New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-03
WRECKED WITH WELlMAN
Vaniman Then Planned ATTEMPT
Which Cost His Life.
WAS JACK OF ALL TRADES
Singer, Actor, Photographer,
Bicycle Repairer, He Took Up
Aeronautics in Europe.
WAS JACK OF ALL TRADES

Aeronautics in Europe.
Melvin Vaniman was born in little
town IN Illinois IN 1868. When he left
school he became interested in mechanics
and started g bicycle repair shop. Then
he became a singing teacher in an Illinois
| university, and IN turn an opera singer. an
actor, a professional photographer, and at
last an aeroplane builder and inventor OF
type Of drigible balloon. His wife was
the sister Of Albert Louis Loud, an ex-
pert mechanician IN aeroplanes and
dirigbles
When Vanran left college he travelled
for a while with a light opera company.
Later he decided he could act better than
he could sing. so he Joined a troupe OF
travelling actors. Next he studied photog-
raphy and built a special camera. He took
many pictures OF airships and soon was
permitted to ride as a passenger and take
birdseye views. He travelled all over
Europe with his camera. He received a
gold medal for his photographs IN the ST.
Louis Exposition IN 1904, and also one from
the government Of New Zealand. where
he made many remarkable photographs
| for photographic commission He spoke
French, German, Italian and Russian
He studied In the principal aviation cen
tres Of Europe, always taking with him
one or two expert mechanics from French
aeronautical schools. His first dirigible
shed nov stands Just cutsid. 81. Peters
burg.
His name first became known 70 the
~
| tempted TO f1y across the Atlantic Ocean
with Walter Wellmar. IN October. fAlc
They left Atlantic CITY early IN the morn
ing in 2 dirigible, the America They were
gone eeventy-one hours. when extremely
hesvv Winds and trouble with their equi-
librator ended the,~ trip. and they were
all-thAv had a crew ~ four men with
them-picked out Of the ocean by the
ROYAL Mail steamship Trent
The rescue vas AZ point about four
hundred miles Off Cape Hstteras. The
great airship sank under the waves and
was lost Vanman didn't give up hope
He said that as he stood on the deck or
the steamer and saw his balloon go down
! beneath the waves he Immediately built
! new one IN his mind
! Crossing the Atlantic IN q dirigible,
he said az that time, rs not question Of
p'ind or navigation any longer The pres
| ont perfection Of rubber coated fabrics
enables an airship 70 stay In the air for
| thirty days If necessary. The success Of
| new trip will be the ability of the
aeronaut 10 prevent his ship from rising
10 a height where the sun will expand the
gas think ! have solved that problem"
After that a syndicate OF Western capt
talists began backing Vaniman. On Octc-
Der 80. 1911 he made q trial fight over the
ocean, but nut became loose and damned
| in his machinery so that the engines
wouldn't work. 1t was great disappoint-
nent, but he tried once more
| On November Vaniman made another
trial fight from Atlantic City. Thousands
| Of people stayed up all night 10 see him
start. but lack OF gas spoiled his tight
and he came down on the mud OF Grassy
Bay, seven miles from the city. The bal
loon was In the air nearly two hours, how
ever.
On the morning Of June last he took
the Akron out Of its shed and made an
other attempt TO sail across the ocean. The
propeller became entangled in guide rope
and snapped. That accident nearly cost
| the lives Of Vaniman and his crew, but
he kept the dirigiblo afoat in the air
and few over Atlantic City, While
| his young brother Calvin Nanimsr,
| crept twenty feet out underneath tho stern
! ~ the big ship and whitfield away At the
broken propeller blade with his pcnknife.
| Calvin was the brother who died with
| Melvin Vanman IN yesterdays disaster.
! lBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.l
Philadelphia, July 2.-George Bourilton.
of the crew OF the Akron, Who lost his
life with Vanman at Atlantic city to. day.
| lived with his father at No. 7052 state
street, Tacony. He was twenty-five years
old, and leaves wife and infant daughter.
! lie was a native OF Philadelphia and
| ceived his education In the public schools
of this city.
| He had been Of mechanical turn Of
| mind from boyhood For more than
year he was with Wellman and helped To
| build the America, which failed in its at
| tempted fight 10 Europe. Naniman secured
him a year ago because he was reputed
10 be one Of the brightest young engineers
/ and one who seemed to have much knoWl-
edge OF air craft.
His father and uncle. William w. Gamble,
| who is d statlstician in city Hall. left here
! for Atlantic City to bring the body to
| this city.