The San Francisco call., 1908-08-06
Wind Tears Balloon From AM
chOrage After Long Trip
5000 Feet Into Air
Fusing of Metal in Motor Piston
Groove Causes Drop to
Make Repairs
Explosion Follows Flames in Gas
Bags and Machinery Falls
in Useless Mass

ECHTER DINGEN, Aug. 5.-A
dramatic end came today to Count
Zeppelin's long endurance fight in
his monster dirigible balloon and to-
night the proud airship, which yester-
day was cutting rapidly through the
air and outdistancing pursuing auto
mobiles, lies in an open field near here
I mass of twisted, useless metal.
A chapter of accidents occasioned
by bad moods of nature and the fail
ure of mechanical appliances was re-
sponsible for the untimely end of the
balloon, the flights Of which have held
the attention OF the world. and for
blasting the ambitions of its inventor.
Count Zeppelin, almost broken hearted
and unable longer TO endure the sight
OF his shattered craft. has left by
train FOR Friedrichshafen.
FRICTION INJURIES MOTOR
The airship had left Nackenheim. the
scene Of its first mishap. and over night
had visited Mayence and begun the
homewsrd journey when misfortune
overlook II. Soon after its departure
it was found that the front motor was
working badly, owing to the fusing OF
metal IN the groove in which the pis-
ton ran This was caused by friction.
Consequently Count Zeppelin was COM
PEELED 10 rely on one motor on the rear
platform throughout the night, which
considerably reduced his speed. Dur
ae-f-E f-.n Ga IN Nf
nearly 5000 feet. losing a considerable
quantity OF gas. This deprived the
balloon Of some Of its buoyancy-
over Echter Dingen Count Zeppelin
decided 10 land. Although this was
the first time that such q maueuver
had been attempted with rigid bal
loon. the landing was effected easily
and smoothly, one Of the steel wire
STAYS being broken The engineers
Immediately set about making repairs
10 the balloon. which rode at anchor
in the center Of e large military force
which had been called out TO keep the
crowds away.
INVENTOR LEAVES AIRSHIP
Count Zeppelin telegraphed to Fried
richshafen for more gas cylinders and
then went to a neighobring inn for
luncheon. He was away for more than
two hours and was destined 10 see only
the wreck Of his airship when he re-
turned
The railway companies ran special
cars to convey the curious sightseers
10 the spot, while pedestrians, auto
mobiles and wagons loaded with peas
ants also focked 10 the vicinity 1t is
estimated that the crowd around the
monarch Of the air numbered nearly
10000 persons.
At 2.sO o'clock this afternoon a wind
suddenly sprang up and some OF the
- ~ q =
tention OF the officers to the fact that
a storm was brewing and advised the
officers to secure the balloon. The
warnings were unheeded.
WIND CAUSES ACCIDENT
Half an hour later a fierce gust OF
wind tore the balloon from its anchor
age and drove II IN southwesterly
direction for some so yards. Here the
rear end Of the great fabric dropped
and smoke and flames were seen to
burst out from one end 10 the other
Then in q few seconds came a terrific
explosion and a great column of fame
shot upward into the afr. This was
followed by the crashing down TO the
earth OF the motors and frames that
had been attached TO the underside OF
the airship. Several bystanders were
knocked down. It is supposed the gas
bag was struck by lightning.
The Zeppelin airship had just COM
nIEreU voyage
the history OF aerial navigation. II
left the lake OF Constance yesterday
morning for a trip to Mayence and re-
turn The fight was successful in
great many ways. The machine re-
sponded absolutely to the control OF its
pilots and was navigated over the lake
OF Constance. down the valley Of the
Rhine over Strassburg and several
other cities and was expected back at
its starting point this morning.
LOSES WORK OF LIFETIME
Count Zeppelin has devoted his life
time and his personal fortune to the
development OF his airsl1ps. The yes
sci that was lost today was the fourth
he has constructed.
When his own money had become ex-
hausted the German reichstag voted
him s125,OO to conduct further ex-
rariments and No. was the result
The German government agreed to pur-
chase this ship on condition that il full
filed certain requirements, the prin-
cipal one being that IL remained in the
air p hours and land on terra drma
This stipulation had not been full
filled.
The airshfp was z43 feet long. with
a diameter OF about 45 feet. 1t tapered
10 a blunt point at the bow, while at
the stern were various rudders and
frames used in steering It was fitted
underneath with two Independent plat
forms, each carrying a motor capable
OF developing 40 horsepower AS many
as Is passengers had been taken aloft
at one time Sleeping accommodations
were provided for the crew, and an
apparatus was installed for the dis
patch and receipt OF wireless telegraph
messages. The inf1ating gas was dis
tributed among 16 separate interior
rornartrnents which were contained
within the outer rigid envelope OF
aluminium
The accident 10 the Zeppelin airship
recalls the end OF the French military