The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-08-13
STORM WRECKS
Great AIRSHIP
zEPPELiN's MACHINE BLOWS UP
AND is BURNED AND
SMASHED.
Inventor rt-Broken-Disaster over
takes Diralble Balloon at Eehter.
dingen After lts Remarkable En-.
duranee Flight to Mayence.

Echterdingen, Aug. GA dramatic
end came Wednesday to Count Yep
pelin's long-awaited endurance flight
in his monster dirigible balloon, and
the proud airship which Tuesday was
cutting rapidly through the air and
out-distancing pursuing automobiles,
lies in an open field near here,
mass of twisted, useless metal.
A chapter of accidents, occasioned
by bad moods of nature and the fail.
ure Of mechanical appliances COM
bined, was responsible for the un-
timely end OF the balloon, the flights
of which have held the attention of
the world, and for blasting the am
billions Of its inventor, Count Zeppelin.
The count, almost heart-broken and
unable longer to endure the sight of
his shattered craft, has left by train
for Friedrichshafen.
One Motor Works Badly.
The airship had left Nackenheim,
the scene of its first mishap, and over
night had visited Mayence and begun
the homeward journey when misfor-
tune overlook It. Soon after its de-
parture II 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.
Over Echterdingen, Count Zeppelin
decided to land. The engineers i'm
medlately set about making 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.
Destroyed by q Storm.
At 1880 O'Clock Wednesday after.
noon a 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 bal.
loon. Their warnings were unheeded.
The balloon swayed to and fro,
sometimes rising a few feet from the
ground. At 1858 o'clock a formidable
gust OF wind struck the airship broad
side. At first the craft heeled over
and then her bows rose in the air,
carrying with them a number of sol
diers holding the ropes. After pois-
ing moment at a height of so feet,
the airship came crushing to the
ground With a 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 structure to disap-
pear from the view of the thousands
of spectators.
When the air cleared the balloon
was seen lying in an open field on a
high plateau with only the ragged,
tangled strips OF the aluminium en-.
velope 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
Officers rushed forward and found
that several soldiers had been hurt
The four engineers who were on the
forward platform of the airship had
escaped death, but were suffering
from injuries.
Government Pays Him.
Berlin, Aug. 6.-The ministers OF
all the federal states have telegraphed
condolences to Count Zeppelin on the
loss OF his airship, expressing the hope
that the disaster will only spur him
to further efforts toward the attain
ment of his ambition.
Dr. Won Bethmann.Hollweg, i'm
perial secretary of state for the in
terror, after a consultation with his
colleagues. has decided to forward to
Count Zeppelin $125OOO, the proposed
estimates In the imperial budget for
experiments