Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-06
MULTITUDE WAITING FOR
FINISH KEENLY DISAPPOINTED

fTleueficnSnaIen, Aug. 5.-The
news that Count zeppelins airship
exploded at Echterdihgen and was a
total wreck came like a thunderbolt
amid the festive preparations for re-
ception of the famous aeronaut at
Friederichshafen. Tens Of thousands
OF people had come from all parts of
Germany to witness the return of the
eomht from his remarkable Voyage In
the air, and they were walking up and
down the wide main street of this
town along the lake shore and making
merry in anticipation of the' forthcom-
ing jollification Since early morning
automobiles and carriages had been
coming into town and speeding
through the streets, while peasants
from the surrounding country clad in
their picturesque Sunday clothes,
gazed in amazement at the unwonted
scene and the gaily decorated houses
in the park.
In front of the principal hotel the
military band was just on the point OF
beginning its concert when at o'clock
a man rushed excitedly from the Of
flee of local newspaper and affixed a
telegram on the blackboard at the en-
trance to the building.
A crowd of people gathered to read
the news, expecting to hear that the
airship had left Echterdingen on its
way here, One man began to read the
message. Suddenly he stopped as If he
could not believe the news. then he
cried out, "The balloon was burned.
the balloon has burned up"
This intelligence travelled like Wild
fire down the main street Some peo-
pie would not believe it, and declared
that It was bad joke; but the doubt
ers we're soon silenced by the pitiful
expressions on the faces of the en-
ployes of Count Zeppelin. who rushed
about with every evidence of conster-
nation.
Many inquiries went up from the
dense crowd congregated around the
offices of the count, and people de-
manded to know If he was safe.
They were told he was, but the lat
est bulletin from Echterdingen said
that four men had been badly burned,
May he some rascal set the balloon
on fire." some one volunteered, exclt-
edly. and this probability was discuss
ed for some moments. Throughout tho
crowd there were frequent expressions
of sorrow over the III luck Of Count
Zeppelin in the loss of his magnlfl-
cent airship.
Just then the counts daughter ar
rived in her carriage. she still being
In ignorance Of the end Of her fathers
voyage and of the blasting at least for
time, Of his greatest ambition A
hush fell over the masses as the
countess alighted. and In wonderment
at their strange attitude toward her,
she went inside her fathers office.
Soon afterwards 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 a thun-
derstorm upset a quantity Of benzlne
which ignited and caused great ex-
plosion. and that the great airship was
destroyed
After reading this bulletin the peo-
4 pie moved IN long lines down the
streets Of the town toward the rail-
road station and the steamship docks
along the lake front. while automo-
biles scurrled off IN all directions,
some Of them even heading for Ech-
terdlngen.
The music OF the bands was hushed
and the musicians silently packed
away their Instruments while the vii.
layers Immediately began taking down
the flags and festoons which had beer
hung In honor OF the homecoming Of
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