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Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 April 1910, Page 3

UNKNOWN

IX A '1 11l'.\DKIfSTOI'AI L Oi; K I'L'H'ftuXS K.I M/'i'.l).

[by IaKHTIUC 'I'KI.KOItA I'll-COI'YUIGHT.J | PEll I'UEHS ASBOCIATJON.J

I>Kit IjLX, April 18. A balloon which ascended at uight timi> at liitteriield, Prussia, wa.s (.•aught in a thunderstorm, and the light:.ing faus-'d tho gas to explode, taarLng the envelop:' to ribhonls. Tho villagers of Heichensndiseii heard. a ciasii. They thought it was caiurjd l>y the lightning, they slept on till morning. "VVl'.cn :'.ay dawi'.ed, t-li-ay discovered a shattered car and four bodies. The a<»ic.iliauts had survived tho esplo- ;• on catnied by the lightning) and 1 ad b;.2n killed by tl;e terriliks fall.

All of tli.'in had their lists clench- : :1, itr:-I their faces wiro convulse! t.-if.. k<:n':>:-, realising tlisir impeiuli g death as they pi li nked eartharcls.

" ICight ballomvists have been killed in within a fortnight, besides ninny minor accidents reported recently. The existence of a balloon club in every large town accounts" for the largeness of the number of Accidents.

The Bitterfiekl disaster has caused the Imperial Aero Club to decide to issue a code of precautions.