Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-05-03
EIGHTEEN MEN INJURED.

EIGHTEEN MEN INJURED.
Two other soldiers were seriousl,
burned and are not expected to re-
cover, according to announcement Of
army surgeons.
Sixteen others sustained burns. but
the extent of their injuries could not
be determined last night. At mid
night one of the surgeons passed
through the hospital ward and later
announced that all of the injured were
sleeping soundly.
The dead men were burned beyond
recognition and their identity prob.
ably will not be known positively I'M
til a roll call is had this morning,
Their bodies were brought to Omaha
in an army ambulance and cared for
at n. X. Burket & Sons undertakina
establishment, 29th and Leavenworth
streets.
BALLOON SHED BURNS.
Fire Immediately followed the ex.
plosion and the great balloon shed
soon was enveloped in flames. II was
burned to the ground. The loss il
estimated at $4,000. No insurance
was carried by the government. ON the
balloon or building.
The loss is divided as follows: On
the balloon, $4,000; on the building,
$4,000. All of the equipment con-
tained in the hangar was DESTROYED.
II, will require an inventory before
the value of this equipment can be
ascertained. The Florence field fire
apparatus was unable to cope with
the flames and the Omaha depart.
ment was called.
The injured men were rushed to
the post hospital where they were
given treatment. There are enough
doctors stationed at the fort to care
for all the injured.
Place Heavily Guarded.
The bodies Of the men killed were
burned beyond recognition. Military
police stationed in the downtown
districts were Immediately ordered
to return all members of the com.
pany who were out on leave in order
to complete the check on the dead
and injured.
The guard around Fort Omaha ana
Florence Field was strengthened irn-
mediately following the accident and
no civilians were allowed entrance to
the scene of the accident
An ambulance containing injured
men speeding to the hospital from
the flying field collided with an auto
mobile near Thirtieth and Joyce
streets. One man was injured.
Immediately following the disaster
Col. H. B. Hersey, commanding Off
Ger at Fort Omaha, gave out an Off
cial statement in which he declared
that it would be impossible to fur
nish list of the dead and injured
before morning.
Static Electricity Cause.
The balloon was French type OBJ.
servaGon bag commonly known as
Sausage" 1t had just been brought
down and placed in the hangar pre-
paratory to deflation when the explo-
sion happened.
1t contained $4,000 cubic feet 81
the explosive force Of
which is about double that of ordinary
gas. The shock was felt by persons
several hundred yards distant from
the scene.
Officers at Fort Omaha attribute
the explosion. to static electricity
generated by the silken folds of the
big bag rubbing together. They de-
clared that the moment the balloon
touched the ground there was dis
charge and the spark fired the gas.
Experts last night stated that at
conditions were especially
favorable yesterday to the creation Of
static electricity on account of the
high barometer which had been hov.
ering over Omaha all day. The acci.
fr-4,-s -. d.. r <,.,. -