The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-05
GREAT AIRSHIP MAKES ASCENT Count Zeppelin's Magni-
 ficent Flight. A LAUNDERING GREETING Thousands of Spectators Shouted.
 Cried and Wept. The Day And Hour When The Ascent Was To Be Made, Was Kept
 Secret Until Late Monday
 Night.
LAUNDERING GREETING

Friedrich shafen, Aug 4.-Arising from it's floating dock on the dark green watefs of Lake Constance early thls morning, the great dlrigible air. ship of Count Zeppelin was sent away for a twentg-four hour journey in the air to Mayence and return. Late tonight, the apex of the trl- angular flight had been turned and the monster of the air with nose pointed southward was reported | speeding under starry skies toward Friedrichshafen. where it is hoped the journey win end Wednesday. The flight to Mayence.f however. was not an uninterrupted one, for something was wrong with the propeller while 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 Naeken- helm. eight miles from Mayence where repairs were effected.
 The dirigible was again sent on high and the trip that probably will prove a record one was re-com- menced
 The weather for the ascension was most suspicious. The ship of the air rose majestically to a height of 400 feet and crossing the lake circled the town of Constance, then turning, re- traced the path of its flight and de- scriblng a perfect circle. passed over Friedrichshafen and then scared westward over the lake of Basic on the Swiss frontier. Turning the ves- sel slightly toward the nothwest Count Zeppelin steered 1t over Null hausen, and then directed it's night northeasterly to Strassburg, thence following the valley of the Rhine north ward to Mayence, a distance al together of over 250 miles.
 sNyaN h Ina nraS fV4o t5 fas when the trouble to the propeller oc- cured and somewhat impeded the prog ress of the airship, but when the balloon had been brought down Count zep- pelin found the defect so slight that he teiephoned his secretary at his of-
 flee in Friedrlehafsen,
 We win start again some time to- night and complete the trip"
 His expectations were realized for in less than four hours. everything had been made perfect.
 The people gathered on the banks of the stream and sang patriotic songs and cheered Count Zeppelin.
 At 10:i5 D. m. the airship rose again and turned her. bows toward Mayenre, whence she arrived at II o'clock and passed over the gas-lighted city al- most beyond the view of the popu- lace. which had gathered in the streets expecting to witness the passage of the balloon.
 Soaring onward for a short distance, the airship was turned homeward. Whether It will follow the itinerary laid down by Count Zeppelin. retrac- ing It's outward path to Karlsruhe and thence flying southeasterly over Stuttgart to Lake Constance. is not known.
 If the airship maintains the speed at which 1t was travelling to-day, 1t should arrive at Frledrichshafen to- morrow forenoon.
 Date Kept Secret.
 Although day and hour had been keep a secret, long before daylight to- day the streets of Fredrichshafen presented a lively scene. for long ex- perience with the doings of the men who sail the air had taught the natives that certain signs were evidenced of forthcoming ascension.
 Consequently the local inhabitants and their summer boarders were out In great numbers when the sun ap- peared. Count Zeppelin arrived at the floating dock at o'clock. accompanied by his nephew. Dr. Eckner. and Major Grandnitz. the only official representa- lives. Neither the imperial commits sioners nor the counts usual official suite nor the military motorists had
 
 Not the fainest cloud marred the beauty of the day. The surface of the lake was like a mirror and the dis tant Alpine giants stood out strong and mighty in the clear atmosphere. At fifteen minutes after six the colos- sal body of the airship emerged slow ly from the floating shed, lowed by three launches. Under the direction of Dr. Eckner, the pontoons were lowed out from underneath 1t and the air ship hoyered low over the surface of the lake. Then slowly the nose of the ship was raised to a higher level. Above the noise of the propellers which sounded like the beating of giant drums, arose the voice of the count, giving the command to "cast orr and the airship rose horizontally to height of about 400 feet and then swept off in the direction of Con- stance. She turned shortly. however, in a graceful circle and came back over the lake. So light and agile were her movements that the count seemed justified in starting his long Journey of four hours without any previous trial trip. and he started in the direc- ton of Schaffhausen. His departure was the signal for prolonged cheering by spectators.
 The 1aborers in the field rested in their shades to gaze aloft at the strange visitor. Drivers stopped their teams in their eagerness not to lose anything of the strange apparition and the people on the road with all their attention rlveted in the air. were ob- livious of passing automobiles and other road traffic.
 In the forward gondola are i've men and in the after gondola three mem- bers of the crew. One of the men from the forward gendola soon after the alrship passed Hohenwiel. was seen to ascend q ladder and disappear in the great body of the ship.
 The ship quickly disappeared behind the mountains. putting an impossible barrier between herself and a pursuing automobile. Five minutes later 1t was possible to sight her again for an in- stant floating smoothly along with a silent statelinesJ and majesty full in keeping with the tranquility of a most beautiful summer day.
 ThunderfnE Greetings.
 At Sehaffausen every point of van tage was taken. Hats. handkerchief and hands were waved iu mad welcome