The Glenwood post., 1908-08-08
ZEPPELIN ON
LONG FLIGHT
DIRIGIBLE BALLOON STARTS ON
TWENTY-FoUR HOUR
JOURNEY.
is HoMEWARD BOUND
CROWDS GATHER IN EVERY TOWN
TO WATCH THE GREAT
AIRSHIP.

Friedrichshafen, Aug. ARISING
from its floating dock on the dark
green waters of Lake Constance early
this morning the great dirigible air
ship of Count Zeppelin was sent away
for twenty-four hours journey in the
air to Mayence and return. Late to-
night the apex of the triangular flight
had been turned and the monster of the
air, with nose pointed southwark was
reported speeding along under starry
skies toward Friedrichshafen, where it
Is hoped the journey will end Wednes-
day.
The flight to Mayence, however, was
not an uninterrupted one, for some
thing went wrong with propeller
while the ship was speeding along
above the valley of the Rhine and
Count Zeppelin was compelled to bring
the airship down to the surface of the
river at Neckheim, three miles from
Mayence, where repairs were effected.
The dirigible balloon again was sent
on high and the trip that probably will
prove record one was recommended.
The quiet village and small towns
along the shores of Lake Constance
awoke this morning to find that the
great event for which they had waited
for weeks and months had occurred
Count Zeppelin had started on an
epoch-making journey. A majority Of
the scant population of Friedrichshaf-
en-, however, despite the strict secrecy
of the counts associates, got wind that
something was about to happen and
assembled before daybreak at MunZell,
opposite the flowing balloon shed.
At 6:15 o'clock the colossal ship OF
the air began to move slowly and
emerged from the shed.
The airship lowered for moment on
the surface of the lake, and then in
voice which showed the habit of giving
commands, Count Zeppelin shouted:
Loose ALL" The four propellers of
the machine, two fore and two aft re-
sembling fish fins, began to sound their
drumlike melody and carried the craft
horizontally about 200 yards in the air,
with bows turned toward the land.
Then it circled gracefully and headed
for Munzell.
The airship sped on in a businesslike
manner.
A correspondent OF the Associated
Press followed the airship in an auto
mobile, but found it almost impossible
to keep up with it, as the balloon was
making more than forty miles an hour
and taking almost a bee line, while the
motor car was compelled to ascend
hills, cross railroads and circumvent
| other obstacles.
! Near the island of Recenau, three and
half miles northwest of Constance,
however, Count Zeppelin tested the
agility Of his craft with such success
that the impression of clumsiness and
uncouthness which was apparent while
1t was resting imrnovable outside the
shed on the lake gave place to the con-
viction that nature had always in
tended 1t to sweep majestically through
the air.
threw message from his balloon ad-
dressed to his secretary at Friedrich
shafen. saying:
THUS far everything has gone we'll.
| Greetings to my family"
The count swept onward toward
Neuhaseu, out-distancing all the auto
mobiles following his flight
The occupants OF the motor car
could, however, see him in the heights
circling over the Rhine falls, which
seemed to thunder forth a welcome
from their depths. This was mingled
with the loud cheering of thousands OF
persons along the banks of the Rhine
and was taken up by the sojourners in
all the summer resorts along the river
The progress Of the airship was
splendid and 1t was only after passing
Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, at both of
which cities ovations were given IT..
that the balloon appeared to slacken
its speed. Then when the citizens
of Mayence could see 1t plainly ap-
preaching the craft came to stop
above Mackenheim and slowly de-
scended to the river. Everything
seemed outwardly to work smoothly.
There was no hurry on board the plat
forms and the craft alighted in the
center Of the stream with the bottoms
of the fore and aft platforms gently
touching the water.
At 2:40 p. m. the airship rose again
from the rapidly flowing Rhine and
scared momentarily over the spot
where her injury had been repaired,
then turned her bows toward Mayence,
where she arrived at II o'clock and
passed over the gas lighted city almost
J beyond the view OF the populace which
| had gathered In the streets expecting
to witness the passage Of the bal
loon.
Quickly the airship left the town be-
hind, soaring onward for a short dis
tance, then after executing few man.
euvers the craft was turned homeward.
II the airship maintains the speed at
which 1t was travelling today It should
! arrive at Friedrichshafen tomorrow
morning.
| Every man. woman and child on its
route witnessed the flight Of the great
airship with absorbing interest.
|