The Detroit times., 1912-07-02
FIVE KILLED IN
DIRIGIBLE TRAGEDY
tcontInued from First Pager

sure In this way was so increased
that the big bag gave way.
IL had been reported last evening
that Vaniman would fly carp today
and for that reason many persons
were on the lookout when the big
dirigible took the air at o'clock II
was beautiful sight as shemounted
easily and gracefully under perfect
control
After circling to the 1000 feet level.
Vanlman cruised about for few min
utes. Then the balloon started to de-
scend A minute later the watchers
saw the great envelope suddenly part
In a moment the whole airship was
lenveloped in flame and with flashing
fire, roaring upward, the balloon with
its passengers plunged earthward.
Long before anyone could reach the
scene the bodies OF Vaniman and his
companions had been submerged in
an inlet about half mile from the
baseball park. The water In. the in
let was about nine feet deep. What
remained OF the burning bag and the
framework, fell on the FIVE men and
crushed them into the water 1t is
believed probable that they lost con-
seriousness. however. before they hit
the water.
The point where the balloon fell Is
about half mile from the nearest
solid ground Reseuers Immediately
went out in boats but had difficulty
at getting at the bodies. which were
evidently still under the Akron's
frame. One body was taken out at
nine O'Clock. but il was badly burned
and mangled, SO that 1t could no be
Identified at the time. II was taken
into boat and started for the city.
That one man leaped from the big
dirigible and that another man fell To
the ground hanging over the balloons
side was the declaration OF Thomas
Tobin OF Philadelphia, an eye witness
i was on my day TO the railroad
station, said Tobin, when saw
Vaniman's balloon Suddenly some.
thing seemed to go wrong with il.
The bag shriveled A man climbed
out and plunged TO earth and another
man climbed over and hung TO the
side OF the car, apparently afraid 10
drop. Then the big bag collapsed and
tumbled earthward."
Describing his invention in his last
puDliI STATEMENT, amman SAID.
At last the rational arship feel
so happy over 1t that can hardly dis.
cuss II. II sounds too good 10 be true.
! What the new cloth IS simply that II
| means IL has solved the equilibrium
No more ballast problems: no moro
! drag rope or sinking into the ocean AZ
midnight. We have power OF HYDRO.
gen at last that will hold IL. Put
hydrogen in strong steel case and
heat II, and II can't expand II be-
comes compressed, just as steam does
or air.
You have got to have for the air
the exact counterpart OF the sub
marines Of the seat, have long
sought to build the submarine of the
air. | have 1t now"
The Akron was not composed of the
new cloth, on which Vaniman mainly
depended for the success OF his new
idea, but there is little that he had
equipped II with the interior bag con-
troi, which was to be big feature
or his new balloon
Vaniman by his skull and daring
had won strong financial and official
backing. Gen. Allan of the United
states signal corps. recently said.
i expect Vanimans work TO lead
TO valuable results He is an aerial
engineer OF great skill and Is likely TO
accomplish eventually what he has set
out to do--make a dirigible that will
fly across the ocean.