Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-02

, ward end Of the platform were thot
steering wheels and geers for controls
ling the rudder and for the stabilisin8f,
the planes. fore and aft.
The sleeping accommodations for
the crew consisted OF hammocks strunB I
up In the car.
Hundreds witnessed Fiisht.
The disaster came as a shock to th0l
people OF Atlantic City, who had CONES
to know Vaniman very we'll. For ~.
week past the intrepid airman had been
planning to make another night, and
only waited for favorable winds. LAstl
night conditions appeared satisfactory,
and he notified the city authoriticss :
that he probably would make q flight |
at sunrise today.
At daybreak the conditions were still !
favorable and the word was given. A i
hundred policemen and firemen were
summoned and sent up to tho inlet to-
assist in getting the balloon out OF the
immense hangar.
Their duty was to hold onto the
ropes of the ship as she was carefully
warped out OF the big shed. /.
Hundreds OF persons who expected.
the flight saw the Akron come out for,
the last time. The operation was SIM
pie one. and the big bag was brougheS
out without difficulty. Once clear OF
the shed. Vantman jumped into the carl
OF the ship. where the other four men
had already gone. and gave the word I
to "let GO"
Control Seemed Perfect.
Instantly the ship rose, slowly Al
first and swaying from end to end. 1,
Then she rose rapidly. vaniman ap-
| peared to have complete control, and /
after circling about over the inlet and
tho mainland. the ships nose was
| pointed out to sea. The maneuyeringst
OF tho great air craft constantly at
tstracted additional people. and the ur.l
pei end of the beach and the board
walk was crowded when the accidanh
occurred. I5t
Explosion Complete Surprise.
Eye witnesses OF the disaster said
that they saw sudden pun OF smoke
from the forward end OF the gus bag
when 1t was about 1000 feet In the air.
In minute It exploded. To those who
have witnessed the many successfuli
flights Of Vaniman this one seemed at
the start mere successful than any yet
attempted. The crew seemed to have|
better control than ever before. Start
ing out from the shed, the ship roso
slowly from the ground and passed
easily out over the water Of the inlet.
Naniman and his crew were checrcdf
by number OF fishing parties at tho
inlet about to start for days sport.
The whistles of n fleet Of motor boats
| sounded God speed TO the air shiH
and Its crew.
Testing Air Currents.
After getting up about 500 feet. tho
ship made complete circle OF tha
waters of Grassy bay. Apparently
Vaniman was making test of the air
currents The airship passed over the
Royal Palace hotel and then few over
| the southern section OF the city BY
this time the word had spread that the
ship was in the air and thousands OF
| residents and visitors fiocked to the
| board walk to witness the flight. Soon
after pun of smoke was seen, ths
men on the airship were seen gathered
together on one side Of the craft but
this proved to be due to ripping Of
the entire right side OF the big gas
! envelope. The spectators. however. did
not realize that anything had happened
until suddenly the huge bag was seen
to buckle from the two extreme ends
forming a perfect u There was
lapsed bag fell toward the ocean.
Bodies Turn Over and Over.
The forms OF the FIVE men could be
plainly seen piunSing down thru the
air from the great height. their bodies
turning over and over again before
they sank in the sea just on the outer
bar. and not far from n canbuoy. From
the board walk abreast of the life
saving station. 1t looked as II the now
limp gas bag and its metal framework
covered their bodies.
Sight Sicksnsd Strong Men.
Men on the board walk turned theis
eyes from the sickening sight and wo-
men screamed. One man who appeared
to grasp the situation. made a dash for
the Royal Palace hotel, to telephone for
help. A arge launch on the way to
the fishing grounds started to blow
whistle TO attract the attention OF the
other boats. and IN a short time the
inlet waters were black with boAta
rushing TO the aid OF the men.
vaniman Very Popular.
vaniman because OF his genial diapc.
sition, had endeared himself to the clti-
sens OF Atlantic City. and his untimsly
end caused universal sorrow here.
Several Theories Advanced.
One theory Of the, cause OF the eS&
plosion was that the gasolene used fNf
operating the engine. exploded. and IN 81
turn communicated to the Gas IN ~
balloon. lsas
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