Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-05
LONG BALLOON TRIP
Count zeppelin's Dirigible Stays in
Air Nearly Twelve Hours.
LANDS NEAR 0PPENHEIM
Machine Descends Because of Defect
in One Of the Motors.
MAKES THIRTY MILES AN HOUR
Wondering Thousands Watch Its
Many Evolutions,
MACHINE UNDER GOOD CONTROL
IL Darts About Like a HuEe Bird RnS
Seems 90 obey VIII of the
Operator at All
Times.
Machine Descends Because of Defect
in One Of the Motors.
MAKES THIRTY MILES AN HOUR
Wondering Thousands Watch Its
Many Evolutions.
MACHINE UNDER GOOD CONTROL
BULLETIN.

OPPENHEIAI. Aug. 4-The Zeppelin air
ship owing to a defect OF one OF the mo-
tors, landed on an island in the middle OF
the Rhine near here at O'Clock this even
ing.
KoNsTANz, Germany. Aug 4-The
weather was excellent this morning when
at $50 O'Clock Count zeppelns great air
ship emerged from the swimming dock at
FrIedrichshafen. The airshp rose immedi-
ately from the waters Of the lake to a
height Of about 400 feet ard after describ-
ing one magnificent circle over the lake
proceeded in bee line for this city, ar
riving here at 6:55 o'clock. The ship con-
tinued on its way and within another hour
had covered forty-flve kilometers and was
| over Schaffhausen. From that point it
continued along the Rhine TO Basic.
Count Zeppelin's plan is to continue to
| Mayence along the Rhine and from there
return to Metz cross over TO Stuttgart
and return. II the weather continues favor
able to Freidrlchshafen at about o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Not the faintest cloud marred the beauty
Of the day The surface Of the lake was
like a mirror and the distant Alpine giants
stood out strong and mighty in the clear
atmosphere. At 615 the colossal body OF
ing shed, towed by three launches. Under
the direction of DIR. Eckner the pontoons
were towed out from underneath It and the
airship hovered low over the surface of the
lake. Then slowly the arship was raised
to a higher level. Above the noise under the
machine, like the noise of giant drums.
arose the voice OF the count, giving the
command to 'cast off and the airship
rose horizontally to a height OF about 100
feet and than swept off In the direction
of Konstanz. 1t turned shortly, however.
in a graceful circle. and came back over
the lake. SO light and agile were its
movements that the count seemed justified
in starting his long journey of twenty
four hours without any previous trial trip.
and he started in the direction OF Schaff-
shausen. His departure was the signal
for prolonged cheering by the spectators
on land and sfloats ~ various small craft.
who wished him good voyage and safe
return.
Darts About Like Huge Bird.
Headed in the direction of Konstanz the
airship sped along almost in a bee line
over drowsy villages and sleeping towns.
Suddenly, while still over the water the
air ship apparently came to a full stop for
several minutes. This gave the cor
respondent of the Associated Press, who
was following in a motor boat, time to
overtake the monster. After a short rest
the two front propellers. which looked
like the fans OF a great fish. began to
revove and at once the bow OF the ship
ascended. From below 1t appeared as
| though something had gone wrong. In
) few seconds, however the rear propellers
moved and the airship again resumed its
horizontal position. Gracefully swinging
first to the right and then to the left It
took up it's rapid course. 1t was evident
, that Count Zeppelin had been subjecting
= the aerial craft to some severe test and
I that the result had been to his satisfac-
ton. The mass of 2,O00 pounds OF metals.
woodwork machinery and cloth no longer
q seemed colossal and gigantic. ungainly and
4 uncouth, but a creation wonderful that
the spectators for the moment forgot that
it was the handiwork of man.
D AirshIp Rivals speed of Auto.
a At Konstanz the correspondent left his
e motor boat and in an automobile sped
around the city and finally caught up with
the balloon far beyond the city limits in
5 the Rhine valley. The airship had risen
3 again about 100 feet higher, and there was
= further maneuvers. The laborers in the
I fields rested on their spades TO gaze aloft
at the strange visitor.
|
ascended to a height Of 5000 feet. but this
was only for few minutes. II came down
TO its previous level 70 save gas, which
escapes more easily in the thin air of the
greater attitudes.
Had It not been for these maneuvers It
would have been impossible TO have kept
up with the airship in fifty horsepower
automobile. The traveller in the air could
easily have out dstanced a car of this
power. Allowing for the time lost in
manauvering, the airship was proceeding
at the rate Of about thirty miles an hour.
CircICs Around Old Castle.
At Stein the Rhine valley widens con-
siderably, forming the Lake OF Zell. with
this expanse in front OF H. the airship rose
first, came down again to an altitude OF
about 1,OO0 feet and continued at that height
until it again re-entered the Rhine valley
not far from the famous castle Of Hohen-
wiel.
This stronghold. unconqured for 1OOC
years until the coming OF Napoleon, today
was a mue witness OF the marvellous
achievement OF the Napoleon OF the air
over the old feudai castle the airship swept
silent and speedily. and its moats and tur.
rets flashed their greetings 10 the intrepid
sailors OF the air above.
There was a faint wind from the north
west in the beginning. which was appar
emily quite poWerless 20 Influence eitheI
the speed Of the airship or It's course Thil
wind later changed and blew from tbs
southeast from which direction It wac
helpful TO the navtgators.
At Stein II was seen that the airship wa
quickening its, pace considerably. going a
the rate Of probably thirty-seven miles ar
hour. In the forward gondola are five
men and in the after gondola three mem,
bers OF the crew. One of the men from IN,
forward gondOla. soon after the airshiT
passed Hohenwiel. was seen to ascend I
ladder and disappear in the great body o.
the ship.
ship Disappears Behind Mountains
Something may be wrong with one OF the
sirtsen small balloons fillinE the iniA-t>'