The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-01
AT WINDS MERCY
Count Zeppelfn's Airship Drifts
Helplessly for Hours
Unable to Make Headway in
Wind or to Descend.
LANDS SAFE AT LAST
At DfngOlfing After Being in
Air Eleven Hours.
Flew the First Ill Miles in
Five Hours.

Munich, April 1.-The Zeppelin
aIrshfp made an attempt today to fly
from Friederichshafen to this city and
Dack- 1t encountered a storm and was
orlVen far out of its original course
and after IL hours in the air. landed
safely at Dingolfing, IS miles north
east of Munich.
Part of the journey was made un-
der circumstances of peril; one of the
motors refused to work, and it was
impossible for the airship to make
headway against the wind which in
creased steadily in violence. Helpless
and drifting rapidly to leeward, the
airship travelled for four hours while
Count Zeppelin and his men awaited
an opportunity to make a safe and
successful landing
They were followed over the coun-
try by soldiers in swift automobiles
and by three squadrons of heavy cav
airy. The troops were sent out to be
ready to render assistance when a de-
scent was attempted. The airship out
dlstanced them and they were not in
at the finish
The airship left Friederichshafe fen
early this morning and five hours lat
er appeared in the air over the out
skirts of Munich. A distance of Ill
miles was covered in five hours
The count left Friederfchshafen
with the intention of trying to sail
from there to Munich and back 1t
was his intention to land here in the
presence of the Prince Regent and the
entire garrison of Munich, but owing
to squally and increasing wind the
maneuvers were impossible. The at
tempt was made over the parade
grounds outside the city, but as soon
as it was seen to be impossible the
ship lifted again
Driven Sideways.
The count then tried to return to
Munich but by this time the wind was
SO strong he could make no headway
and it was noticed that the airship
was being driven sideways down the
wind When the seriousness of the
situation was realized troops We're or
.dered out to follow the asrship and
these prepared to render any assis-
tance possible.
The count endeavored to overcome the
resistance of the wind by rising to a
greater altitude, but this maneuver ap-
parently was not successful, for the
balloon was driven rapidly from the
sight of the people of Munich in a
northeasterly direction.
At a quarter past IL o'clock, two hours
after its first appearance here the air
ship was over FREEZING.
The airship is manned by Count Yep
pelin, Major Sperling, several officers of
the engineer corps, and a crew of SOL
diers from the balloon battalion of the
Germany army.
The departure took place at five min
utes past from F'riederichshafen 1t
was dark and the weather dull. The
wind was strong and contrary. The
ship passed over Friederichshafen at an
altitude of 1000 feet at moderate speed
and turned in the direction of Munich
Ravensburg. Aulenburg, Erbach, Biels-
brach and Augsburg, points between
Friederichshafen and Munich, were
brilliantly lighted with electricity in or
der to show the aerial navigators the
direction in which they wanted to
travel.
Welcomed at Munich
When the airship was sighted short
ly before 9 o'clock approaching Munich
in peals of welcome and cannon fired
salute. AS the ship drew nearer the
whirl of the motor could be heard on
the streets of the city. The vessel made
its way to a point over the exposition
grounds and descended to within 800
feet. Thousands of people had gather
ed on the grounds and the maneuver
was greeted with an outburst of cheer
ing. The prince regent of Bavaria was
present and saluted Count Zeppelin, who
stood on the bridge. A band played the
national anthem.
The airship then moved off in the di-
ed from the tower by the princesses of