The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-08-08
AIRSHIP MEETS
WITH DISASTER
MONSTER DlRIGlRLE BALLOON
DESTROYED WHILE LYING
AT ANCHOR.
HIT BY FIERCE WIND
WONDERFUL ENDURANCE FLIGHT
CUT SHORT BY SUDDEN
ACCIDENT.

Echterdingen.-A dramatic end
came "Wednesday to Count Zeppelin's
long endurance flight in his monster
dirigible balloon and at night the air.
ship which the day before was cutting
through the air and understanding pur-
suing automobiles, lay mass of
twisted metal.
A chapter of accidents Occasional by
bad moods of nature and the failure of
mechanical appliances contributed to
the untimely end of the balloon, the
flights of which have held the atten-
ton of the world.
The count. almost broken hearted
and unable longer to endure the sight
of his shattered craft, has left by train
for Friedrlchshafen
1t had started on the homeward
journey when it was found that the
front motor was working badly, owing
to fusing of metal in the groove in
which the piston rod ran. This was
caused by friction. Count Zeppelin
was compelled to rely on one motor on
the rear platform throughout the
night, which considerably reduced his
speed. During the night he made an
ascent of nearly 6.000 feet, losing
considerable quantity of gas This de-
prived the balloon of some of its buoy
ancy
Over Echterdingen Count Zeppelin
decided to land. The engineers imme-
diately set about making repairs to
the balloon. which rode at anchor in
the center of large military force,
which had ben called out to keep the
crowds away. The count went to
neighboring inn for luncheon. He was
away for more than two hours and
was destined to see only the wreck of
his airship when he returned.
The local railway companis ran spe-
cial cars to convey the curious sight
seers to the spot, while pedestrians,
automobiles and wagons, loaded with
peasants, also flocked to the vicinity.
1t is estimated that the crowd num-
bered nearly 10000 persons.
The Zeppelin airship had just com
pleted the most remarkable voyage in
the history of aerial navigation. 1t
left the lake of Constance Tuesday
morning for trip to Mayence and re-
turn. The flight was successful in
great MANY ways. The machine re-
sponded absolutely to the control of
the pilots and was navigated over the
lake of Constance. down the valley of
the Rhine over Strassburg and sew
eral other cities, and was expected
back at the starting point Wednesday
morning.
At 2:30 O'Clock in the afternoon a
wind suddenly sprang up. Then fSlst
struck the airship broadside. At first
the craft heeled over and then her
bows rose in the air carrying up
number of soldiers holding the ropes.
After poising for a moment at
height of fifty feet it rushed against
a cluster of fruit trees and uprooted
them
The airship came crashing to the
ground. With thunderous report the
forward motor exploded. Flame and
smoke hid the structure. When the
air cleared only tangled strips of the
aluminium envelope remained.
Officers rushed forward and found
that several soldiers had been hurt.
The four engineers who were on the
forward platform of the airship had es-
capped death, but they were suffering
from injuries.
When Count Zeppelin saw the hope
less wreck he broke down. and with
tears streaming from his eyes, stood
in front of the shattered airship.
Count Zeppelin's secretary said
Wednesday night that the count is al
ready preparing plans for another bal
loon.