The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-02
nited Press Leased Wire Service. ]

AL LIAM ~ SlA J. N. Jp July g.
Melvin vaniman, his brother Calvin
yaniman; Fred Elmer, George Boultien
and Walter Guest were killed at $50
today by the explosion Of the dirigibleI
balloon Akron, which burst while two
thousand feet in the air. The men fell
into nine feet of water. and the bodies
had not been recovered two hours aft
erward.
Watched by more than thousand
people. the vanimans and their three
helpers took the big balloon from the
hangar for the try-out preparatory to
Melvin Vaniman's proposed trans-At-
lantic fight, and for several minutes
the dirigible darted about over the
thoroughfare. APPARENTLY in excellent
condition, and perfect control.
Then Vaniman pointed her nose up
ward, and rose slowly until the Akron
was nearly half mile above the
earth. Apparently then a warm stra-
tum of air was encountered, for sud-
denly the big bag exploded and the
frame work with the five men darted
| to earth like plummet. Men among
4 the spectators rushed forward while
women screamed and some tainted,
/ but the Akron fell far out on the
water.
Interior Air Bag.
Vaniman recently has been making
numerous secret experiments with an
interior air bag, by which he expecteo
to control the rising and lowering Of
the balloon. His plan was to pump
air into the interior bag, which would
expand and thereby compress the gas
within the balloon. Vaniman was pos
tive that he had solved the problem
of aerial navigation. 1t Is believed by
many that he had equipped the Akron
with this new device, and that its
operation may have caused the acci-
dent.
Il am perfectly certain that this in
vention, combined with new woven
steel wire fabric, will solve the prob
lem of the air" said Vaniman few
days ago. I'VE will soon see such
wonderful improvement that the pub
lie will realize the truth of my CON
tention-that the air must be conquer
ed by the dirigible and not by the
aeroplane.
II am positively certain that I can
make the transatlantic flight. have
made countless improvements in my
| balloons since the WellInan flight |
probably will not attempt the flight
/ until can construct a new balloon,
but / cannot say about that. The Ak
ron is the finest balloon in the world
as she flies today"
yaniman, who acted as the chief en-.
gineer, of the Walter Wellman flight,
1 which ended disastrously, has held a
strong ambition ever since to succeed
where Wellman failed. Vaniman gain
I ed much fame from the Wellman
I flight.
1t is believed here that Vaniman en-
deavored to use his new interior air
4 bag control, with the result that he
and his companions all lost their lives,
When two thousand feet high, the bal
| loon was seen to descend gradually
but this was not sufficiently surprising
| to attract special attention until ii
was recalled after the explosion. 1t is
supposed that Vaniman pumped air
i into the interior bag, compressing the
gas, which already was affected by
the air conditions in that altitude. The
\ pressure in this way was so increased
that the big envelope gave way.
Many Saw Accident.
1t had been reported last evening
1 that Vaniman would fly early today
and for that reason many persons
were on the lookout when the bis
diriglble took the air at six o'clock. L
4 was a beautiful sight as she mounted
!, the atmosphere easily and GRACEFUL.
under perfect control.
After circling to the 1000 feet level
! Vaniman cruised about for few min
utes. Then the balloon started to de
4 scend. A minute later the watchers