Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-22

Chicago, July 22-Eederal, state and
city officials today began an investiga-
ton of the explosion Of the Goodyear
Tire, & Rubber company's dirigible
balloon which resulted in twelve
deaths and the injury of twenty-eight
others and wrecked the interior Of the
Illinois Thust & Savings Bank.
Charges that several devices used
on the blimp were practically untried
and were used for the first time on this
type of aircraft will be made the sub
ject Of rigid inquiry by officials.
One of these devices was a rotary
motor which was loaned for the purp-
ose by Maj. Clarence Maranville, chief
Of army aircraft divisionI at the Ak
ron. O.. flying field, who declared that
while there was danger of fire in it's
use, he believed every necessary pre-
caution had been taken to prevent an
accident
Another device said to have been
used for the first time on a blinp was
4 number of sill balloonettes attached
to the main body, and Major Maranz
vile says that the friction of these
balloonettes against the silk sides OF
the structure may have been respon-
sible for the accident.
Edward ]. Fleming, assistant states
attorney, said today after questioning
number Of witnesses, that the rotary
motor had never before been used on
blimp.
Officials Predict Arrests Today.
Coroner Peter NJ. Hoffman and
States Attorney Hoyne declared that
it was probable that several officials
of the Chicago office of the Goodyear
Tire &, Rubber Company would be
taken into custody before the end of
the day. They said that every effort
would be made to fix responsibility for
the disaster and punish those found to
be guilty. Seventeen persons are de-
tained at downtown hotels for use as
witnesses at the inquiry.
Marcus c. Callopy. foreign exchange
teller Of the Illinois Trust & Savings
Bank, who was seriously burned when
the blazing blimp crashed thru the
roof Of the bank building, lapsed into
unconciousness early today and 1t Is
said he may die. All the other injured
are expecting to recover.
A squad of workmen was employed
all night so that the institution was
able to transact business under
physical difficulties this morning.
Hideous Aftermath Of Tragedy.
The interior of the big bank revealed
a hideous aftermath Of the wierd
tragedy which shocked Chicago. There
were traces of where many bodies OF
the victims had been burned by the
sudden onslaught Of flames. The holes
in the roof thru which the burning
blinp crashed were covered with
structures of canvas.
Coroner Hoffman impaneled a cor
oner's jury Of business men to- In
vestigate' the disaster. He also named
a commission OF six electrical engineers
to act with the jury in an advisory
capacity in fixing the blame for the
tragedy. These experts are to make
a special inquiry in the charges that
new devices were used for the first
time on the i'll fated blimp.
Charles p. Clyne. United States
district attorney, detailed several OF
his assistants to assist dn the inquiry.
states Attorney Hoyne took personal
charge Of the inquiry on behalf f~of the
state and examined a number of wit
nesses. Representatives Of the city
law department were cooperating
with other official agencies dn attempt
ing to Ak responsibility for the dis
aster.