The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-02
SHIP BUILT TO
CROSS ATLANTIC
Balloon Exploded While a
Thousand Feet in Air and
Fell Into the Ocean.
seen HUDDlEO TOGETHER
As SHIP BEGAN PLUNC
Builder and -Four Members of Crew
fell Through Space and We're
Crushed Beneath Wreck i'm Ocean,
Builders Wife was Spectator.

Atlantic City, JULY Fin view Of
''"oo spectators the big balloon Ak
ron. built by Melvin vaniman With
the idea of flying across the Atlantic
ocean. was shattered by an explosion
Ahsecon inlet. Melvin Naninan his
erother, Calvin. Fred Almos Walter
Guest and George Bourittion. the
crew were instantly killed.
Inc dirisible was sailing at height
OF l'o"o feet and had been in the air
ABOUT fifteen minutes when the acci.
dent occurred
The huge envelope containing 1000
cubic feet of gas was rent with ter.
rlnc force. The explosion was prob
ably caused by expansion from the
sun rays. 1T burst near tho middle
A mass of flames hid the shin fron,
tlSW ana then the ship was seen to
1all like plummet. First the under
structure of the car broke from the
enNeiope and plunged downward.
carrying with it the members az tha
party. Va 't'S
Later 1t was said the headless bodv
OF Calvin Naniman had been recover
ed ana that the other bodies were en-.
tangled in the wreckage in eighteen
feet of water Mrs Variman, who
was on the shore, collapsed and is in
@ ser -olS condlt0n.
H.. The flight was the second the air.
trying the craft in a short flight On
June /. when it was nearly wrecked
ny some mechanism going wrong
hundred horsepower motor was
USED for the two forward vertical pro-
pellers and two other large motors
for the two pairs of horizontal pro-
pel!efs. These propellers could be-
v,
and We're used to raise or lower the
ship A small motor and DYNAMO
We're used for electric lighting and
10 furnish power for the wireless ont
nj In the forward end of the plat.
form were the steering wheels and
gears Tor controlling rudder and
stahlizins the planes fore and aft.
some OF the supplies for the project
ed cross Atlantic trip were already
stored on rhe platform. The sleen.
ing accommodation for the crew
consisted of hammocks strung IN in
the car 40
Conditions for the trial flight seem.
ed perfect. The operation of taking
he big ship out the hanger was
simple one a hundred policemen and
fren1en We're provided by the city au-
craft af1oat. Once clear of the shed
the Intrepid airman jumped into the
car where the four other men alreadv
mad gone ana he gave word: "I.at
go. Instantly the ship rose. SLOWLY
af frst and swaying from end to end.
linen she mounted up rapidly. Nani-
man appeared to have perfect control
ahd after circlins about the inlet and
mainland. the ships nose was pointed
out TO sea-
An eve witness of the disaster told
this story:
When the ship was about 1000
1eet IN the air ] saw puff of smoke
from the forward end of the gas bag,
In minute the bag exploded"
To those who had witnessed the
MANY flights of Naniman. this ona
seemed to start more successfuI than
any Vet attempted The crews seem
ed TO have bette rcontrol than ever
before.
After getting up 800 feet the shin
made complete circle of the waters
of GRASSY bay Apparently Van1man
was making test of the air currents.
The air ship passed over the ROYAL
Palace hotel and then flew over the
southern section of the city. Soon aft
er puff of smoke was seen. The
men We're seen gathered together on
one side of the craft. The spectators.
however, did not realize that anything
had happened until suddenly the
uuse pae buckled from two ends
forming a perfect u There was no
report. but Immediately the collapsed
bag fell toward the ocean with
frishtful velocity The forms Of Ave
men could he plainly seen plunsine
down through the air from the great
height. The bodies turning over and
over again before they struck the sea
Just off the outer bar From the
board walk abreast the life saving
station it looked as IL the linn gas
bag and its metal framework covered
the bodies"
The men on the boardwalk turned
their eyes from the sight and women
screamed. One man who appeared
to grasp the situation rushed for the
hotel to telephone for help A large
launch on its way to the fishing
grounds started to blow its whistles
to attract the attention of the other
boats and in short time the inlet
waters were black with boats rushing
to the aid of the men.
Vaniman. because of his genial dis
position. had endeared himself to the
citizens Of Atlantic City and his un-
timely death caused general sorrow
here. To a reporter who recently in.
terviewed him. he expressed the great
est confidence in his Akron to make
good" He was keenly aware Of the
dangerous nature Of the gas used for
(ContinuAA IN n.I. "a