The Washington herald., 1908-08-15
GAS BAG EXPLODES
Many Persons Injured and
Two Are Killed.
CAPT. LOVELACE BADLY HURT
His Secretary, Miss HiII, One of the
Dead-BiE Gas Bag Suddenly Blows
Preparing for an Ascension.
Panic Follows the Explosion.

London. Aug 14-The huge balloon
with which Capt Thomas T LoveIace
the New York aeronaUt. once connected
with the Signal Corps Of the United
States army. has been giving exhibitions
at the Franco British Exposition exploded
while being inflated there to-day and
killed a man and a girl frightfllly burn
ed a dozen other persons. and caused the
injury Of scores in a fearful panic.
Capt Lovelace himself was near the
balloon when 1t was ripped apart by the
flaming hydrogen He was dangerously
hurt. but insisted on Joining the police
and guards IN the work Of stopping the
panic Miss Hill. his secretary. a young
American woman. was killed
The shock Of the explosion was ter
rife The exposition grounds were shaken
as II there had been a small earthquake
windows in many Of the beautiful expo
sition buildings were shattered
Crowds Around Balloon.
Numbers Of visitors 10 the exposition
crowded about the great gas Tag as IL
was being inflated Without the least
warning the balloon. when it was nearly
full Of gas. became a mass Of shooting
fame The hydrogen had IN some way
become mixed with air and the conse-
quent unstabIe-gas which formed had ex-
ploded
The crowd OF men and women about
the balloon dashed away from the IAN
ing aeronautic incIosure. but many of
them were not quick enough Besides
the two who were killed outright many
were badly burned Almost every one
who had been near the inclosure was
more OF less scorched-
Capt L0velace has had an adventurous
and romantic career IN his devotion 10
aeronaUtics- He has been the hero OF
nuuberless ascensions, the most recent
before his visit 10 England being in COM
pany with Dr. Julian P. Thomas. Of the
Aero Club Of America
IN a trip with Dr.. Thomas in the Ger
man balloon Pommeru. the winner Of
the international race from s. Louis.
Capt. Lovelace climbed from the basket
Up the netting around the gas bag. aEd
took q position there in order better 70
direct the course OF the balloon This
was in a trip from New York &c Phila-
delphia.
Capt LoveIace was once commander-in-
chief Of the Panama navy. for he is as
sea as he is with that in the air- he was
also assistant superintendent Of aero
nautics al the jamestown Exposition.
Consulted by Government.
The aeronaut was called by the United
States government TO consult with of7-
GERS Of the Signal Corps following a sen
sationaI demonstration he made OF The
4 ease with which fortIdcations on the Al
Iantic coast could be photographed from
above in a balloon
Capt. Lovelace sailed with Dr. Thomas
IN the Pommern over Fort wadswortt
and took photographs Of the fortifca-
tons. which he afterWard sent 10 the sig.
nal Corps. He said at the time that be
was tempted to drop a bag Of ballast
into the fort just 10 show how easy il
would have been for an enemy. under
similar conditions. 10 drop Lo00 pounds
Of dynamite
IN January Of 1877. Capt Lovelacs
started with young Ralph Brandreth. the
/ heir 10 millions. in the yacht TaOrmina
/ in what was 10 be q trip around the
world The yacht was equipped with q
balloon with witch ascensions were TO b
made at sea fer the purpose OF taking
/ observations The TaOrmina was yawl
| riCged- The trip had TO be abandoned
/ because Of attachments filed against th'
I Va chit