The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-07-12
ME|SNER' TRIP
THROUGH EUROPE

Fred MelSneT, formerly memOer
of the Ogden police force. who has
returned With his family from six.
teen months visit In Germany and
other parts OF Europe, was present
at the destruction OF the great Yep.
pelin air ship at Weilburg. about two
months ago. when the monster dlrl-
gible. 420 feet In length and the pride
, OF all Germany. was driven by the
wind with terrific force against
cliff near town aud completely
wrecked.
Following several days OF success
ful maneuvering ln company with two
other big dlrlgibles OF the German air
fleets the Zeppelin was brought to
earth at Llmburg for the purpose OF
replenishing the supply OF gas in the
aerostatS
The vessel was moored by means
Of two steel cables placed fore and ait
and anchored securely to army wag
ons filled with earth and partially
buried In the ground.
An additional cable with numerous
hand ropes was being manipulated
by members of the aerial corps, when
suddenly the wind frenShened into
a gale and before any additional pre-
cautions could be taken by those In
charge. the great air ship leaped up
ward. tugging at Its cables until the
forward eye was pulled from It's
socket allowing the forward part OF
the vessel to rise until its nose point
ed nearly heavenward
The after cable held for a moment
! and then gave way. the crew OF help
o. onnaarInp nj CT III ~
emergency and several OF them hay-
ing narrow escapes In diSengaging
themselves from the ropes as the
nerostat bounded upward like giant
bubble. mounting to a tremendous al.
titude and disappearing beyond the
| distant horizon In the teeth of an
S0-mlle gale.
The vessel was carried As miles to
webbing In eleven minutes. ap-
pToaching the earth only once en-
route a farmer driving his team of
COWS along a highway narrowly es-
capped being struck by the aerial
monster and observing the long ropes
trailing for a moment over the sur
face. the man was tempted. as he aft
erward stated, to seize them and
I bring the ship to anchor by tieing the
ropes to his wagon, little dreaming
that his entire outfit would have
| been lifted the next moment thou
sand feet In the air and probably
! dashed to earth with the next gust OF
wind,
Reaching Weilburg, the air ship
again approached the earth. owing to
Its diminished gas supply aud was
dashed with great force against u
cliff In the outskirts of town The
| gondolas or cabins containing the
motors were found to be intact, but
the 420-foot aluminium frame work
containing the, gas bags was entire
ly demolished, being crushed and
bent into an unrecogniZable mass Of
twisted metal.
Mr. Meisner was at Weilburg to
attend the annual maneuvers or the
18th army corps and later at Meintz
when the kalser's parade of $4,000
regular soldiers took place.
The Ogden man was interested at
the place last mentioned to hear his
brothers own account of the hlStor,
ic race between Buffalo Bilps rough
| riders of America against the 18th
Ilussars OF tho German army. Col,
Cody was then at MeintZ with his
| Wild West show and becoming in
volved In a friendly discussion as to
the comparative merits OF American
and German horsemen, he challenged
the 18th Hussars to race.
The event took place on the Meintz-
sand, the great sand plains at MeintZ
which are used for army maneuvers,
The Germans won but II was due
to the ditches which run PARALLEL
across the plain. The horses of the
German cavalry were familiar with
these bitches and whenever ono was
approached the officer in advance
raised his hand In warning, signal
which was as we'll understook by the
horses as by their riders.
With Buffalo Bills riders 1t was
different and although the bitches
we're easily taken by the mounts.
| there was O momentary hesitation
at each due to their unfamiliarity
with the ground and the fact that
they could not comprehend the warn
ing signal given by the German off
cor. The American horses showed
superior speed throughout the race
and the abandoned skill In horse
] manship exhibited by the yelling
Westerners Is still the subject of
conversation at Meintz.
Mr.. Meisner Is much interested
in German politics and has many
views regarding the present situation
| in his native land. He tells OF polit-