New-York tribune., 1908-08-06
DASHED TO EARTH, EX-
PLOSION FOLLOWS. :"
Had Descended for Repairs-Torn
from Moorings by Wind-In-
Uenfor Gets .s125, 900.

terday was cutting rapidly through tne air ana
pursuing automobiles lies in open field
near here of twisted useless metal
chapter of accidents, due to storm and the
failure Of mechanical appliances combined. was
responsible for the abrupt termination OF the
flight begun yesterday morning on the home
ward journey
Nevertheless. the performance of the airship
to-day prior to its destruction added new laurels
to those already gained by Count Zeppelin II
descended and landed on dry land easily and.
smoothly One of the steel wire stays snapped.
but otherwise the arship unruffied as "
it had been dropped into Its accustomed place In
Lake Constance. It was the first time on record
| that a dirtgibIe balloon had landed on firm
ground without sustaining injury.
Though Count Zeppelin was much cast down
by the unlocked for ending OF what promised
to be a record breaking fight throughout IL is
| probable that he will lose time in construct
ing another airship. A government check for
s125.O0O is on the way to him and subscription
lists are being opened the large cities TO raiss
funds for another airship.
THE DESCENT TO LAND,
The airshfp had left Nackenhei11l, the scene OF
its first unishap and overnight had visited May
ence and started on the homsward Journey
Soon after its departure however, It was found
that the front motor was working badly owing
to the fusing OF metal In the groove IN which
the piston rod ran. This was caused by fric-
ton. Count Zeppelin consequently was COM
PEELED to rely on one motor on the rear platform
throughout the night. thus considerably reduc-
ing his speed. During the night, too, he made
an ascent of nearly six thousand feet, losing
considerable quantity Of gas and deprivfns the
balloon of sone OF its buoyancy-
When over Echtsrdingen Count Zeppelin de-
cided to descend to dry land The engineers i'm
mediateIy set about making repairs TO the ball
LOOM which rode at anchor In the centre OF a
large force of soldiers who had been called out
| TO keep the crowds away. Count Zeppelin tele-
sraphed to Friedrichshafen for more gas cylin-
ders, and then went to a neighborins inn for
| luncheon He was away slightly over two hours.
and was destined only to see the wreck Of his
/ airship when he returned
| The local railway companies ran special cars
/ TO convey sightseers the spot while pedes-
| trians automobflists and wagons loaded with
peasants also hocked to the scene 1t was esti-
| mated that the crowd around the airship num-
| bered nearly forty thousand persons
AT 2:3O o'clock this afternoon the wind sud-
denly sprans up Some Of the Weatnerwlse oy-
ISLANDERS called the attention Of the officers 70
the fact that storm was brewing. and advised
them to make the balloon moorings secure
Their warnings were unheeded
The balloon swayed TO and fro. sometimes
q
o'clock formidable gust OF wind struck the air.
shin broadstde At first the craft heeled over
and then its bows rose IN the air carrying with
them a number Of soldiers who were holding the
ropes. After posing for moment at a heisns
OF afty feet IL dashed forward against cluster
of fruit trees. The impact uprooted them Tnen
the airship returned to earth even more sud-
denly than II rose, and crashed to the ground
There was a thunderous noise. From the bows
Tir-s1 fam vxr1fF fFa
from the rear there escaped thick clouds Of
black smoke, which caused the structure TO dis
appear from the view OF the thousands OF spec
tators. - - =
When the air cleared fha balloon was seen
living in an open field on high plateau with
onlv the ragged tangled strips OF the aluminium
envelope still remaining. The metal stays and
hands and portions OF the motors were strewn
about ike old iron, blackened with smoke anu
burns.
O45cars rushed forward. and found that sev-
araI soldiers had been hurt. The four engineers
who had occupied the forward platform or ths
airship had escaped death, but wers suffering
from injuries. They were taken to q hospital
The men had tried when the balloon broke away
N couple up the motors as TO ascend beyond
danger, but in this effort they had not been sue
cessfuL
When he arrived and saw ths hopeless wreck
ba hroka down His head was bent on hisch
and tears were streaming from his eyes as he
stood in an attitude of despair In front OF the
shattered mammoth. Then friends induced him
10 enter a motor car and return 10 Stuttgart.
1vbancs later he left by train for Friedrichs-
hafen.
small crowd remains the wreck to-
night discussing the tragic end Of the sirshtp
in the dull light Of gasolene lamps. None OF
Count Zeppelin's workmen ia present. They
are sleeping in the village after thirtysix hours
of labor A couple of hundred cylinders Of gas
lie IN the field awaiting shipment back TO Fried
richshafen.
An explanation Of the accident given by ex-
merits is that probably one OF the ballonets
of which the immense envelope was constructed
hurst and that a spark from motor ignitsd
the gas when the balloon was carried into ths
air
SORROW AT INVENTORS HOME.
Friedrichshafen. Aug. 5.-The news that Count
Zeppelin's airship had exploded at Echterdngen
and WAS a total wreck crashed like a thunder
bolt over the festive preparations for q recep-
tion for the aeronaut at Friedrichshafen 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 were walking up and down the wide main
streets OF this town along the lake shore and
making merry IN expectation OF the jollihcation
TO come. Since early morning automobiles and
carriages had been coming into town and speed
ing through the streets, and peasants from the
surrounding country. clad in their picturesque
| Sunday clothes. gazed IN amazement al the IN
/ wonted scene and the gayly decorated houses IN