Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-15
BALLOON BURSTS, KILLS TWO
Fatalities Attend LOvelace Exhibition
at London Exposition.
BALDWIN DRIGIBLE TO OMAHA
Famous Military Balloon 90 Ne Used
for Training of Omeers of the
signal Corps station I'm
This City. "A


LONDON. Aug. 1.-TWO persons were
killed and six injured by the explosion
this morning at the grounds Of the Franco
British exposition Of the envelope OF the
balloon owned by Captain Lovelace OF the
New York Aero club.
Preparations for an ascent we're being
made when the accident occurred. The
cause IL supposed to have been the throw
ing down OF a lighted match. Miss Hill
aged 10 years. secretary TO Captain Love-
lace, was one of the persons killed. She
was burned to a cinder.
The other person killed. 3 man, and the
six men who sustained injuries, also were
employed by Captain Lovelace. Captain
I.ovelace's clothes were burned, but other
wise he sustained no injuries
Baldwin Balloon TO Omaha.
WASHINGTON. Aug 1l.-with every
thing indicating, the acceptance OF tho
Baldwin military dirigTble by the govern
ment. interest centers in the uses to which
the atrship will be put after IT becomes
the property Of the signal corps. 1t now
Is evident that II will be used, principally
for training the officers and men OF the
aeronauticai division in the handling OF q
dtrigfble balloon. as the airship Is too
small TO be Of much practical value In ao-
tual warfare. When the bfg balloon plant
now being erected at Fort Omaha is COM
,leted. the dlrieible win be taken there.
In the meantime after the Wright Bros.
and A. M. Herring have completed the tests
Of their aeroplanes before the army board
csntain Baldwin will train two Officers OF
the signal corps in the handling OF the
aerial craft. Lieutenant Frank p. Lahrn,
already wen known for balloon work, and
Lieutenant Thomas Z. Seifridge. the aero
pianist. both OF the signal corps, probably
will be selected by General James Allen,
chief signal officer. to handle the airship
Officers Leave Good Record.
These two officers have already dis
t,nruisbed themselves In aeronautics.
lieutenant Lahm won the James Gordon
Bennett international balloon race at Paris
in 1905 and has proven an able pupil Of
his father. r. s. L.ahm, who represents
the Aero Club Of America and France.
Lieutenant selfridge Is secretary Of the
Aerial Experiment association. Of which
DIR. Alexander Graham Bell is chairman.
He flew the white Wing" the first aero
plane built by the association and which
took to the air on Its first trial He is
especially well acquainted with the Curtiss
engine. with which Baldwin's machine is
eouipped. These army officers are to
some extent handicapped by the great
amount of theory with which they have
been weighted down. For this reason. the
signal corps win reap untold benefits from
the experiments which these officers win
be able to carry on with dirigible balloon.
Lieutenant Benjamin D. Fouieois. who
recently guaduated from the Signal school
at Fort Leavenworth. has given his un-
divided attention 10 the Baldwin dirigible.
Lieutenant Richard B. Creecy Of the
Marine corps, was detailed to the Fort
Myer tests at his own request and is as
sistinE the board OF officers in conducting
the trials Major squier and Captain Wal
lace Of the signal corps, are members OF
the board.
Captain Baldwin made a very short flight
in his dirigible balloon at Fort Myer this
morning but as a strong wind was blow
ing did not proceed far enough to make
an official flight. He went up at $50
o'clock and sailed over the parade grounds
but the board notified him that If he
crossed the starting point the flight would
be regarded as an official one. The wind
not being favorable for such a flight
Captain Baldwin brought the balloon to
the ground. II the weather permits. he
will make an official flight late this after
noon.
Flexible Balloon n Success.
BERLIN. Aug. 1.-THE new Parseval d.
riglble balloon. which is constructed on the
flexible system, made a flight over and
around Berlin today that lasted for two
hours and forty-five minutes. The start
was made at TegeL Various maneuvers
against and with a moderate wind were
carried out at an altitude ranging from COO
TO 1000 feet. The airship showed excellent
stability and answered 10 the will OF the
pilot easily and satisfactorily. The ship
returned and landed at the same spot
whence II set out