The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-08-09
TOWn' First "WireLess'
Received Only Time Signals
ffOn s'FirSfS''

Received OnIl
EDITORS NOTE: This is the
fourth of a series of excerpts
from the paper, "One Hundred
Years of Firsts" in Bluffton's
history written by Mrs. Charles
Steiner for her American history
class at Bluffton college.
This weeks story tells about
the day the first airplane flew
over town and about some of
Buttons earliest radio bugs.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
OF "FIRSTS"
By Evelyn Steiner
The Airplane
On May 25, 1918 the first airplane
to be sighted over Richland and
Orange Township was spotted short
ly after one o'clock. 1t was flying at
an estimated height of about one
quarter mile. Some of the residents
along the route of the flight were
mystified when they heard what
they thought was the motor of an
automobile and yet saw no car.
Bluffton's first air tragedy occurr-
ed, however, before the airplane had
even become a reality. Ascents by
gas-filled balloons were still a rarity.
On July A, 1892, one of the first
balloon ascensions made in this part
of Ohio was to be the main attrac-
ton at Buttons celebration of the
Fourth. Hundreds of spectators,
many from some distance away, had
been attracted by the news of the
intended ascension. The daring feat
was made all the more exciting when
it was reported that the flight was
to be made by young woman who
was widely known as one of the out
standing performers in her profess
sion.
Preparations for the big event be-
gan several hours before the actual
ascent took place. A long hole was
dug and filled with inflammable ma
terial. This was covered over except
for an opening over which the empty
balloon was placed. A roaring fire
was built and the huge silk bag began
to bulge as it filled with gas. Some
of the huskiest of the spectators were
requested to hold it to the ground.
BY the time the preparations had
been completed, the woman pilot had
become quite HAPPY, having inn
bibed quite freely from a whiskey
bottle while preparations were being
made for the ascent.
After strapping herself in the har-
ness, the balloon was cut loose from
the moorings and ascended to what
seemed a miraculous height to the
spectators. 1t was calm day and
the balloon Travelled only short dis
tance. The pilots handling OF the
balloon seemed faulty and when it
came down, landed in the quarry
near the waterworks plant.
Strapped securely in her harness
and caught in the tangled ropes, she
had no chance to escape. BY the time
would-be rescuers reached her it was
too late to save her life. The tragedy
of the woman balloonist fingered long
in the memories of the people of the
Bluffton area.
The Radio
1t is rather difficult to establish
definitely the year or the owner OF
the first radio in Bluffton due to the
fact that the first sets were home
made and no one, apparently, tired
to claim the distinction. There are
several possibilities, but it is general
" agreed that D. c. BiXel possessed
what was probably the first crystal
set" in Bluffton. His son, DR.. Gordon
Bixel, sets the date at approximate
ly 1914-16. The set received only the
Arlington time signals.
In September, 1920, the Bluffton
News reported that Edgar Zehrbach
and Maynard Mann were construct
ing Bluffton's second wireless station.
Mr.. Bixel was credited in this news
item as having erected the first sew
eral years before. However, another
local man recalls sitting on the front
porch of his home listening to music
coming over the loud speaker of his
own radio set, when he read the ac-