Evening journal., 1919-07-23
-FOUR THEORIES FOR
BLIMP> EXPLOSION
Army Officer Thinks Sparks
from Open Exhaust
Fired Gas
STATE INQUIRY
GETS UNDER WAY

" x @at
GETS UNDER WAY
CHICAGO, July 23.-Only the theories
as 10 the cause of the explosion anc
the destruction by fire Of the dirigible
resulting in twelve deaths and injury
to twenty-eight other persons on Mon
day were elected at the first session OF
the coroner's inquiry yesterday.
The cause Of the disaster seemed as
far from disclosure as at the moment
when flame spurted along the gas bag
as 1t scared above Chicagos sky scrap
ers before plunging down through the
roof of a bank. spreading fatal flames
among bookkeepers, clerks and stenog-
rsphers preparing 10 end their days
work.
Authorities. however, apparently
were determined TO place responsibility
on some one. Assistant States Attor-
ney James Lowry, in charge of inter-
rogation Of witnesses, declared prose-
cution was certain 10 follow the in
quiry, probably on grounds Of criminal
negligence and carelessness.
AT least four theories for the start
Of the fire were heard.
Pilot John Boettner, who IS held
told the States attorney that spontan-
eous combustion was probably the
cause
w. C. Young, chief OF the aeronauti-
cal forces OF the Goodyear Tire and
Rubber Company owner Of the dirigi-
Bile, suggested burning oil from the
motor
Lieutenant Thomas Atkinson, pur-
sing agent for the Motor Transport
Corps. L. 5. A., was inclined TO believe
a leaky valve was responsible, and that
static electricity caused combustion.
Montford Morrison, a member Of the
coroner's jury and a technical expert
who examined the broken motors, sug-
gested that he found all eXhausts open
and that sparks therelrom may have
ignited the gas bag
Assistant States Attorney Lowry |
asked the chief Of police to take into
custody two officials Of the local ON |
GERS Of the Goodyear company for
questioning. Their names were mott
divulged. Seventeen persons. most OF
them mechanics of the company s |
forces, were questioned and summoned
for the inquest
The FIRST session Of the coroner's IN |
question which State and Federal ON |
cials are waiting before taking action
looking toward prosecution mark |
ed by the refusal Of Pilot Boettner and
his chief. Mr. Young, TO testify. Their |
refusal was on the advice Of counsel
representing the company.
While local officials asserted respOn
sbiity for the accident was to b
fixed on some one. no evidence devel
oped TO show the company had been
negligent The assistant States attor
ney called attention to a letter said to
have been written by Mr.. Young to his
assistants urging speed in assembling
the machine here
Lieutenant Atkinson testified that the
Goodyear company's balloons bore an
excellent reputation in the army. The
Lieutenant, who witnessed the acci-
dent from an automobile. said:
"The hydrogen escaping from a leaky
valve and mixing with the air was
probably ignited by static electricity
in the air. / do not believe it was pos
sible for sparks from the exhaust to
ignite the bag"
The Lieutenant testified that he never
had heard OF rotary engines being used
in dirigibles. understood this was in
the nature Of an experiment. From the
experience the pilot had had with the ]
blimp they apparently were working all
right" he added.
AS to the rotary motors. however,
Major Clarence Maranville, chief OF the !
army aircraft force, at the Akron field n
said last night he had lent them to the s
Goodyear company He said he under
stood all necessary precautions had
been taken. lie also said he did not
believe static electricity had caused the
fire.
While the coroner's double jury {
composed Of six business men and six
technical experts, was hearing first J
testimony, the Corporation Counsers |
office was engaged in drafting an or r
iinance regulating flying over he city a
It has been advocated that flying over E
The downtown section or any cOngest-
I'd district be prohibited City officials
the Councils Aviation Com
desire TO foster aerial advance +
nent but seek to institute such regu-
alton as will aid in preventing death c
md injury to innocent bystanders in S
,ase Of an accident in the air.
The twelfth victim OF the calamity C
Vas Milton G. Norton. a photographer A
or a morning paper, who died yester- \
lay. Devotion to duty marked his last p
moment He was a o
-etcran newspaper photographer and G.
ought the assignment to go with the II
Iirigible on one of its early test flights d
lis parachute ignlteu as he ieaped
rom the machines gondoia and he fell "
n the street. As death approached he "
nurmured that he hoped his camera n
nd plates had not been damaged al
Not all Of the victims of the tragedy q
.ere out of danger, hospital advices
aid Funeral services for the dead m
tere being planned but probably will Al
c held separately.
HOUSEHOLD NOTES.
Clothes Will last better II the surface E,
( the iron board cushions.
Old comfortables san be folded, COW n