New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24

tally as the result Of collision this morning
directly over the city of Pittsburg, between the
Continental Airship COmpany's -York-San
Francisco Limited and excursion ship flying
from Chicago to New-York, crowded with gay
Fourth OF July pleasure seekers.
or the killed, about 20 per cent were citizens
az Pittsburg, who were struck by falling frag-
ments Of the wrecked airships. The majority
of the injured suffered from this cause, also.
The excursion ship was totally demolished and
the limited Jared but little better. That the
death list does not include almost every person
on The two ships is due solely to the fed
sral law compelling airship companies to pro-
VIDE each passenger, officer and member OF the
crew with gas life preserver. to be worn
throughout the journey
The exact number Of dead is not known, owing
to the fact that many of those recorded as miss
Ing may have landed safely after having been
driven some distance from the scene Of the &C
cident by the strong wind which blowing.
Additional fatalities also still being reported
from different parts of the city. which were due
TO flying missiles from the wreck
The ships met head on. The excursion boat,
larger than the limited, but more lightly built,
and not designed for high speed, was teescoped,
the limited tearing its way through her and
scattering wreckage hundreds of rods in every
direction Pieces were afterwaTd picked up
more than two miles from the point at which
the collision occurred
What remained OF the s. 100000 limited was
borne by its own velocity across the Ohio River.
where it sank slowly to the earth. 1t had been
buoyed up by its gas-tight compartments. which,
fortunately, were Uninjured. When it landed,
about seventy passengers and number of the
crew who had chung to it made haste to Chamber
from the wreck A number of dead and wound
ed were also taken from the hulk.
The dial of the aerometer, which remained in
tact though the rest of the instrument had been
smashed registered a speed of $50 miles an hour,
showing the high rate at which the limited had
been travelling.
When the collision occurred Pittsburg's streets
crowded with people watching an hide
pendence Day military procession. The noise of
the crash in the air arose above the din Of ex-
plosions of fireworks, the blowing Of horns,
cheers Of the crowds and the music Of bands
with startling distinctness. Thousands of pairs
OF eyes flashed glances Of surprise and terror
into the heavens. Most individuals knew in
stinctively what had happened, and that within
a minute the city would be pelted with a deadly
shower Of Wreckage from the unfortunate ar
ships.
In an instant the marchers had broken ranks
and joined the surging crowds Of spectators IN
their mad rush for safety. The halls and stair
ways OF business blocks and the showrooms Of
stores we're the only available places Of refuge
These were packed within an incredibly brief
space Of time and still thousands remained out
side who sought partial protection under car
riages streetcars awnings and in hooks OF the
walls of some Of the buildings.
The seconds of the single minute Of grace hn-
ted fatefuIly by and then came the expected
bantfsrn Of steel, iron, aluminium and wooden
fragments of the wrecked ships First, the
heavy electric motor Of the excursion ship. borne
TO the earth faster than the other wreckage by
reason of It's great weight, fell directly in the
centre of the intersection of Fifth-ave- and
smithaeld-st. It sank through the pavement
and buried itself four or five feet below the sur
face.
No one was injured by it, but in the hail OF
missiles which followed score of persons were |
killed hundreds Of others injured and great
damage done TO property. 1t was all over In less |
shan a minute and the crowds poured into the !
streets again.
The CITY looked as though il had gone through |
. email sized bombardment. Mangled bodies OF
dasd and diving human beings and animals lay |
Ttrevyn about the streets. Among them were
the missiles which had caused their death, and
fragments Of human bodies which had been
crushed and dismembered IN the collision and
fallen TO the earth with the wreckage.
Burst life preservers encircled some OF the
eorpseg. showing that even If their lives had
Iisio tbpi