Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-14


lathe dirigble balloon Erbsloeh. recently
refitted for passenger service was destroyed
in midalf today through the explosion of
benEine tank. and it's inventor. Oscar
ETbsloeh, and his crew Of four men dropped
10 their death.
Tho bodies. OF the aviators were fright
fully maSeled The Eondoia was torn to
bits and the motor buried itself in the
ground.
The Victims were men well known to all
Germans Interested in aerial feats, and
Erbsioeh gained an International reputa tion
when, IN 1907. at ST Louis he won the in
ternatlonal cup in the distance race for
balloons.
His companions were Herr Toelle,
manufacturer of Barmen; two engineers,
Herr KranSe and Herr Hoeppe, and the
motorhian, Herr splcke
The Erbsloeh was constructed last year
and had had dubious career. The first
time Il descended 1t crashed into a clump
OF trees and It's occupants narrowly escape
injury few days ago during a trial
flight, propeller was broken. The balloon
which was of the nonrlgid type, had just
been made over preparatory to the estab-
lshment OF passenger service between
Eiberfeld and nearby points. Today it was
inflated for a final test The ascent was
made near opladen and during fog.
Few witness Accident.
There were few eye witnesses OF the
accident According to these, the start was
well made. The Erbsoeh rose gracefully,
pushing its way through the fog to height
estimated at several hundred yards Al
this altitude series of evolutions was
begun.
TO the onlookers the airship appeared to
DlyG IL hell
was loud report and at the moment the
forepaft Of the vessel crnmpled up and the
gondola was twisted about until It APP
peared as though standing on one end. As
the gas escaped from the foreward com.
partment the prov swayed downward Fol
flash the airship fluttered like wounded
bird ana then fell swiftly TO earth.
Ehbsloeh and his comuanions were killed
the second they struck tbs ground. Theh
heads were battered in and every limb wa,
broken.
BenHine Tank Bursts.
An examination OF the wrsckaEe showed
that the benzine tank had burst, tearing L
shreds the rubber envelope directly aboy,
IT, The destruction OF this envelope caused
the bow TO collapse. The stern compart
ment was still filled with gas when /
struck the ground.
The death Of Erbsloeh and his crew will
the destruction OF the balloon for whicl
much had been hoped. following closely Of
the loss of Count zeppelins Deutschland
has caused gloom in aviation circles.
The public had scarcely recovered frou
the shock caused by the accidental dea d
OF Charles stewart Rolls. the Englis
aviator, when they learned that Erbsloe
had been added to the long list OF German
who had lost their lives while balooninl
RodIes BADLY ManRIed.
The body OF ErbsOeh would not hav
been recognized had il been found alon
The hands OF all five were tightly elutche
as though they had held desperately to II
car as II shot downward. Their shoes wei
torn from their feet.
group OF peasants, who left their wor
In the fields and ran 10 the scene as Il
crippled balloon struck the earth. say the
heard a sigh from one OF the men, but r
other sign OF life.
The ascent was made at sl5 o'clock. ;
which time there was scarcely a breath
air stirring. II had been planned to nal
a long trip and the weather condition
gave promise OF a delightful excursio
when the command to let go was Civ,
the great craft rose gently and NOV,
rapidly 10 the westward II soon disal
peased on the horizon and half hour lat
entered a bank OF fog that hung over Il
village OF Opiaden.
For time the Erbsloeh was lost
view Later Il emergef from the fog. al
the peasants below were startled by a r
port like that OF a cannon. and saw Il
shapeisss mass come 9hootins down fro
the sloudr