The Benson signal., 1916-10-14
Afeerward it was carefully placed in
one OF the motor lOrries for removal.

Tells of Finding Bodies.
A special constable gave thrilling
account Of the tragedy.
When reached the spot" he said,
the Zeppelin-a mangled mass of
ruins-was still a seathing furnace,
with tongues of kissing flames licking
the framework, and reducing it to
| molten metal. So fierce was the heat
that it was at first impossible to ap-
proach to close quarters. Pals of wa
ter had to be fetched from pond in a
neld some distance away to cool the
remains, and the work of extricating
the bodies was proceeded with.
"That of the commander of the Yep
pelin was first discovered. His left
hand was still resting on the steer
ing wheel, but his right hand had been
torn away.
"Close by, the charred remains of
| six other members of the crew were
with difficulty extricated from the wire
| ENHANCEMENT to which the skeleton
| of the fabric had been reduced, and
were taken to the clubhouse of neigh
boring inn. Upon the hand of one
was found a diamond ring.
-Four engines were taken from the
crumpled airship, together with a
| clock, which survived intact, the hands
stopping at ten minutes past three"
Saw the Raiders.
The arrival of the German raiders
over the suburbs of London is related
| as follows by one who saw the de-
struction Of the airship from one of
the heights of Cufley, where the raider
came to grief.
"Some time after midnight the 81
lence was bitten into by the deep boom
of guns. Occasionally the maze Of mist
was pierced by gun flashes. The boom
of the guns found an answering echo
along the hills and valleys in the dis
| tance. For a time nothing could be
seen to justify the unwonted activity.
| Gradually our ears caught the sound
of a dull droning noise overhead. 1t
| came nearer, getting louder and loud
err until it resembled the roar of a fast
| travelling train.
81 swept the skies with my glasses.
| The outline of an airship was family
diScernible crossing out Of the mist
from east to west. It hovered about
for while as though the crew were
trying to find their bearings. Sudden
| ly it began to bear north. 1t swerved
shortly and moved rapidly westward
again, turning later and making
straight for the south at high speed.
| "Once more it turned east until it
came astride the main road to -,
when it bore steadily along parallel
with the road.
Searchights Shine Out.
Meanwhile searchlights were played
east, west, north and south df the road,
| their range stretching far out like the
tentacles Of an octopus. So far the
raider had managed to evade the light.
Now, however, one ray fell full across
it's path. 1t lighted the airship up
| beautifully, making it look like "a mon
ster silver-scaled fish. Other rays were
concentrated and began to play on the
monster. The sky was now one blaze
of revealing light in the vicinity.
I "In vain did the Zeppelin move
about, hither and thither, seeking a
way of escape. Everywhere the raider
was pursued by those fatal rays. The
guns began to play around the airship.
Shells burst all around. Some got very
close. The airship made quick
maneuver as though to escape north
ward The pitiless searchlight followed
and the raider was caught between two
powerful rays and lined against dark
bank of clouds.
'That was the beginning of the end.
| There was a gun flash, followed by a
roar. The raider was struck. Through
my glasses l could plainly see it reel
and rock under the hit. Then it be-
gan to descend earthward, very slowly.
1t could not now escape the rain of
missiles. After the next hit the rear
part of the Zeppelin broke into flames.
''The ship then f1oundered about in
the air as though it's crew had lost
| COnITOI OI IL. IL was uOW OAC
of flame, looking like blazing house
suspended in midair. There was no
question of escape. It's descent quick
ened, and finally it crashed to earth
less than a mile from the height On
| which we had watched.
Crew in Midst of Flames.
"As it approached the ground the
| figures of the crew could be seen
| wreathed about by flames. Two of
them either fell or jumped from the
airship when it was about two hun
dred feet above the ground. While the
blazing raider was suspended helpless
in the air three loud explosions were
heard in rapid succession. 1t was
after the last Of these that the final
earthward plunge was made.
'The fight was watched by crowds
on the hillsides for miles around. AS
the monster took her final plunge,
round after round of cheers blended
with the boom of the guns"
An Occunant Of one of the very faw