Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

60 articles on this Page

AIRSHIP ABLAZE r' l

News
Cite
Share

AIRSHIP ABLAZE r' l White City Disaster TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION. Several Killed & Injured LADY'S BODY CHARRED TO CINDER. The firet serious accident in connection with the Franco-British Exhibition occurred to-day. Shortly before noon the public and atten- dants were startled by a tremendous report. It proceeded from the Aerodrome, the name given by Captain Lovelace, the American aeronaut, to the large tent-like erection from which his balloon atioeuto were made. While the gas-bag of his air-ship wa.s being inflated the gma suddenly exploded. The balloon waA instantly an im.mense mass of flames. The explosion was attended by terrible results. The reports as to the number of casualties are conflicting, but it is stated definitely that Mise Hill, lady secretary to Captain Lovelace, and George Leonard, Captain Lovelace's foreman, were killed. The estimated number of injured varies from five to twelve. It is also reported that a lady named Miso Knight is dying. This is not confirmed. One of the numerous ambulance depots in the Exhibition is situated just outside the Aerodrome, and thither the injured were quickly conveyed. The scene was an affrighting one, for in the dense smoke and alarm no one knew precisely what had happened or who had escaped. The air-ship was going to ascend this after- noon, and the captain and hie attendants were making preparations to that end. The air-ship is a total wreck. It was torpedo-shaped, and about twice as long as a pantechnicon van. Miss Hill, the unfortunate girl who yme burned to death, was having lunoh in the ehed. Burnt to Ashes After the explosion occurred the fire brigade were called out and smoke helmets were used. An employe at the Exhibition who was outside the place where the disaster occurred said that as soon as he heard the explosion he went inside the grounds, and saw the bal- loon of the airship in flame6. The clothes of the man George Wa-ite were burning on his body. These were pulled off by one em- ploye, while another poured oil on the man's body. The poor fellow was in terrible agony. The body of Miss Blanche Hill was bu-mt to ashes. Blown to Debris The Central News says that later detaals bhow that a number of pere.ons were stand- ing close to the woodeu shed, where the airship was housed, including Captain Love- lace, when a terrific explosion occurred, knocking down people vithin a radius of 200 or 300 ya.rds. Almost before the tspac- '.a.tori; had recovered from, the shock. aothing was to be seen of the airship but i mase of debris, while the shed was biasing "nriouely. All round lay the bodies of badly injured men and women, their clothes prac- tioally burnt away and their faces and bodies terribly mutilated. The boddes of a man and a woman were ta.ken out, and it needed little examinatiou to show that they were dead. All the badly injured, numbering aboult half a score, were aA onoe plaied on ambu- lance and taken to the nearest hospitals. The Injured There are at the time of telegraphing three persons in the Hammersmith Infirmary and two in the West London Hospital. The names of the latter are:v- Henry Grand, aged 36, of Bajn&buxy, and Sydney Oliver, 33, of Fulham. More injured are being taken to both hos- pitals. Captain Ixwelaoe is alive. according to the latest information, but badly hurt, and in a state of collapse through grief at the disaster. The explosion reverberated throughout the Exhibition, shaking china and glass and breaking vn-ndows.. aiid was distinctly heard outside, so that there was soon a number of persons clamouring for admission to the Exhibition to find out what had occurred. Shaken Off Their Feet I Hundreds r.ear the scene were shaken almost off their feet, and pieces of stuoco work and plaster were sha.ken down from the buildings. The accident, which occurred just after 11.30, is stated to have been due to the ca.re- less lighting of a match-end When the explosion occurred all her oloth- ing, with the exception of her oorsete, wat> burned off her body. The aerodrome is situated near the Stadium. The airship was guarded from public view by an uraoliruaWe fence, and notices were posted all over the iohed tha-t smoking watf prohibited, A later telegram etateis that Harry Bland, who wus helping to fill the gae-bag, wae seriously injured. Nothing of the airship remains but the ropes, and the shed is w rocked. All the chairs surrounding the airships shed were burnt up by the flames. Two of the injured, named Grand and Oliver, were taken to the West London Hos- pital. They were suffering from burns, and it is expected wiU have to be detained. The other persons w-r-e removed to the infirmary in the Exhibition grounds, where their injuries were attended to. The killed and injured were eniployes of Captain Lovelace. Some of them were en- gaged in putir.y up bunting in preparation for an asoent to-morrow. It is stated that some of the injuries received are of a ghastly nature. When the explosion occurred terrible scenes were witnessed, something of a panic pre- vailing, as it was feared that a ca.ptive baJloon near by would taike fire. ONLY ONE KILLED. A later message stilys that only Miss Hill was lulled. A man named Higgins ie in a serious condition.

"Stoke H old Slaves"I

NEW CARDIFF J.Ps.I y» , .'

The " P.D." Dispute I

IPORTHCAWL'8 MIMIC WARI

MAN FALLS 60 FEETI

INAVAL COURT MARTIAL I

BREAM FLOWER SHOW I

'w'- *-————————————— .THE…

GOLD MINE IN IRELAND i

LADY ATTENDS DOG'S FUNERAL…

Advertising

•r L —^ GLAMORGAN ASSIZE ECHO

Mr, Grover's Loss

MURDERED AT TANGIER I

ANOTHER PARIS CRIME I

IRIDING ON THE BUFFERS I

[No title]

IFROM ALL QUARTEiRS1

I Liverpool Horror

A HUSBAND'S ALLEGATIONS

STRAYED ON TO RAILWAY

In Judge Owen's Court,

THE KING AT MARIENBAD I

IPEBESIRIUISN.

THE QUEEN OF SPAIN

,DOG: SHEEP: DAMAGES.

L Minor Counties Championship

SURREY V. YORKSHIRE.

SOMERSET V. KENT.

IDERBYSHIRE V. PIOTTS.-I

GLOUCESTERSHIRE V. WARWICKSHIRE.…

I WORCESTERSHIRE V. SUSSEX.…

I; NORTHAMPTONSHIRE V. HAMPSHIRE.…

M.C.C. AND GROUND V. PHILADELPHIANS.

I-LANCASHIRE V. MIDDLESEX.___

IGLAMORGAN GIPSIES V. LANCA.…

Advertising

To-day's Finance.I

MOVEMENTS OF LOCAL VESSELS.I

TO-DAY'S CHARTERINOS. I

FIRE ENGINE SMASHI

NEIGHBOURS' QUARREL

WEATHER FORECASTI

I .WINDSOR. I

AYR. I

OFFICIAL SORATGHINOa.

INEWMARKET NOTES.

Advertising

IGRIMSBY HORSES "MAIMED I

I SUICIDE IN A BATH j

Family Notices

Advertising

SHIPPING CASUALTIES

FOOTBALL

Advertising

PACKET AGENT'S SUICIDE/

WELSH MINISTER OF HEALTH

iFRENCH WARSHIP'S^DEATH-ROLL

Advertising