The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-04
HE KEPT A SECRET.
Few Knew of His Intentions
Until He Was Off.
Only One Man Accompanies Him
on the Trip.
Mishap Causes Him to Land on
an Island in the Rhine.

Oppenhetm, Aug. 4.-The Zeppelin
airship owing to a defect of one of
the motors landed on an island in the
| middle Of the Rhine near here at
o'clock this evening.
Constance. Germany, Aug. 4.-The
weather was excellent this morning
when at $3.50 Count Zeppelin's great
airship emerged from the swimming
dock at Friedrichshafen. The airship
rose Immediately from the waters OF
the lake to height Of about 400 feet
and after describing one magnificent
circle over the lake, proceeded in a
bee line for this city arriving here at
6:5b o'clock. The ship continued on
its way and within another hour had
| covered 45 kilometers and was over
Schanhausen. From that point it con-
t1nued along the Rhine to Basle.
count Zeppelfn's plan Is to continue 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 Z O'Clock tomorrow morning
! The day and hour when the ascent
was to be made were kept secret until
late last night and not even the imper-
ial commissioners appointed to ac-
company Count Zeppelin on the voy-
age were present. The only official
taking part In the flight is Major
Gradnitz
Although the day and the hour OF
the ascent Of the airship had been
kept strictly secret, long before day
light today the streets of Friedrich
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 evil
dence of forthcoming ascension
Consequently the local inhabitants
and their summer boarders were out
In great numbers when the sun ap-
peared.
Did Not Want q Crowd.
Count Zeppelin arrived at the float
Ing dock at o'clock, accompanied by
his nephew, DIR. Eckner, a well known
yachtsman Of Hamburg, and Major
Gradnitz, the only official representa-
tive. Neither the imperial commits
sioners nor the counts usual official
suite nor the military motorists who
intended to follow the fight had been
notified or invited. It was said 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 a mirror and the
distant Alpine giants stood out
strong and mighty in the clear atInos-
phere. At Is minutes after g. the
colossal body Of the airship emerged
slowly from the floating shed. towed
by three launches. Under the direc-
ton Of DR.. Eckner, the pontoons
were towed out from underneath il
and the airship hovered low over the
surface of the lake.
Then SlnUlv fha Of he -, ip
was raised to higher level. Above
the noise of the propellers which
sounded like the beating of giant
drums arose the voice of the count
giving the command to ''cast off," and
the airship rose horizontally to a
height CT about 100 feet and then
swept off In the distance to Con-
stance. 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 "a hours without any previous trial
trip and he started in the direction OF
Schaffhausen. His departure was the
signal for prolonged cheering by the
spectators on land and af1oat in
various small craft who wished him a
good voyage and a safe return.
Comes to Full Stop.
Headed in the direction of Constance
the airship sped along almost in a bee
line over drowsy villages and sleeping
towns. After Constance was left be-
hind few spectators were out to see the
fight, the news Of the ascent not hav.
ing had time to get further ahead. Sud
denly, while still over the water the
airship apparently came to a full stoI
for several minutes. This gave the cor.
respondent of the Associated Press who
was following in a motor boat time t(
overtake the monster. After a short
rest the two front propellers. which
looked like the fins Of great fish, be.
gan to revolve and at once the bow
Of the ship descended. Below it ap
peared as though something had gone
wrong. In few seconds the rear pro
pellers moved and the airship agair
resumed her horizontal position. Grace
fully swinging first to the right ther
to the left, she took up her rapi6
course 1t was evident that the Count
Zeppelin had been subjecting the aeria
craft to some severe test and that the
result had been to his satisfaction
The mass of 1000 pounds of metal, wood
work. machinery and cloth no longer
seemed colossal and gigantic. ungainly
and uncouth, but creation so wonder
full that the spectators for the moment
forgot that it was the handiwork OF
man.
arisen early, were aware Of the ap
proach of the airship. The shore and
the piers were black with people
shouting a cheerful welcome and theil
wishes for a good voyage. Like an ar
row the airship shot over the city.
At Constance the correspondent 1ef
his motor boat and in an automobile
sped around the city and finally caught
up with the balloon far beyond the cit,
limits in the Rhine valley. The air
ship had risen again about 100 fee
higher, and there were further maneuv
ers The laborers in the fields rested
on their spades to gaze aloft at thu
strange visitor. Drivers stopped thei