The Washington times., 1904-06-29
EXPO" VANDALS
SLASH AIRSH|P
SantOS-Dumont May Not
Enter Aerial Races.
INVENTOR WEEPS AT sight
Affair Is Deep Mystery-Havoc
Worked With Dull
Knife.
INVENTOR WEEPS AT SIGHT

ST LOUIS, June 29.-M. Santos-Du-
mont's racing Iirship was partly
destroyed by vandals at the WORLDS
Fair last night. The envelope or silk
balloon of the ship was slashed sixteen
times with Ions. sharp knife. leaving
incisions varying from four to twenty
four inches in length.
The balloon was in the aerodrome or
airship barn, which was guarded by
Jefferson Guards all night. NJ. Santos
Dumont says he saw it at 7:S0 o'clock
last night and that IL was then unharm-
ed His workmen discovered the knife
slashes at $50 o'clock this morning.
Grew Much Excited.
NJ. Santos-Dumont arrived soon after
the discovery and was so excited he
wept.
1T is on outrage. an outrage he
shouted. 1T is an outrage upon me and
upon the Exposition" Tears rolled down
his checks. He could not dream who
would have been so mean. he said.
The scene drew a crowd of officials of
the Exposition. They assured NJ. San
tos-Dumont that there had been no mo-
tive in doing such dastardly thing
that it was simply wicked vandalism By
some irresponsible person
MAY Send Balloon to Paris.
When NJ. Santos Dumont had claimed
sufficiently TO talk, he said:
Il cannot say today just what my
plans will be, since this outrage has
been visited upon me. I may be able
TO repair the balloon, but I am not sure.
1t must be safe for an ascension, and
can only determine the possibility OF
making it safe by working on it.
III il cannot be repaired 1 cannot re-
place il within less than six months.
ana that would remove me from the
Il will try to repair it here If I
cannot / must send il to Paris for a
final effort 1t would not be returned
70 St Louis within less than six weeks -
Other aeronauts at the fair think the
Brazilian is so wrought up that he
oVerestimates the damage. They think
IT can be repaired in time for him to
NJ next week.
May Repair Damage.
Prof. Meyer made a careful examina-
ton of the cuts, and said: II can re-
PAIR the damage, but it 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 a dull jackknife.
Il believe the cutting was done with
no other object but malicious destruc-
ton of property.
Secretary Walter 3. Stevens, of the
Exposition company, said that as soon
as the Fair officials could consult, meas
ures would be taken for apprehending
the vandal and for the protection OF
the airship.
Guards Were on Watch.
The attack upon the santos-Dumont
No. is the most exasperating mystery
the fair has had. III Santos-Dumont
has no idea who did it. He says he is
astounded by the outrage, and cannot
imagine who could have wanted TO in
lure him in this way.
His three engineers, who have served
him through all his career with his diff
ferent ships, say they are without the
slightest suspicion of any certain per
Motives are not suggested by either
the aeronaut or his men. IL was sug-
gested that. perhaps, some OF his COM
petitors did ii. but NJ. SantOS-Dumont
would not tolerate the theory. de says
1t is preposterous. Moreover, his com
petitors are not here.
Watched During Night.
The balloon was guarded during the
night by ]. H. Peterson and Lucien J..
Gillian, both jefferson Guards. Peter
son was on from O'Clock in the after
noon until midnight Gillian was found
soon after the discovery that the balloon
had been cut. He said he was on guard
at the aerodrome from midnight until
o'clock this morning, and that he saw
no one about the structure until the
WOrkmen came at o'clock.
Gillian admitted to Colonel Kingsbury
chief OF the guard. that he left his post
twice during the night 20 go and get
coffee at the headquarters Of the guard.
800 feet from the aerodome. He said he
made these departures at and o'clock
and that each time he was away only a
few minutes. Colonel Kingshury cen
sures Gillian for negligence at his post.
There was a scene Of rage and grief
al the aerodrOme when the injury TO the
balloon was discovered. IL was unpack-
ed yesterday and il was laid back on
the box in which it had come from
Paris.
The fair officials say they urged NJ
Santos-Dumont to replace the lid upon
this box. but he wanted the balloon TO
get air. and left the lid off.
His engineers reached the aerOdrOne
soon after o'clock this morning. and
when they saw what had been done they
Wcpt.
Before there was time 20 send word 70
him at the Hamilton Hotel NJ. Santos
Dumont arrived within the airship in
closure and saw the havoc that had been
done.