds Fair have been
equipped with electric coin control turn
stiles, which obviate the necessity of
purchasing tickets by visitors and re-
suit in saving much time when crowds
are entering the grounds.
Seventy-hve machines have been put
In operation and work admirably.
Money changers occupy the booths
hitherto used at the entrances for tick
ct sellers, but the Exposition officials
say that the turnstiles will save much
in the way OF salaries.