The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-09-07
IS ZEPPEL|NS IN
RAID ON LONDON
One Air Raider Brought Down
Near London Crew Lost
Greatest Aerial At
tack Ever Made.

London. Sept. 5.-Thirteen Zeppelin
iirships took part in the raid over the
eastern counties Saturday night and an
official statement issued this afternoon
says 1t was the most formidable attack
Dy air ever made on England. Only
three OF the Z~eppelins were able to ap-
preach the outskirts Of London. One of
these was shot down and the other two
were driven off by air craft guns and
aeroplanes.
Reports regarding the number of
casualties and the damage caused by
the great number Of bombs dropped
bad not been completed this afternoon
'ut 1t was stated that the damage and
'oss Of life were not heavy considering
he number Of ships engaged"
The Zeppelin raid lasted from late
Saturday night until the early hours of
Sunday morning. News of the raid cir
culated during the evening and people
waited up in expectation Of seeing
sights which became familiar last fall.
They had almost given up hope when
the firing Of guns told them that the
Eeppelins were making an effort to
reach the city.
Yep Fell Rapidly.
Only a few rounds were fired, how
ever, as the defenses Of London proved
too strong for the raiders, the most
ioi LIB VI "LlSI iidu pSSh L uSh Sllh
brought down in flames. Observers say
The death agony of the Zeppelin lasted
D minute and q half. The night was a
perfect n for Zeppelins. 1t was very
lark with few stars visible and with
no wind or rain to interfere with their
n~aneuvers.
A correspondent of the Associated
Press watched the bOmbardment of the
Zeppelin, which was destroyed. When
first seen, it was sailing. with shrapnel
bursting all around and searChligrts
conferred on 1t. Suddenly, the Zeppelin
disappeared in a cloud of smoke, emit
ted by itself.
The sky was clear at the time, but the
searchlights lost trace of their quarry.
A minute afterward, a brilliant light
appeared in the sky, which increased in
Intensity as it descended. Then The
light spread out into flames, falling
gradually until All altitude Of about l.
300 feet vas reached, when it burst into
an enormous sheet Of flames, lighting
Up the surrounding country for miles.
Apparently, the gasoline had caught
Ire, and the airship dashed rapidly to
he earth.
Cheers Greet Disaster.
From villages and towns went up
IL cheers. For some time, search
lights were thrown skyward, searching
or the companions OF the ill fated air
hip, but apparently without success.
Immense crowds went from London
o visit the wreck of the Zeppelin.
ghich was lying in q heap of ruins in
field. Soldiers guarded the wreck and
removed charred portions Of the bodies
which were found.
An eye witness who reached the scene
early said the charred remains Of a big
German engineer were found. The
hands still were grayping a lever of
The engine, the engineer apparently
having chung on, trying to steer the
ship to the ground.
Some accounts say that a number of
The crew jumped overheard to save
themselves from burning, but those ia
niliar with Zeppelins think it would be
impossible. Escape could have been
made through only the exits and The
rapidity of the descent would not have
given them time.