The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-02

was a crowd of probably ten thousand
persons, women, children and men.
Mrs. Vaniman- who tainted when she
saw her husband dropping to his death,
stood the strain better t%ans the others
after she became conscious and was up
on her feet. Mrs. sBourtillion and Mrs.
Elmer cried on Mrs. Vanimar1's should
err Despite the intensity of the mo-
ment Mrs. Vaninlan talked of her
husband. He was so very brave" she
said, that I believe he never knew
what fear was. I never presumed to
urge him not to- go up for 1 knew it
would not influence him. 1t would be
more exact to say that he would not
even hear what Issaid. He was devoted
to his work and flight through air how
ever dangerous was to him merely an
incident 1t was a step in the pleasur-
able science of air navigation which he
studied when he was awake and dream
ed of when he slept. shall never for
get the feeling in my heart when he left
me at O'Clock had a forewarning of
trouble. 1 believe it now as true as I
car believe anything and 1 am not
superst1t1ous woman either. Yes, saw
them fall. 1 saw one man jump. Some
thing tells me that it was my husband.
saw him spread out in the air
fiat, as he fell and then-oh,
l can scarcely speak of it-aIl grew
dark before me. They were so high
in the air. 1t must~have been a thous-
and feet. Before I tainted now re-
member that the car turned with one
end downward and towards the sea ike
a cloth, all in a string. I can recall |
that picture all the rest of my days, it
is photographed on my mind.
They Planned Together.
"All these years of my husbands
struggle he and have been as one
planned with. HIM. 1 shared his trou-
bles and did what [ could to encour-
age him.
very depressing. But Mr.. Soldering of
Akron has been a splendid friend. We
have never heard from him one word |
except in praise.
'"The Akron he was using for expert |
ment only in a field tina. he believed
already passed in the science of aero |
nautics. His particular reason for go |
ing up today was to try out a con-
triyance he had for estimating the |
speed an airship travels an invention
of his own based on measurements of
the image on the ground glass of an
inverted camera showing the earth or
sea moving down below"
The body of Calvin Vaniman was
found and brought ashore. The head
was cut and the eyes blown out. A
scar over his right eye showed where
he had been struck by a piece OF the
wreckage.
Both legs and left arm were broken
and most of his ribs crushed. A diver
reported that beneath the waters sur
the fore part of the car, which lies
in about 8 feet of water The murky
water made it impossible to make
positive Identification, but as this is
the portion of the ship where Vani-
man was operating his dirigible, 1t
is believed to be he. The body was
covered with the mesh of steel and
rubber fabric. Further back, near
the fore engine, a leg and arm could
be distinguished protruding from
the wreckage. This is is the position
assigned to Guest and the body is
thought to be his. The back of an
other body could be seen near the
center. of the understructure and this
is probably the remains of Bourtil- |
lion, he being in charge of the engine. |
The body of Elmer, can not be seen. |
All the bodies will probably be recov-
cred. -a
Vaniman's Baclzerl Hears the News. |
Akron, o. j uly e9.7-Frank A. Seiber- |
ling, president of the Goodyear Tire & |
cling Vaniman in his attempt to fly |
across the Atlantic ocean, had not |
heard of the explosion of the Akron I
until informed by the Associated Press
this morning. Mr.. Soldering was
astounded at the startling news. He /
then hurried to a telephone in an at
tempt to get into communication with
Atlantic City Mr.. Seiberling will |
rrobably leave for Atlantic City at
once.
Mr.. Soldering refused to be inter
viewed but it was said the balloon
had been filed with gas since last Feb
ruary. 1t is believed at the Rubber
plant, where the balloon was made,
that the explosion was caused by air
mixing with the gas. 1t is also be-
iieyed here that the gas might have
been ignited by a spark from the en-
CINE.