The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-07
A COMPLETE WRECK
zEPPELIN's AIRsHIP HEATED IN A
 TANGLED MASS.
The Huge Carcass of the AaeFiaI H1on- ater Has Been Torn Asunder by Worlxmen During
 the Might.

Echterdingen, Aug. e.--A visit to the spot where the Zeppelin airship. only two days ago the master of the afr. now lies a hopeless wreck, would have C. saddening and depressing effect up- on any one who had witnessed the majestic flight of what was once the most perfect balloon yet constructed.
 A cold, drizzling rain added to the cheerlessness of the scene. The huge carcass of the aerial monster had been torn asunder by workmen during the night, and twisted sheets of aluminium were heaped in tangled masses along the highway. Only narrow streak of burned grass marks the spot where the airship made it's descent yesterday morning Some of the delicate and complicated machinery seems to still be perfectly good. and even the tnstru- ments for the taking of photographic views during night escaped destruction in the explosion.
 Everything of value that might be used again has either been removed to A place of safety or is under guard. The ground however. is filtered with remnants of haif-burned balloon clothes. spltnters of wood and aluminium. The two gondolas that were suspended oe- meath the car are practically intact. and the forward motor was still In order when 1t was tried today. The pilea of gas tubes sent down to renew inc gas supply have been removed by the cavalry and shipped back to Fried richshafen. Conspicuously In the scene of the disaster stands forth the enor. nous how of the airship, with it's huge button-lilke centerpiece. This has not been at all damaged. It looks like a colossal basket and is at least twelve feet high. Close by is the trunk of a tree split to the roots.
 To this. the airship was tied when the catastrophe occurred It seems that the head or bow of the ship was broken off clean from the main body. It is quite evident also that the gas could not have iRnited at this end of inc car. as otherwise the bow would have been destroyed.
 Only one of the machinists who witnessed the explosion yesterday could be found at the scene to-day. He said the disaster was inexplicable. time. and there was neither light nor fire anywhere near the balloon. How 1t occurred" said this man. "is an un- fathomable mystery.
 ii is assumed that the strong con cussion to which the airship was subjected by the whirlwind caused the self-ignltion of the hydrogen gas. Many other versions of the disaster are advanced by those who witnessed 1t, but on the whole. the explanation set forth in these despatches last night seems to be as near the truth as it is possible to set. Some of the eve witnesses are inclined to blame the military authorities for the loss of the ship. It seems that when the whirlwind came sweeping over the field. hundreds of people rushed on the cordon of soldiers. prompted by the desire to hold the airship to the ground by the guide ropes but the cheers gave orders that the crowd bO driven back and not permitted to approach. few minutes later. the fun force and the explosion occurred. The devastation wrought in neighbor- ing corn fields and fruit gardens illus trates forcibly the eyclonic power of the whirlwind that wrecked the ship.