Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-05
TENS or THOUSANDS SEE
AIRSHlP'S RECORD FLIGHT

CONSTANCE, Germany, Aug. A.
The weather was excellent this morn
ing when, at $50, Count Zeppelin's
great airshfp emerged from the hoat-
ing dock at Friederichshafen. The ar
ship rose Immediately from the waters
of the lake to a height of about 400
feet, and after describing one magnih-
cent circle over the lake, proceeded in
= bee-une for this city and arrived here
at 6:55 o'clock. The ship continued on
dts way and in another hour had COW
cred forty-five kilometers and was over
Schaafhausen. From that point 1t con-
tinued along the Rhine to Basle.
Count zeppelin's plan is to continue
to Mayence, along the Rhine, and from
there rteurn to Metz, cross over to
Stuttgart and return If the weather
continues favorable to F'riederichs-
hafen at about Z o'clock tomorrow
morning.
The only official taking part in the
flight is Maj Gradnitz.
Although the day and the hour of the
ascent of the airship had been Kept
strictly secret, long before daylight to-
day the streets of F'riederichshafen
presented a lively scene, for long ex-
perience with the doings of the men
who sail the air has taught the natives
that certain signs were evidences of "a
Forthcoming ascension. Consequently
the inhabitants were out in great num-
bers when the sun appeared.
Count Zeppelin arrived at the float
ing dock at 4 o'clock, accompanied by
his nephew, DR.. Eckner, a well-known
yachtsman of Hooburg, and Maj. Grad
nitz. 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. 1t was said that
4. a,I-l III r.rak
flight quietly and without interference.
Lake Like Mirror
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 atmosphere. AT
,6:15 the colossal body of the airship
emerged slowly from the floating shed,
towed by three launches. Under the
direction of DR.. Eckner the pontoons
were towed out from underneath 1t
! and the airship hovered low over the
surface of the lake. Then, slowly the
nose of the ship was raised to a 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 height
Oh 6DOuL 4UU l6eL anu Ii1eH swept III d
graceful circle and Game back over
the lake. So light and agile were her
movements that the count seemed JUS
titled In starting his long journey in
the direction of Schaafshausen.
His departure was the signal for pro-
longed cheering by the spectators on
land and afioat in variou- small craft.
who wished him a good voyage and a
safe return.
When in the direction of Constance
the airship sped along in almost
bee line over drowsy villages and
sleepy towns. After Constance was
left behind few spectators were out to
see the flight, the news of the ascent
having not had time to get further
ahead. Suddenly while still over the
water the airship apparently came to
a full stop for several minutes.
This gave the correspondent of the
Associated Press, who was following
in motor boat, time to overtake the
monster. After a short rest the two
front propellers, which looked like the
fms OF great fish, began to revolve
and at once the bow of the ship as
cended. From below 1t appeared as
though something had gone wrong. In
a few seconds, however, the rear pro-
pellers moved and the airship again
resumed her horizontal position.
Wonderful Creation
Gracefully swinging first to the right
and then to the left she took rup her
rapid course. 1t was evident that the
count had been subjecting the aerial
craft to some severe test and that the
result had been to his satisfaction.
The mass of 1000 pounds of metal,
woodwork. machinery and cloth no
longer seemed colossal and gigantic,
ungainly and uncouth, but creation
so wonderful that the spectators for
handiWork of man.
The people of Constance, who had
arisen early, were aware of the ap-
proach of the airship The shore and
the piers were black with people shout
ing a cheerful welcome and their
wishes for a good voyage. Like an
arrow the airship shot over the city. |
At Constance the correspondent left
his motor boat and In automobile sped
around the city limits in the Rhine
valley. The airship had risen again
about 100 feet higher and there were
more maneuvers. The laborers in the
fields rested on their spades to gaze
aloft at the strange visitor. Drivers
stopped their teams in their efforts not
to lose anything of the strange ap-
partition, and the people on the road
gave their entire attention to the air, |
attracted by the passing automobiles
and road traffic.
over the island of Reichau the air.
ship ascended to height ofsS000 feet,
but this was only for a few minutes.
1t came down TO its previous level to
save gas. which escaped more easily
in the thin air of the greater altitude. |
Had 1t not been for these naneuvers
It would have been impossible to have |
kept up with the airship in a fifty
horsepower automobile. The traveller !