Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26
OFFICIALS AFFECTED.
President Fallieres Directed Con-
dolences Sent Families.

PARIS, September 25.-The loss of the
Republique assumes the magnitude of a
national calamity, especially as the
French had come to believe that the
semi-rigid type. which Is the system en-
ployed in the construction Of their dirig-
ibles. was superior to the rigid type
which has been adopted by Count Yep
pelin OF Germany. President Fallieres
and Gen. Brun, minister Of war. who
were informed of the catastrophe while
engaged in the Inauguration of the first
International exhibition of aerial locom0-
ton at the Grand Palais, were much
affected and left the building immediate
ly. The president directed Gen. Brun to
to the families Of the victims. The dis
aster has thrown damper on the
exhibition where thousands and those
interested in the problems of aviation had
gathered to celebrate the recent wonderful
progress in aerial navigation.
Similar Accident Recalled.
The accident recalled that in 1902. the
dirigible balloon La Paix, belonging to
the Brazilian. Severe, exploded at q
height of 1900 feet while en- route from
Paris to Issy. killing the pilot and mech
anician. The consensus Of opinion
however, Is that no accident, no matter
how deplorable, can now stop the on
ward march of navigation.
M. BRAND, the premier. and NJ. Brun
left for Moulins this afternoon to pay q
tribute to the dead officers.
The cause of the accident was the sub
ject Of discussion among the experts at
the exhibition. M. Rueff, who is showing
a hybrid dirigible aeroplane at the exhi-
bition, believes that the only way to pre-
L. % H. 1T
gible with planes by which 1t can glide to
the earth In event Of the envelope BURST
ing.
Will Not Stop Development.
Count Henri de la Vaulx said: Aviation
will still have its victims. but this will
not prevent those who have consecrated
themselves to the conquest Of the air from
going where duty calls. Automobiles and
railroads have caused many deaths. but
this has not stopped their development"
The correspondent of one Of the Paris
papers, who was following the dirigible in
an automobile. says:
1.-THE balloon was sailing along ma lies
tically when. without the slightest warn
ing, the accident occurred. The blade Of
the propeller had become detached and
plowed through the envelope. Immedi-
ately the balloon collapsed and we saw a
great Tcul bClOiC IL uou AoACI MY 1ccl
the car was completely enveloped and
the shapeless thing dropped down to
earth. There was a terrific crunching
sound when 1t struck, and when we
reached the spot the envelope, car and
rigging were tangled mass.
Forgot the Danger.
1.-THE motor was still very hot and q
strong odor Of gas warned us to wait;
but q stream of blood flowing out be-
meath the wreckage made US forget the
danger We rushed in and extricated the
mangled and bleeding officers"
The correspondent says that he saw no
flame and heard no defamation. Never
theless, at the ministry of war 1t was i'm
possible to account for the cause Of the
fall of the balloon except on the explosion
theory.
Mai. T. Bentley Mott. the military at
tache of the American embassy, and
other military attaches have presented
to the French government the condolences
Of their respective governments.
The exhibition contains a remarkable
collection of twenty-eight different types
OF flying machines. in addition to dirig-
ible balloons and a large number Of
spherical balloons and aeroplanes. There
Is also series of exhibits showing the
history OF aerial navigation from the
days of Montgolfier, who with his
brother invented an air balloon in 1872.
The monoplane with which Blerlot cross
ed the English channel occupies the posi-
ton of honor and Is surrounded by the
Wright, Farman. Antoinette and Es-
s1t Dali 0S3n NJ nd