Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-07-23
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 OF D|R|CIBL.E: Cause of Spectacular Accident Costing Twelve Lives Still
 Mystery. FOUR THEORIES GIVEN AT CORONER'S INQUEST Spontaneous Combustion, Burning Oil and Open Exhausts Suggested as Probably Cause-Pilot
 Refuses to Testify.


 Chicago, July 22,-Only theories as to the cause of the explosion and de- struction by fire of the dirigible which resulted in 12 deaths and in- jury to 25 other persons yesterday, were elicited at the first session of the coroner's inquiry today. The cause of the disaster seemed as far from disclosure as at the moment when flames spurted along the gas bag as it scared above Chicago's sky scrapers before plunging down thru the roof of a great bank, spreading fatal flames among bookkeepers, clerks. and stenographers preparing to end their days work.
 Grim authorities, however, were apparently determined to place re- sponsibility on some one. Assistant State Attorney James Lowry, in charge of interrogation of witnesses for the state, declared prosecution was certain to follow the inquiry, probably on the grounds of criminal negligence and carelessness.
 TOUT lncOFIeS Ol EAplCSlOH.
 At least four theories of the start of the fire were heard today:
 Pilot John Boettner, who has been held in custody, told the states at- torney that spontaneous combustion probably was the cause,
 w. c. Young. chief of the aeronau- tical forces of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company. owner of the diri- gible, suggested burning oil from the motor cylinders.
 Lieut.. Thomas E. Atkinson, pur- chasing agent for the motor trans port corps, II. S. A., was inclined to believe leakv valve was responsible and that static electricity caused the combustion.
 Montford Morrison, member of the coroner's jury and technical ex- pert. who examined the broken mot ors, suggested that he found all ex- hausts open and that sparks there from may have ignited the gas bag.
 Assistant States Attorney Lowry asked the chief of police to take into custody two officials of the local of- flee of the Goodyear company for questioning. Their names were not divulged.
 Seventeen persons, most of them mechanics of the company's forces, were questioned last night and today and summoned for the inquest.
 Refuse to Testify.
 The first session of the coroner's ;nouest-which state and federal of- ficials are waiting before taking act lion looking toward prosecution-was marked hy the refusal of Pilot BOett- ner and his chief, MT. Young. to tes- : tify. Their refusal was on the ad- vice of counsel representing the com panv.
 While local officials asserted re- ; sporsihiljty for the accident was tc be fixed on someone, no evidence de: ve1oped to show the company had been negligent. .. The assistant states attorney call. ed attention to letter said to have been written by MT. Young to his assistants urging speed in assembling , the machinery
 Lieutenant Atkinson testified that the Goodyear companv's balloons bore an excellent reputation in the army The lieutenant said:
 ''The hydrogen escaping from 2 ! leaky valve and mixing with the ar was probably ignited by static elecr, tricity in the air. do not believe II was possible for sparks from the the exhaust to ignite the bag" The lieutenant testified that he never had heard of rotary engines :, being used in dirigibles: The twelfth victim of the calamity was Milton G. Norton. photograph CT for the Chicago Herald and Ex aminer, who died today. His para chute ignited as he leaped from the machines gondola and he fell in tht street. As death approached, he mur mured that he hoped his camera ant : plates had not been damaged.
 Not all of the victims of the trag; : edy were out of danger, hospital ad vices said.
 Manpled Badly Drops at His Feet.
 F. I. Cooper. assitant cashier o : the bank. left his desk few minutes before the buring balloon crashed through the roof, to put some recoro' awav He said "The body of man. so badly burn ed and mangled that I could not tel at first that it was man st all came hurtling through the air ant fell at my feet. Then, there was al outburst of terrified screams iron I the ra;led off space where the plr!s ! worked and everything in then , -<,>>.>>.> ~>-- ----
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