Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-23
AIRSHIP DESTROYED.
Then Burned BY Contact with Live
Win.

Nassrs dirigible airship. which
made several ascensions in this city
during the tercentenary celebration,
came to grief IN ottawa Thursday
but not until II had killed one man
and injured two others. Anthony
Nassr Of Toledo, Ohio. was in charge
and II was on the frat attempt at
fight that the first accident occurred
In the second attempt successful
flight was made. but In bringing the
balloon back to the ground It caught
fire and was destroyed Edward Keat-
ing. of Bellevile, Ont. who had been
running wheel Of fortune at the exhib-
ition, was the man killed. The injured
are Malcolm Campbell OF Glengarry. and
Carl G. Wingerter, one Of Mr.. Nassr's
assistants
In starting from the ground for the
first time with Mr.. Nassr on board the
airship became entangied in some wires
In front OF the Aberdeen pavilion.
Messrs. Heating Kingerter and Campbell
caught hold Of the framework OF the ma
chine 10 pull It down when they receiv-
ed shock OF about twenty-five hundred
volts and fell to tho ground unconscious.
The propeller OF the machine had torn
the Insulation on the wires. Proper
handling revived Messrs. Campbell and
Wingerter. but a half hours work fall
ed 10 resusctate Mr.. Heating. and he
was pronounced dead. Mr.. Heating was
forty-four years Of age married and the
father Of six children.
In the second attempt the dirigible as
cended successfully, but came to earth
some distance from the fair grounds. AT
night when bringing II back to the
grounds, It again came In contact with a
live wire. caught fire. and. getting away
from those trying to control It. ascend
ed. and was entirely destroyed by fire.
only the iron framework remaining. II
made spectacular sight It assembled
and burst with n loud report. No one
was hurt. blazing section falling set
fire to house. but the Ottawa brigade
put the fire out with little trouble.
The airship was taken from its tent
shortly before noon to near the end OF
the grand stand. After a few minutes
preparation the gasolene engine was
started and the airship rose Immediately.
Mr.. Nassr was sitting on the back OF the
framework, holding the rudder strings.
He circled around, and was endeavoring
70 get over the electric wires in front Of
Aberdeen pavilion. when the propeller.
which is at the front Of the machine.
was caught IN the wires. Mr.. Nessr
shut of the engine. and the propeller re-
manned in the wires The airship twisted
around. scraping the insulation off the
wires. The rear end OF the airship slow
~ dropped 10 the earth. and Mr.. Nassr
shouted to Mr.. Wingerter his assistant.
Look out for the rudder don't let II be
| broken"
Mr.. Wingerter ran up To sieze the end
OF the machine and Messrs Campbell
and Heating. who had gathered with
about four Thousand others to witness
the flight. sprang forward TO help him.
| The three men took hold OF the frame
work at the same time and hardly had
they touched II when they dropped TO the
ground. Terror seized the thousands Of
spectators. ana they scattered in all di-
rcctions Women and children had
narrow escapes from being tramp'ed in
| the panic.