Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-04
GERMAN .AIRSHIP
Made a Successful Ascension This Morning and Passes
 Over Many Villages
LONG DISTANCE TRIP

Constance, Germany, Aug. @ The weather was excellent this morning when at 6:30 o'clock Count Zeppelin's great airship merged from the swimming dock at Fried richshaffen. The airship arose i'm mediately from the water of the lake to a height of about four hun dred feet and after describing one magnificent circle over the lake pro- ceeded in bee line for this city, ar irving here at 6:55 o'clock. The ship continued on its way and with in another hour had covered forty five kilometres and was over Schaff- hausen. From that point it contin- ued along the Rhine to Basel.
 Count Zeppelin's plan is to con- tinue to Mayence along the Rhine and from there return to Metz, cross over to Stuttgart, and return, if the weather continues favorable, to Friedrichshafen at about o'clock tomorrow morning.
 The day and the hour when the ascent was to be made were kept secret until late last night and not even the imperial commissioners ap- pointed to accompany Count Zeppe- lin on the voyage were present. The only official taking part in the flight is Major Gradenitz.
 Although the day and the hour of | the ascent of the airship had been kept strictly secret, long before day light to-day the streets of Freidrich- shafen presented a lively scene, for long experience with the doings of | the men who sail the air had taught | the natives that certain signs were evidence of a forthcoming ascension. Consequently the local inhabitants and their summer boarders were out in great numbers when the sun ap- peared.
 Count Zeppelin arrived at the float ing dock (not swimming dock) at 4 o'clock, accompanied by his nephew, Dr Eckner, we'll known yachtsman l of Hamburg, and Major Gradnitz, I the only official representative. Neither the imperial commissioners, the counts usual official suite nor the military motorists who intended to follow the flight, had been noti- | fled or invited. It was said that the count wished to make his, great flight quietly and without interference.
 Not the faintest cloud marred the beauty of the day. The surface of the lake was like mirror and the distant Alpine giants stood out strong and mighty in the clear at- mosphere. At fifteen minutes after 6 the colossal body of the airship emerged slowly from tho floating shed lowed by three launches. Un- der the direction of Dr Eckner the | pontoons were lowed out from under meath it and the airship lowered low over the surface of the lake. Then slowly the nose of the ship was raised to a higher level as though the huge monster, suffering for air, was striving for a higher level to make breathing easier. The noise of the propellers, like the beating of giant drums, drowned all voices save | that of the count himself, at whose command. Cast off," she rose hori- zontally to a height of about 400 feet and then swept off in the direc- tion of Constance. She turned shortly. however. in a graceful circle and came back over the lake. So light and agile were her movements that the count seemed justified in starting his long journey of twenty four hours without any previous trial trip. and he started in the direction of Sehaffhausen. His departure was the signal for prolonged cheering by the spectators on land and afiOat in various small craft. who wished him a good voyage and safe return.