Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-07-06
BURNING AIRSH|P
FALLS INTO SEA
vaniman and -Four Of the
Grew Killed.
WRECKED BY EXPLOSION

Monster Balloon, a Mass Of Fire,
Plunges Into Ocean Above Atlantic
City.
In the sight of more than 5000 per.
sons In Atlantic City. N. j.. Melvin
vaniman and his four companions
were hurled 20 death In the Atlantic
ocean when the great dirigible balloon
Akron exploded at height OF from
900 to 1000 feet.
1t was in this 100000 gas bag that
vaniman lad hoped some time TO
realize the ambition OF his life-to be
the first TO cross the Atlantic ocean
by the air rJu;e.
The explosion OF the balloon was
caused apparently by sudden expan-
sion under the rays OF the sun, and
the wreck OF the dirigible, the finest
ever constructed in this country. was
plunged into eighteen feet OF water
of Brigantine bar. two miles from the
Inlet hangar. from which the Inflated
trial trip had been started.
Those who persisted we're:
Melvin Vaniman. aeronaut and cap
tain Of the balloon.
Calvin vaniman. brother OF Melvin
vaniman.
Fred Elmer. member of the crew.
George Bourillion, engineer of the
airship.
Walter Gest. a friend OF Vanlman's.
financial hacker.
The body OF Calvin Vaniman. the
only unmarried man on the airshlp.
was recovered by Councilman Harry
Cook and party OF rescuers aboard
his yacht. The body floated clear OF
the wreckage and while badly bruised
was not burned by the explosion.
The other bodies. which were en-
tangled In the wreckagc, were recoy
cred at low tide. All were badly man
gled by the force of the explosion.
Mrs. Melvin Vanirian, who saw the
tragedy from the porch OF the Vani
man home, collapsed from the shock
and for a time was In serious con
dition. She had several fainting spells
but later recovered sufficiently to see
a few close friends. who called to con.
sole her.
Three thousand persons. watching
the graceful flight of the Akron. were
too greatly startled to utter a sound
when the great gas bag was suddenly
utterly shattered by an explosion, sup
posedly caused by the sudden expan
sion OF the gas under the hot rays OF
the sun as II lowered. perhaps 500
feet. perhaps 1000 feet, In the air. a
half mile of shore over Absecon In.
let.
The diriRible was a quarter OF a mile |
south OF Brigantine Beach. The huge |
envelope. containing many thousands
Of cubic feet Of gus. was rent by the |
explosion. II burst near the middle |
and mass OF flame hid the ship from
the view Tor the space OF possibly ten
seconds. The dirigible was invisible,
while the air about the spot where she |
had been lowering seemed to be all
flames. Then suddenly the ship was
outlined against the sun and was seen
10 fall like plummet.
First the nnderstruc;ure. or car. In
WHICH Wtit pthHtu INC hAOituuutN
men. held In By mesh work put In
after the second trip of the balloon
three weeks ago. and unable to escape
broke away from the envelope. II
turned on end. the bow turning first In
slow arc. Then II reversed suddenly
and plunged downward.
Almost Immediately the wrecked
bag followed. smoking mass Of rub
Der and silk, with flames shooting ont
from a dozen sections. II 1uttered n
moment and then streaked downward
after the car
The body OF Calvin vaniman. which
was found floating near the wreck
was brought ashore and taken to an
undertaking establishment. to which
the bodies OF the other victims were
removed as soon as they were recov.