Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-05
A|RSH|P EXPlODES;
ZEPPELIN DESPA|RS
Monster German 0irigibIe
Caught in Fierce Storm
AND is TOTALLY WRECKED
Was Homeward Bound After Record
Was Homeward Bound After Record
Breaking Twelve-Hour Flight
WITH PROUD AND HAPPY CREW
While Repairing Near Stuttgart.
Wind Tears It From Moorings
and It Burns High in Air.

While anchored at Esterdingen,
five miles south of Stuttgart, for
repairs, following a record-break-
ing twelve-hour flight, which is
conceded to have been the most
remarkable voyage in the history
of aerial navigation, Count Zeppe-
Inns monster airship was struck
by lightning during a thunder
storm this afternoon, and, being
torn from its moorings by fierce
gust of wind, exploded while high
in the air. The aluminium cars
and motors and the aluminium
gas container fell to the earth, in
juring several persons. Count
Zeppelin escaped unscathed, but
is in despair. as the airship was
totally wrecked. The count is
practically penniless, having spent
mis- personal fortune in the con-
struction of this great dirigible,
upon the acceptance of which by,
the German government he was
to receive half a million dollars.
STUTTGART, August 5.-During a thun-
der storm here at 3 O'clock this afternoon
Count Zeppelin's airship was blown from
its moorings and struck by lightning
While high in the air the aluminium gas
container. in which were the sixteen in
dividual gas-filled balloonettes exploded
and the immense dirigible, which has just
completed a wonderful record breaking
twelve-ho flight, fell to the ground in
fragments. complete and pathetic
wreck. Several persons were injured by
the falling cars, engines and other ap-
paratus. The count was not hurt He
is in despair. however. as the airship, for
which he was to receive 100000 from the
German government in case 1t came up
to specifications-as there seemed to be
no doubt it would-is a total, irretriev-
able loss.
Torn Away by the Wind.
The storm blew up unexpectedly. A
| fierce gust of wind tore the balloon from
its anchorage and drove 1t in a south
| westerly direction for some fifty yards.
| Here the rear end of the great fabric
| dropped and smoke and flames were seen
| to burst out from one end TO the other.
Then in a few seconds came the explo-
| sion, and a great column of flame shot
upward.
This was followed by the crashing down
| to the earth of the motors and frames
| that had been attached to the under side
of the airship. Several bystanders were
knocked down.
| 1t had been necessary to land the air.
ship at Echterdingen. owing TO the over
heating of the piston box of the forward
motor and the escape of considerable gas.
Then the count took the airship TO q
height of 5000 feet.
Just Back From Great Trip.
The Zeppelin airship had just completed
the most remarkable voyage in the his
| tory of aerial navigation. 1t left the
Lake of Constance yesterday morning for
a trip to Mayence and return. The flight
was successful in a great many ways.
The machine responded absolutely to the
control OF its pilots and was navigated
over the Lake of Constance, down the
valley of the Rhine, over Strassburg and
several other cities, and was expected
back at its starting point this morning.
1t suffered an accident last evening. how
ever. and had to come TO the surface OF
the Rhine for repairs. These. however.
did not take long and the airship was
soon on its way again.
Shortly before o'clock this morning
when the machine was expected at Fried
richshafen, its point of departure. II came
down at Echterdingen, five miles south or
Stuttgart, because the piston box OF one
of the motors had become overheated and
also because the amount OF gas in the
balloons had been reduced as result OF
sailing in high attitudes.
His Money All Gone.
Count Zeppelin has devoted his lifetime
and his personal fortune TO the develop
ment of his airships. The vessel that was
structed When his own money had be-
come exhausted the German reichstag
voted him S125.Oo0 to conduct further ex-
periments and No. was the result. The
German government agreed TO purchase
this ship on condition that IL fulfilled cer-
tain requirements. the principal one being
that II remain In the air twenty-four
hours and land on terra firma. This stip-
ulation had not yet been fulfilled.
The airship was 443 feet long with q
diameter of about forty-five feet. IL ta-
pered to a blunt point at the bow, while
at the stern were various rudders and
frames used in steering. 1t was fitted
underneath with two independent COM
partments, each carrying a motor capable
of developing 40 horsepower. AS many as
sixteen passengers had been taken aloft
at one time Sleeping accommodations
were provided for the crew. and an appa-
ratus was installed for the dispatch and
receipt of wireless telegraph messages.
The Initiating gas was distributed among
sixteen separate. interior compartments