The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-22
BLIMP CRASHES
THROUGH BANKS
ROOF, TEN DEAD
Big Dirigible Falls Into
Skylight at Chicago,
Tanks Explode.
EMPLOYEES ARE TRAPPED
Airship Catches Fire While
500 Feet Above Financial
District.

CHICAGO, July 21.-Ten persons were
killed and twenty-five injured when
large dirigible balloon on its test
fight caught fire and fell 500 feet,
crashing through the glass roof Of the
Illinois Trust and Savings Bank,
Jackson Boulevard and La Sale street,
at o'clock this afternoon.
Most OF the dead were employees Of
the bank, trapped and burned to death
in fire caused by the explosion Of the
balloons gasolene tanks as they hit
the floor OF the bank rotunda, where
more than 200 bookkeepers and clerks
nearly all girls, were working.
The balloon, owned by the Goodyear
Tire and Rubber Company OF Akron,
Ohio, had been flying above the city
for several hours when the accident
occurred.
When approximately 500 feet above
the bank a squirt OF flame was seen to
shoot from the top of the gas bag near
the centre of the aircraft. The crowds
gathered on the streets to watch the
flight saw the machine buckle and
culver as it started on its fatal plunge.
Four of Its occupants jumped, and
two landed safely in the streets as the
blimp, a ball Of fame, struck the root
Of the bank with a crash audible
throughout the downtown district.
| Victims Had No Warming.
There was nothing to warn the hun
dreds of employees OF the institution
OF the coming tragedy. shadow
passed over the marble rotunda. where
$50 were busy, and crash followed
The banks closing hour for patrons
had passed, but the clerks were still at
work in various departments.
1t seemed according to the survivors
that the entire bank was on fire. Break
ing through the iron supports holding
the glass overhead, the fuselage of the
balloon with two heavy rotary engines
and several gasolene tanks smashed &c
the floor.
Instantly the tanks exploded. scatter
ing a wave OF flaming gasolene over the
workers for q radius OF fifty feet.
panic ensued. There were only two exit.
through which they could leave the wire
cage which surrounded the rotunda.
Men and girls with clothing flaming
fought their way through the exits
Girls on the second floor ran screaming
to the windows and several jumped Il
the street
In an instant the marble rotunda wa
cleared except for the dead, whose bodie
were buried under the mass OF debris
and the dying, who crawled away from
| fha aNorchipU their clothes burninl
of.
The intense heat made rescue worl
difficult until after the fire department
arrived. II was thirty minutes befor
the bodies under the crafts fuseag'
could be dragged out. They were burne'
beyond recognition.
! Ambulances Called.
Meanwhile ambulances from ever
: hospital and undertaking establishment
near the centre OF the city came and tn
police threw a Gordon about the place.
Dozens were found to have been NOR
or less seriously cut by the shower o
= glass which preceded the explosion.
The cause of the fire which brough
the flaming gas bag down is not def
nitely known None OF the crew coul
ascribe a definite reason.
. Two theories were offered. One wa
D that a spark from the rotary motors sc
\ the gas afire. The other was that tn
=. balloon was overcharged and the sun
! rays caused II to expand and burst, IN
I fire following the contact of the gas wit
sparks in the motors.
When Jack Boettner, an employee o
l the rubber company and pilot OF III
. craft, saw the flicker OF flame he shoute
3 a warning to the other passengers an
= Jumped from the fuselage.
All were protected by parachutes at
tached to their bodies by belts.
Henry Weaver and Harry Wackel
mechanicians, followed Boettner, f. +
Norton, photographer for mornin
, newspaper, Was the last to leap. Th
fifth man, Earl II. Davenport, publicit
agent for an amusement park. did nc
{ get out His body struck the roof c
the bank and was burned TO a crisp.
The central portion OF the bank wa
wrecked and II was an hour before III
fire could be extinguished,