Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-06
ZEPPELIN TO
 TRY AGAIN.
Will Replace Wrecked Air
 ship With Another.
DISASTER ENDS FLIGHT.

Close of Air Journey Comes In Gas Ex-
 plosion That Leaves Balloon Lying
 In Field a Pile of Junk - Sudden
 Gust of Wind Lifts Vessel From
 Temporary Anchorage and Bursts
 Inner Compartment, Permitting Con
 tents to Be Isnited by Spark From
 Motor.
 Friedrichshafen. Aug 6. - All the many years of weary labor of Count Zeppelin went for naught when the big dirigible balloon, in which he had started on a record breaking trip of twenty-four hours. went up in a col umn of flame. All that is left now of the airship is a pile of broken and twisted metal lying in a field near Echterdingen.
 Although the airshlp vanished in a puff of smoke and burst of flame. the hopes of Count Zeppelin did not go with it. He is broken hearted over his loss, but his grief has been soften ed by assurances that money would be raised immediately to enable him to build a new balloon. The government already has sent him $125,O00 with which to continue his experiments, and subscription lists have been opened both in Germany and in Switzerland.
 The destruction of the airship chang ed what had promised to be a day of jollification here into a day of gloom. More than 100000 persons had gather ed in the streets of Friedrichshafen to greet the home coming aeronaut. Houses were decorated with bunting and streets were festooned with flags and lanterns.
 Crowd Awaits News of Journey.
 Tn front of the principal hotel the military band was just on the point of beginning its concert when a man rushed excitedly from the office of a local newspaper and affixed a tele- gram on the blackboard at the en- trance to the building. A crowd of people gathered to read the news, ex- pecting to hear that the airship had left Echterdingen on it's way here One man began to read the message aloud. Suddenly he stopped as if he could not believe the news. Then he cried out in a loud voice: 'The balloon has burned up! The balloon has burn ed upr
 The startling intelligence travelled like wildfire down the main street. Some people would not believe 1t and declared that it was a bad joke, but the doubters soon were silenced by the pitiful expressions on the faces of the employees of Count Zeppelin, who rushed about with every evidence of consternation.
 An explanation of the accident given by experts and bulletined here is that probably one of the ballconettes of which the immense envelope was con structed burst and that a spark from the motor ignited the gas when the balloon was carried into the air by a sudden storm after it had alighted.
 The proud airship which short time ago was cutting rapidly through the air and outdistancing pursuing au- tomobiles lies in an open field near Echterdingen. a mass of twisted. use less metal. A chapter of accidents oc- casioned by bad moods of nature and the failure of mechanical appliances combined were responsible for the un- timely end of the balloon the flights of which have held the attention of the world and for the blasting of the ambitions of it's inventor, Count Zep- pelin.
 Balloon Loses Buoyaney.
 The airship had left Nackenheim. the scene of its first mishap. and had visited Mayence and started on the homeward journey. Soon after it's departure. however. it was found that the front motor was working badly owing to the fusing of metal in the groove in which the piston rod ran. This was caused by friction. Zeppe- lin consequently was compelled to rely on one motor on the rear plat form, thus considerably reducing his speed. He made an ascent of nearly 5000 feet. losing a considerable quan- tity of gas. thus depriving the balloon of some of it's buoyancy. When over Bchterdingen Count Zep- ! pelin decided to ascend to dry land. ] Although this was the first time that . such a maneuver had been attempted |. with a rigid ballon. the landing was effected easily and smoothly. only one of the steel wire stays being broken. The engineers immediately set about making the repairs to the balloon. which rode at anchor in the center of a large force of military which had been called out to keep the crowds away Count Zeppelin telesraphed tO Friedrichshafen for more gas cylin- ders and then went 10 a neighboFing Inn for luncheon. He was away slight ly over two hours and was destined only to see the wreck of his airship when he returned
 Warning Is Net Needed.
 The wind suddenly sprang up where the airship rested. Some of the by islanders remarked tO the officers that a storm was brewing and advised them to secure the airship. but their warming was nnhee,fed. and a formida- ble gust of wind struck the airship broadside
 At first the craft heelel over and hen her bows rose in the sir. carry n- with them q number Of SoldierS . rho were hoiffng the ropes After ( poiSing for c moment at a height of