The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1919-08-01
BALLOON CRASHES
THROUGH ROOF
PILOT SAVED BY PARACHUTE
THOUSANDS WITNESS FLIGHT
FROM STREETS.
Firemen Battle Flames in Institution
For Hour-Airman Questioned BY
Police AuthoritIes-Charred Bodies
Are Found in Marble Rotunda.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Chicago.-There was nothing to
warn the employees Of the Illinois
Trust and Savings Bank, Jackson
boulevard and La Sale street, when
the large dirigible balloon crashed
through the roof of the bank building.
A shadow passed over the marble ro-
tunda, where $50 persons were busy,
and a crash followed. The banks
closing hours for patrons had passed,
but the clerks still were at work in
various departments.
1t seemed, according to the sur
vivors, that the entire bank was on
fire. Breaking through the iron sup
ports, holding the glass overhead, the
fusilage of the balloon with two heavy
rotary engines and several gasoline
tanks smashed to the floor. The tanks
exploded instantly, scattering a wave
of flaming gasoline over the workers
for radious of so feet. A panic en-
sued. There were only two exits
through which they could leave the
wire cage which surrounded the ro-
tunda. Men and girls, with clothing
flaming, fought their way through the
exits. Groups on the second floor ran
to the window and several jumped to
the street. In an instant the marble
rotunda was cleared except for the dead
whose bodies were buried under the
mass of debris and the injured who
crawled away from the scorching ire,
their clothes in flames
Meanwhile ambulances came from
every hospital and undertaking estaD-
lishment near the center of the city,
and the police threw Gordon about
the place. Dozens were found to have
been cut more or less seriously by the
shower of glass which preceded the
explosion. The cause of the ire Wnlch
brought the flaming gas bag down is
not known definitely. None OF the
crew could describe q definite reason.
Two theories were offered, however,
One was that spark from the rotary
motors exploded the gas. The other
was that the balloon was overcharged
and the suns rays caused it to expand
and burst, the fire following the con-
tact Of the gas with sparks in the mo-
tors. 1t was intended to charge the
bag with pure mixture of hydrogen
gas, which is not inflammable. 1t was
conjectured, however that a quantity
Of oxygen became mixed In the charg-
ing process, rendering a high explo-
slve combination.
When Jack Boettner, pilot Of the
craft, saw the flicker Of flame, he
shouted warning to passengers and
jumped from the fusilage. All were
protected by parachutes, attached to
their bodies by belts. Henry Weaver
and Harry Wacker, mechanicians, fol-
lowed Bother. Il. H. Norton, pho
tographer for morning newspaper,
was the last to leave. The fifth man,
Earl II. Davenport, publicity agent for
nm amusement park where the balloon
has it's hangar, did not escape. His
body struck the roof of the bank and
burned to a crisp. Viewers parachute
was ablaze and he was Overtaken by
the flaming balloon and carried down
to death. Boettner and Wacker land
ed practically unhurt. Norton suf-
fered broken legs and severe internal
Injuries. The other dead were crush
ed and burned in the rotunda of the
bank. The central portion Of the bank
was wrecked, and 1t was an hour be-
fore the fire could be extinguished.