New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02
SURGERY IN M|DA|R
SAVES HUGE A|RSH|P
Calvin Vaniman CraWIS Out on
Bamboo Supports and with
Knife Frees Propeller.
PRACTICE FOR OCEAN TRIP
Hundred Pound Drag Twice I'm
perils the Akron, Once Bring
ing Her Down Till Stern
of Car Is Submerged.

Atlantic City, June While 900 persons
watched him, Melvin Nanlman and his
crew gave to-day all exhibition OF daring
seldom equaled In the history of aviation.
Various accidents that had threatened dis
aster to the great dirigible balloon Akron
eliminated when Calvin Vaniman. Younger
brother of Melvin. had to crawl out to the
very end of q propeller shaft to release a
rope that had become entangled in the
blades For time II looked as if the
| transatlan trip next autumn would be
Indefinitely postponed.
At the start of the Akrons try-out the
guide rope twisted about one Of the three
propellers. smashing a blade and bringing
| the huge craft to the water like wounded
bird. Men in a motorboat directly beneath
the dirigibe cut the rope Is the balloon
dipped her stern I'm the sea and she righted
herself and again scared aloft. When more
than five hundred feet above the water.
however the rope again became entanglcd
and II was then that young Naniman
climbed out on the frail bamboo supports
and worked deity with a knife until the
airship regsined an even keel.
Melvin Vanman and his men had worked
secretely and feverishly all last night to
get the great ship in shape for flight. They
we're in readiness by sun-up but decided
to wait until the wind was more favorable
At Gas o'clock. when hardly any Of At
lantic City's summer guests had risen
from their beds. the Akron was ushered
from her shed Word of the proposed
fight quickly spread. and some FIVE hun
dred persons soon gathered on the beach.
many OF them processing to doubt II Nani-
man would ever get the dirigible into the
air. Some Of them had seen the airship In
her trials last fall. when she was wrecked
after short flight
When all was snug and taut. Melvin
Vaniman took his place in the pilot house
as hemsman. his brother acted as chief
engineer. with Leonard D. Alger AS his
assistant; George Bourrilion was assistant
ma vigator, Walter Guest the mechanician,
and Ralph Epson, one of the builders OF
the Akron. went along as passenger. On
this test journey the dirigible carried no
wireless operator, although apparatus had
been installed.
Naniman gave the worl and the motors
started the triple set of propellers whizzing.
Belying In the slight breeze. the immense
gas bag exert.d its lifting power, and the
Akron left tie beach and began to soar
above the waters OF Absecon inlet. Higher
and higher she rose. answering the helm
handly. Everything was working per-
fectly and Vaniman was delighted He de-
scribed intricate figures In the air, while
all the world below. that was on hand 20
see. wondered
Then Vaniman decided to test his guide
rope. 1oO-pound weight was attached to
the end or the line, the object being II
have il act as stabilzer. Calvin Want
man hurled the weight wide of the dirigihle,
but after II had struck the water the rop3
was blown against swiftly revolving pro
peller and with a sharp snap one OF the
blades splntered. The Akron shuddcred
along her whole length and then started
downward. despite Melvin Naninan's fran
tic attempts 10 guide her. With 4 final
urch and shower Of spray tho Akron
struck the water With her rear tip, bury
ing part of her hanging car.
Harry Cooke. proprietor OF the Seaside
House with a party Of three men, vas
cruising about in A motor boat on guari
for such an emergency. He rushed his
boat 10 the spot and freed the Akron for
the moment. Only short time later cal
vim Vaniman was called upon to save the
arship
After remaining aloft ten minutes after
his brothers perilous feat. Melvin Vani-
man brought the Akron to earth again AMI
housed her within the hangar. He ex-
pressed himself as satisfied with the flight.