The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-15
MEN IN DIRIGIBLE
BOUND TO WIN
Biinp Leaves Montouk Full of
Confidence.
Special DespatcA to Tun Sun.

MoNrAuK, L. l., May 1.-THE navy
dirigible C-5 rose from the naval flying
field here to-day. with six grimly de-
termined men aboard her. headed for
Newfoundland. On her performance on
the 900 mile trip rested the question
OF whether or not she would be per-
mitted to attempt a flight across the
ocean.
wherefore Lieut.. Commander z. w.
Coil and his crew of FIVE were de-
termined that their blimp should NOV
down oil records on the trip northeast
ward for the greater glory of the navy
and more particularly for the lighter
than air division Of the navy. Even
before daylight Commander Coil and
hts fellow voyagers--Lieut. 6. g. e. O.
Campbell. coxswain: Lieut. g. g. j
B. Lawrence, pilot: Ensign NJ. H
Easterly. radio operator, and Chief
Machinists Mates q. II. Blackburn and
T. l.. Mooreman, engineers-were busily
examining the multitudinous parts and
mechanism which might interfere with
the winning OF the great privilege OF
attempting to cross the wide Atlantic
with a little blimp which really was
| intended only for peace, coast patro
| work
Lately the heavier-than-a bunch
that is, the seaplane officers-have beer
| getting far too much glory for theii
own good. In the opinion of the lighter
than-air men. Consequently it wal
plainly up to Commander Coil and hii
aeronauts to hang up . record for ths
noisy, fast moving. but not always re-
liable seaplanes to shoot at
The dirigible. with 800 gobs hanging
to her, was trotted out OF her hangar
at 1880 after the Inevitable coffee
sandwiches and beans had been stored
aboard. Under the crisp commands o.
Lieut.. Ralph Norris, who Is also q
lighter-than-air man. the gobs pointed
the big ship due south. pointed her lonl
gas bag straight along the wind. and
at s A. n. a thousand feet from he,
hangar, let her gos With her two pro
pellers winnowing the air the dirigiblt
headed due south, circled. and pointed
an ugly but businesslike nose In tbs
direction Of the island of Newfoundland
30 nautical miles away and well hid
den by the curve OF the earth. viii
her slow, economical engines, which
make the carrying Of fusi for 2,0ot
, miles a possibility. the ldfrisible forged
| ahead. Behind her caSnera fifteen mil,
wind which added precisely that speed
to her Roadway under her engines.
The blimp Is 1872 feet long, has a gai
capacity OF 1000 cubic feet. and heI
| two engines are 120-horsepower twelve
cylinder motors. Orders for her star
| came to the naval station from Capt
Noble Irwin. chief of naval aviation
shortly before midnight last night. Orig.
, inally the start wac planned for Thurs
day, but the wind to-day was too favor
able to be overlooked.
After the dirigible had disappeared
from sight several of the lighter than all
mon by way OF giving vent to their feel
ings more forcefully by cheers TESTED
out some new parachute harness and 8
new parachute of the finest silk. Chic
Machinist's Mate James r. Costello. tn,
first man TO hop out Of captive balloon
a thousand feet in the air. Just missed
landing in a swamp, but the parachute
and its harness worked perfectly. Other
| wise Chief Machinist's Mate James +
/ Costello would not have had an oppor
/ tunity to worry about the swamp 9th
ers to make the 1000 foot jump wer,
Chief Machnist's Mate Goldman AND
Machinists Mate. nrst class. r 8. Bax
|