The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-08-14

Echterdingen (By Cable) "A dra-
matte end came to Count Zeppelin's
long-waited endurance flight in his
monster dirigible balloon. and the
proud airship lies in an open field
near here. mass of twisted, USE
less metal. A chapter of accidents
occasioned by bad moods of nature
and the failure of mechanical appli-
ances combined was responsible for
the untimely end of the balloon, the
flights of which have held the at
tention of the world, and for blast
ing the ambitions of its inventor.
Count Zeppelin. The Count, almost
heart-broken and unable to longer
endure the sight of his shattered
craft, has left by train for Friedrich
shafen.
The airship had left Nackenheim,
the scene of its first mishap, and over
night had visited Mayence and begun
on the homeward journey when mis-
fortune overlook it. Soon after the
start 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. Consequent
ly Count Zeppelin was compelled
to rely ON one motor on the rear
platform throughout the night, which
considerably reduced his speed.
During the night, too, he made an
ascent of nearly 5000 feet, losing
a considerable quantity of gas. This
deprived the balloon of some of it's
buoancy.
Over Echterding Count Zeppelin
decided to land. Although this was
the first time that such maneuver
had been attempted with a rigid
balloon, the landing was effected cas-
lily and smoothly, only one OF the.
steel wire stays being broken. The
engineers Immediately set about
making repairs to the balloon. which
rode at anchor in the center of
large force of military which had
been called out to keep the crowds
away. Count Zeppelin telegraphed
to Friedrichshafen for more gas CYL
inders, and then went to neighbor-
ing inn for luncheon. He was away
to see only the wreck of his airship
when he returned.
II The local railway companies ran
special cars to convey the curious
sight-seers to the spot, while pedes-
TRANS. automobiles and wagons
loaded with peasants also fockcd to
the vicinity. 1t is estimated that the
crowd numbered nearly 10000.
At 2.30 o'clock wind suddenly
sprang up and some of the weather.
wise bystanders called the attention
of the officers to the fact that a
storm was brewing and advised them
to secure the balloon. Their warn
ings were UNDECIDED.
The balloon swayed to and fro,
sometimes rising few feet from the
ground. Then strong gust of wind
struck the airship broadside. At
first the craft heeled over and then
her bows rose in the air, carrying
with them number of soldiers
holding the ropes. After poising for
a moment at a height of so feet the
airship returned to the earth, even
more suddenly than it rose, and came
crashing to the ground With
thunderous report the forward motor
exploded.
From the bows of the balloon shot
forth a livid flame, while from the
rear escaped thick clouds of black
smoke which caused the entire struc-
ture to disappear from the view of
the thousands of spectators. When
the air cleared the balloon was seen
lying In an open field on high
plateau with only the ragged. tangled
strips of the aluminium envelope
still remaining. The metal stays and
bands and portions of the motors
were strewn ABOUT In pieces like old
iron and blackened with smoke and
scorched.