The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-03
FATAL FALL FROM BURNING BALLOON c. Oliver Jones Drops 500 Feet to Death in Presence of
 Wife and Crowd of
 25,000.
LIVES HOUR AND A HALF
Fire Separates Motor Framework from Bag-Nictim Ono of inc Forer most AvIators of the
 Country.

Waterville, Me, Sept, 2.--rn full view of 2b,000 mortified spectators, assembled on the Central Maine fair grounds here late today, Charles Oliver Jones' the well known aeronaut of Hammonds port, N. r., fell distance of 800 feet to his death Among the witnesses of the frlghtful plunge was Mrs. Jones and child, and they were almost the first 10 reach the side Of tho dying man. The aeronaut expired this even Ing about an hour and half after the accident
 Jones had been al the fair grounds with his dlrigibe balloon Boomerang" known as Strobel airship. since Mon day, the opening day of the big show. Today he arranged to make flight between and o'clock, but such high wind prevailed that a delay was necessary At i:30 conditions had mod fled to some extent and he gave the word to have the machine released
 When the aeronaut reached a height of more than 300 feet the spectators were amazed to see small tongues of flame Issuing from under the gas bag in front of the motor. At this time the balloon had passed out of the fair grounds. Many persons in the great crowd endeavored to apprIse Jones of his danger, but several minutes elapsed before he noticed the fire. Then he grasped the rip cord. and by letting out gas endeavored to reach the earth The machine had descended but short distance when sudden burst of flame enveloped the gas bag, the framework immediately separating from the bag Jones fell with the frame of his mo- tor and when the spectators reached him he was lying under if about a quarter of mile from the fair grounds. The gas bag. which fell nearby. was completely destroyed
 Among the first to reach the side of the aeronaut was his wife who had lseen the accident The physicians who were in the crowd found that Jonee had no chance to survive as he was injured internally and his spine was broken. He died at s15 o'clock. Cor oner Reddington will hold an autopsy on Friday
 Jones had trouble with his balloon yesterday on account of cold weather Monday night. which caused number of leaks. through the contraction o' the gas bag, The leaks were repaired and the balloon inflated. but the wind l was so high that Jones considered i' dangerous to ascend. II Is thought that the bag leaked again to-day. and thai a spark from the motor caused the dis. aster.
 Jones was forty years old and leaves a wife and child
 Hamondsport, N Y. Sept 2,-Charlet Oliver Jones' killed at Waterville. Me. to-day. was numbered among thr younger aeronauts, but his work In thc
 field had already marked him as ont of the most successful opponents o aerial navigation He came here a yea, ago from his home in Cincinnati witt some entirely new ideas in regard tc arships and joined Alexander Graham Bell and others in their experiment! with aeroplanes. It was Jones whc evolved the famous June Bug" whicg made several record fights for shor distances. The June Bug" won th, Scientific American trophy offered fo heavier than air machines, attaining Z speed of about thirty miles an hou against the wind