Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-24
Big Advertising Balloon Catches
Fire and Drops 500 Feet,
Crashing through the Glass
Roof of Chicago Bank
rs ARE INJURED
Most of tho Dcnd Were Employees Of
the Handicapped md burned to
Death In Fire Caused by Explosion
OF Balloons GnsOlinc Tank

and fell 500 feet crashing through the
glass roof of the Illinois Trust & Savings
banks, jackson boulevard and La Sale
street al five O'Clock this afternoon Most
of the dead were employees of the bank.
trapped and burned to death in a fire
caused by the explosion of the balloons
gasoline tanks as they hit the floor of the
bank rotunda where more than zoo book
Keepers and clerks, nearly all girls, were
working
The balloon, owned by the Goodyear
TIRE IL Rubber company of Akron, Ohio,
had been flying about for several hours
when the accident occurred.
When approximately 800 feet above the
bank squirt of flame was seen to shoot
from the top of the gas bag near the CEN
ter OF the air craft. The crowds gathered
on the streets to watch the fight 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,
ball of flame, struck the roof of the
bank with n crash audible throughout the
downtown district.
There was nothing to warn the hum
dreds of employees of the institution Of
the coming tragedy. shadow passed
busy, and a crash followed.
The bank 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 afre Break
ing through the iron supporters holding
the glass overhead the fusilage of the
balloon with two heavy rotary engines
and several gasoline tanks smashed to
the floor
Instantly the tanks exploded scatter
ing wave of flaming gasoline over the
workers for n radius of 50 feet. panic
ensued. There were only two exits
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 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 dying, who crawled away from
the scorching fire, their clothes burning
off
The intense heat made rescue work
difficult until after the fire department
arrived on four eleven alarm call. 1t
was 30 minutes before the bodies under
the crafts fusilage could be dragged out
They were buried beyond recognition.
Meanwhile ambulances from every hos
pital and undertaking establishment near
the center of the city came and the
police threw a Gordon about the place.
Dozens were found to have been more
or less seriously cut by the shower of
glass which preceded the explosion.
The cause of the fire which brought
the flaming gas bag down is not definitely
known. None of the crew could ascribe
n definite reason.
Two theories were offered, however.
One was that spark from the rotary
motors set the gas aflre. The other was
that the balloon was overcharged and the
suns rays caused 1t to expand and burst,
the fire following the contact Of the gas
with sparks in the motors.
1t was intended to charge the bag with
a pure mixture Of hydrogen gas which
is not inf1ammable. 1t was Conjectured.
however, that quantity of oxygen be-
came mixed in the charging process. rem
dering high explosive combination.
When Jack Boettner, an employe of
the rubber company and pilot of the
craft saw the flicker of flame he shouted
a warning to the other passengers and
jumped from the fusilage.
Henry Weaver and Harry Wacker
mechanicians, followed Boettner. E H.
Norton photographer for a morning
newspaper was the last to leap. The fifth
man. Earl II. Davenport. publicity agent
Tor an amusement park where the balloon
has its hangar, did not get out.
His body struck the roof of the bank
and burned to crisp. Weaver's parachute
was ablaze and he was overtaken by the
flaming balloon and carried down to
death
Boettner and Wacker landed practically
unhurt. Norton suffered broken legs and
severe internal injuries.
The other dead were crushed and
burned In the rotunda of the bank
The central portion of the bank was
wrecked, and it was an hour before the
fire could be eXtinguished.
Chicago, July 22.-Only theories as
to the cause of the explosion and de-
struction by fire of the dirigible ma
chine resulting in ~ deaths and in
jury to 2S other persons yesterday
were elected at the first session of the
coroner's inquiry to-day. The cause
disclosure as at the moment when flame
spurted along the gas bag as 1t flew
above Chicago's sky scrapers before
plunging down through the roof of a
great bank, spreading fatal flames
among bookkeepers, clerks and stem
ographers preparing to end their days
work.
A grand jury investigation will be
made, according to information at the
criminal court building today. Prose-
cution is certain, according to Assist
ant states Attorney John NJ Lowery.
Assistant States Attorney Lowery
asked the chief Of police to take into
custody two officials of the local Offices
or the Goodyear company for question
ing. Their names were not divulged
Seventeen persons. most of them me-
chanics of the company's forces. were
questioned last night and to-day and
summoned for the inquest.
The first session of the coroner's in
quest on which State and federal Off
Gals are waiting before taking action
looking toward prosecution-was 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
The 18th victim of the calamity was
Milton c. Norton, a photographer for
morning newspaper, who died to-
day.
Not all of the victims of the tragedy
were out of danger, hospital aides
SAID Funerals were planned but
probably will be held separately.
coroners inquiry will be resumed to-
morrow morning. BY that time off,