South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-20
Worst Disaster in History of
Aviation Occurs in Austrian
Military AerOdrOme on the
Outskirts of Vienna.
VICTIMS FACE BURNING
OR DEATH BY JUMPING
Explosion of Gas Bag Following
Collision Sets Fire to Both
Craft = Horror Stricken
Spectators PowerIeSS to Helm.

VIENNA, June 2O.-The worst dis
aster in the history Of aviation occur
red at the military aerodrome on the
outskirts OF this city today when nine
men. including five army and navy Of
6cers. we're killed in a collision be-
tween an aeropIane and a dirigible bal
loon.
The two aircrafts were maneuvering
at about 600 feet when the aeroplane.
a powerful biplane. crashed into the
gas bag of the dirigible Pareseven.
There was loud explosion. follow
cd bv a burst of flame which ignited
both craft.
The blazing balloon and the burning
aeroplane dropped through space like
flaming meteors. Those on board faced
inevitable death in two forms; either
n remain on board and burn to death
or leap to destruction from the wreck
ee and burning air carriages.
Spectators Horror Stricken.
The spectators on the ground stood
rooted in horror at the spectacle. They
could see the figures upon the balloon
cIinging to the frame work of the big
dirigibIe as the Struts buckled and
broke.
The aeroplane was wrecked by the
impact and Immediately turned over.
The aviator had been strapped to his
seat and he hung helpless in the burn
ing wreckaSe.
In addition to the pilots and the
crew. the passengers on the Parseval
and the Farman biplane included a.
captain and four lieutenants.
As soon as the burning debris reach
Cd the ground soldiers began pouring
water upon it, and tearing it apart in
hone that the lives of some of the VIC
tins might yet be saved.
Death Almost Instant.
Doctors were rushed 10 the scene,
but IT was found those who had not
been killed outright we're so badly
burned and shaken by the fall that
death was only a matter of a few min
utes.
some OF the victims had all their
clothing burned of and their bodies
were so black and charred as to be
almost unrecognizable.
At the time Of the catastrophe a
number Of aeroplane were maneuver-
ing. An investigation of the accident
was commenced Immediately. officers
- the aerial squad expressed the opin-
ion that tho aviator of the aeroplaneI
had momentarily lost control Of his
machine or that the balloon. which
was Of the Koertig type. used by the
Austrian army. had failed 10 answer
the helm.
Planned Photographic Test.
The dirigibile was in command OF
CAPTAIN Hauseworth of the Austrian
army accompanying him were three
ueutenants and three corporals.
shortly after 5 o'clock the balloon as
cended at Fissamend. where the mill
tary aerodrome is located. TO fly to
I1oenigsburg for the purpose of MAX
ing photographs 70 test new aero
photographing apparatus.
For an hour before starting on It's
journey the balloon whirred above
the aerodrome. while the engineer
tested It's motor and its steering gear.
Just as tie balloon set off on its
journey Lieut.. Slutz in his Farman
bi-plane. accompanied by another Of
ncer. started after the big egg shaped
gas bag. The blplane circled the bal
loon several times and then Stutz
tried 90 fly over the ParsevaL He ap-
parently misjudged his distance for.
instead Of topping the Koertig bal
loon. the biplane rammed the gas bag
which was punCtured
The noise OF the explosion could be
plainly heard upon the ground Some
OF those who witnessed the disaster
thought that the air craft was much
higher than 500 feet