BALLOON TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 622, 27 September 1909, Page 7

BALLOON TRAGEDY.

FOUR LIVES LOST. FRENCH MILITARY AIRSHIP FAUB. EXPLOSION AT 400 FEET. By Telegraph-Prees ABsociat!pn-Copyrlght.) (Reo. September 27, "lilb a.m.) Paris, Scp.forabor 25. v The whole population of Moulins (a provincial town 194 miles south-east of Paris) watched the French military..idirigiblo balloon Republique passing over tbo town at tho rata of 25 miles an hour. When tho airship was nine kilometres (51 to 6 'miles) north of ths.toirn a blado of ono .of its two propellers broke, ripping tho' - gas-envolopo, wliioli burst with a report like a cannon shot. ■The balloon fell 400ioot v .,tho occupants wore Captain Marshall,' Lieut. Pbaul, and two assistants named Rcaux and Vincent. Their mangled-bodies were found in the oar. The tragedy lias caused a great sensation in' Paris,. ..' . '' '■■''!-

[Tho French , military airship .'Republique (which was repotted recently... to .be making flights in 'connection with tho French army, manoeuvres,' and dropping r stafT messages) had fixed vertical and horisiorttal planes to maintain its bakmco and two propellers. , It carried a.crew of four. The highest/speed that it had-attained In calm weather, was 25 miles an hour. The,loss ofrlifo .whiojr is. inevitable when man .ventures into' Untried-elements is, after all, not 60 heavy'a toll jn' tho case of airships as of submarines. Thirteen dead Ho in tho last English submarine that' went to the bottom, ■'■' aud the records 'bf/'rriodern airship voyaging have still to. go a long ..way to equal those'of under watcr-navigation ,in casualties.]