Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-06
AIRSHIP ExPLODES.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

that Count Zeppelin's airship had ex-
ploded at Echterdingen and was
total wreck crashed like a thunderbolt
over the festive preparations for re-
ceptiOn to the famous aeronaut at
Frederichafen. Tens of thousands of
people had come from all parts of
Germany to witness the return of the
count from his remarkable voyage in
the air, and they We're walking up and
down the wide main street of this town
along the lake shore and making mer-
ry in anticipation 81 the jollification to
come. Since early morning automo-
biles and carriages had been coming
into town and speeding through the
streets, and peasants from the sur
rounding country, clad in their pic
turesque Sunday clothes gazed in
the decorated houses.
In front Of the principal hotel, the
military band was just on the point
of beginning its concert when at 4
| O'Clock man rushed excitedly from
the office of a local newspaper and af-
fxed telegram on the blackboard at
the entrance to the building. A crowd
of people gathered to read the news,
expecting to hear that the airship had
left Echterdingen on it's way here. One
man began to read the message aloud.
Suddenly he stopped as if he could not
believe the news. Then he cried out in
a loud voice:
1.-The balloon has burned up! The
balloon has burned up!''
The startling news travelled like
wildfire down the main street. Some
people would not believe it and de-
clared that it was bad joke, but the
dcubters soon We're silenced by the pit
iful expressions on the faces of the
employees of Count Zeppelin. who rush
ed about with every evidence of con-
sternation.
Many curses went up from the dense
crowd that congregated around the
offices of the count and the people de-
manded to know if he was safe.
They We're told he was but the latest
| bulletin from Echterdingen said that
fonr men had been badly burned.
Perhaps some rascal set the balloon
on fire." some one volunteered excited
ly and this probability was discussed
for some moments.
Throughout the crowd there We're ex-
pressions Of sorrow at the illness of
Count Zeppelin in the loss of his mag
nificent airship.
Just then the counts daughter ar
rived in her carriage. She still was
in ignorance of the tragic end Of her
fathers voyage and Of the blasting at
least for a time of his great ambi-
ton. A hush fell over the masses as
the countess alighted and in wonder
ment at their strange attitude toward
her. she went inside her fathers Of
fec. Soon afterward through an open
window, she was heard to cry:
That will kill him.
This was followed by an outburst of
sobbing, and the people who had been
lettering about the building silently
moved away some distance to get be-
yond hearing Of her distressful cries.
The next message received from the
scene Of the disaster said that thun-
der storm had upset a quantity Of
benZine which Immediately caused
great explosion and the great balloon
was destroyed.
After reading this bulletin the people
moved in long lines down the streets
Of the town toward the railway sta
ton and the steamship docks. along
the lake front while automobiles sour
ried off in all directions some Of them
even heading for Echterdingen. The
musicians silently packed away their
Instruments while the villagers imme
diatelv began taking down the flags
and festoons that had been hung in
honor of the expected homecoming of
the aeronaut and his wonderful car.