Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-06
And Count zeppeIin's voy-
age Ends In Disaster.
Storm Upseis Benzine, Which
Ignites, Firing The Balloon.
Thousands Awaiting Arrival atFrsd.
srlehafsn Are Disappointed.


end came today to Count Zeppelin's
long awaited endurance flight in his
dirigible balloon. and tonight the proud
airship which yesterday was cutting
rapidly through the air and outdis-
tancing pursuing automobiles, lies IN
an open field near here, mass of
twisted, useless metal A chapter Of ac-
cidents Occasioned by bad moods of ma
ture and the failure of mechanical APP
pliances combined, were responsible for
the untinely end of the balloon, the
fights of which have held the atten-
ton of the world and for the blasting
Of the ambitions of it's inventor, Count
Zeppelin.
The count, almost heartbrOken and
unable longer to endure the sight OF
his shattered craft, has left by train
for Friedrichshafen.
The airship had left Nackenheim, the
scene Of it's first mishap. and over
night had visited Mayence and started
on the hcmeward journey. Soon after
its departure, however, it was found
that the front motor was working bad
ly, owing to the fusing of metal in the
groove in which the piston rode. This
was caused by friction. Zeppelin conse-
quently was compelled to rely on one
motor on the rear platform throughout
the night, thus considerably reducing
his speed During the night, too. he
made an ascent Of nearly 5000 feet. los
ing considerable quantity of gas,
thus depriving the balloon of some OF
its byonancy.
When over Echterdingen he decided
to descend. Although this was the first
that such a maneuvre had been at
tempted with a rigid balloon the land
ing was effected easily and smoothly,
only one of the steel wire stays being
broken. The men We're set about maxi
ing repairs to the balloon, which rode
at anchor in the center of a large force
of militia which had been called out to
keep the crowds away. Count Zeppelin
telegraphed to FriedrichShafen for
more gas cylinders and then went to Il
neighbOring inn for luncheon. He was
away slightly over two hours and was
destined only to see the wreck Of his
airship when he returned.
The local railroad companies ran spe-
cial cars to convey curious sightseers
to the spot, while automobiles and
wagons loaded with people also flocked
TO the vicinity.
At 23O o'clock this afternoon the wind
suddenly sprang up. Some of the
weatherwise bystanders called the at
tention Of the officers to the TACT that
a storm was brewing and advised them
to secure the balloon. Their warnings
We're unheeded.
The balloon swayed to and fro, some
times rising few feet from the ground.
At first the craft heeled over and then
her bow rose in the air, carrying with
1t q number of soldiers who were hold
ing the ropes. After pausing for a mo-
ment at q height of 50 feet. it dashed
forward against a cluster of fruit trees.
The impact uprooted them. Then the
airship returned to earth even more
suddenly than it rose and crashed to
the ground. With a thunderous noise,
the forward motor exploded. From the
bow of the balloon shot forth livid
flame while from the rear there escaped
thick clouds of black smoke which
caused the entire structure To dsap-
pear from the view of the thousands
Of spectators. When the air cleared the
balloon was seen lying in an open tieiu
on high plateau, tangled strips of the
aluminium still remaining. Tho metal
stays and bands and portions of the
motors were strewn about like old iron,
blackened with smoke and burns.
Officers rushed forward and found
that several soldiers had been hurt.
The four engineers who had occupied
the forward platform of the airship
had escaped death, but We're suffering
from injuries. They We're taken to a
hospital. The men had tried when the
balloon broke away, to couple up the
motors so as to ascend beyond danger.
but in this effort they had not been
successful
Count Zeppelin was sent for. When
he arrived and saw the hopeless wreck
he broke down. His head was bent on
his chest, and tears were streaming
from his eyes as he stood in an attitude
of despair before the shattered man.
moth. The friends induced him 10 enter
motor car and return to Stuttgart.
whence later he left by train for
Friedrichshafen A small crowd re-
mains near the wreck. tonight dis
cussing the dramatic end of the air
ship in the duh light of gasoline lamps
None of Count Zeppelin's workmen
were present. They We're sleeping In
the village after 36 hours of labor A
couple Of hundred cyclinders of gas lie
in the field, awaiting shipment to
Friedrichshafen. 1t is supposed spark
from the motor ignited the gas when
the balloon was carried into the air.
Thousands of persons awaited the
return of Count Zeppelin unable to be-
lieve the news of the destruction of the
airship was true. Count Zeppelin's
secretary tonight said that the Count
already was preparing plans for an
other balloon.
CONTINUED on Page Twelve.)
TO BREAK UP A COLD