Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-17

largest of the zepplin warship airships.
the 'L-2." was destroyed in midair by
an explosion at 1915 o'clock this morn
ins.
All but one OF the twenty-seven on
board. including all the members OF
the admiralty trial board. were killed.
The accident occurred just above the
main street of Johannisthal, where the
big dirigible, 500 feet long. was making
a trial trip preliminary to its accept
ance as flagship Of the new German
air navy.
The shattered hulk Of the airship. a
mass Of blazing canvass and crumbied
dropped 800 feet.
Hundreds OF persons who had been
watching the flight rushed to the scene.
Guest 10 Sole Survivor
Lieutenant Baron Won Bleul. Of the
Queen Augusta Grenadisr Guards. who
was making the trip as guest. was
the only survivor. He was badly In
jured and his condition Is critical
Many OF the bodies were SO burned
and mangled as to be unrecognizable.
The admiralty trial board consisted
OF seven officers. including Lieutenant
Commander Behnisch and Senior Lieu
tenant Freyer. OF the German naval
flying corps. The airship's pilot was
Captain Gluth, veteran steersman IN
the employ Of Count Zeppelin.
Naval Constructors Neumann and
Pietzer and Naval Engineer Busch
were among those on board the ship.
Behnisch Friend Of Emperor.
Lieutenant Commander Behnisch
was a close friend OF the emperor. He
was formerly navigating officer OF the
imperial yacht Hohenzollern.
Lieutenant Freyer was also n favor
ite of Emperor William. He was for
merely personal adjutant OF Prince
Adalbert, one Of the sons OF the emper-
or. He served with the prince on
board n torpedo boat after studying
with him at the naval academy.
Great Bag Bursts
Spectators who had been watching
the maneuvers from below suddenly
saw the great bag burst into flames
and then fall. A second CT two later
the sound of q terrific explosion reach
ed them.
It was impossible for some time TO
approach the flaming bag. beneath
which the members OF the crew had
been crushed and burned.
Witness Describes Fall.
A director Of one OF the aviation
comnanies at the Johannisthal areo-
drome described the accident as FOL
lows:
IT was In my office about 500 yards
from the scene when was startled by
an explosion Of extraordinary violence.
NV first thought was that al aer"niahe
had landed on tho roof and its saso-
line tank had exploded
"I rushed to the window and saw
the dirigible in flames. The outer COW
ering had been already burned OH ana
the inner balloonets containing the gas
had disappeared. :.
"The naked aluminium framework
with its long center pieces. It's inter-
laced ribs and Its tapering ends ana
the rondolas containing the motors be-
meath fell bow foremost. When the
skeleton OF the immense craft struck
IN, heavy gondolas buried themselves
in the ground
CONSERVATION in e6rlin.
Coming so shortly after the destruc-
tion of the IL in hurricane In the
North sea on Sept. 8. when fifteen men
were killed. today's disaster gave rise
tn n feeling Of CONSERVATION In Berlin.
whose public had within week been
saddened by the loss OF many German
nassengers on board the burned VOL
i,rno and by accounts OF the terrible
mining catastrophe in Wales.
The airship exploded at 10. 10 a. -
while over the outskirts Of Johannis-
thal sailing at a height OF about 500
foot The craft fell on the main high
wav leading into Johannisthal. Its
b,ackened wreck Of twisted aluminium
frame work blocking the road.
All Over In . Moment.
The balloon before she left the hall
At Johannsisthal took on board her
regular naval crew and number OF
orf,ccrs. She headed for Berlin. short
distance away. In a light wind. A
dozen aviators were In the air at the
time.
everything was apparently In good
order on the airship. She was getting
vp speed when the explosion was heard
by those on the ground, evidently in
one Of the motors. a dash shot out