The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-07
BARELY PREVENT
BALLOON
R-34's Girder Breaks Under
Strain After Violent Wind
Cuts Mooring Rope.
800 MEN SEIZE ROPES
Hole Ripped in Gas Bag-Ex-
citing Accident at Refse-
welt Field.

Mineola, n. T., July T.
CA. P.)-The R-34 was torn
from her mooring rope this
morning by violent gust OF
wind. The cross girder to which
the rope was attached broke un-
der the strain, rippingNa hole six
feet by three feet in the gas bag
The giant dirigible was saved
from being blown away by 800
men who seized ropes hanging
from her sides and held her
down with great difficulty.
Mineola. N. Y, July 7.--Lieut. Col.
Frederick w. Lucas, of the royal air
force. in charge of landing arrange
ments for the R-34, at $3.50 am. to-
day denied there had been any.ehange
Of plans for the departure of the big
British dirigible. He said the over
seas start positively would not be
made today.
The crew of the R-34, after good
nights sleep "in regular beds" as
they expressed it, at Garden City,
reached the field at 8 o'clock. Auto
mobiles were waiting for them and
it was planned to drive to New York.
Most of them had never seen Broad
way and they were anxious to get
look at the town. H
The R-34 was pulled back to the
earth shortly after Q o'clock this
morning. the eight cables being grad
ually shortened by winch. Maj.
Scott removed the seals placed on the
dirigible after her arrival yesterday
and 500 United States army and navy
aviation men began overhauling her
for the return trip.
While RefiIled with Gas.
Mineola, L. l., July ii. N. So
The giant British dirigible R-34, first
lighter -than-ai craft to cross the
Atlantic, was slightly damaged early
today while she was being refilled
with hydrogen gas at Roosevelt field,
preparatory to setting off on the re-
turn trip early tomorrow morning.
Sudden gusts of col dair, following
last nights rainstorm, caused the gas
in the dirigible's balloonets to con-
lract. The rear of the monster air.
ship began TO settle and the hand
rail of the rear gondola was smashed.
A large force of men rushed to the
side of the R-34 as she rolled un-
steadily in the breeze. Sixty men
seized the rear gondola and steadied
her until the ropes could be eased
off. Then the stern of the ship was
allowed to rise slowly until she was
100 feet above the surface Of the
ground There she remained with
great searchlights playing upon her
until daylight today, when the re-
filling Of gas bags was recommended.
The sky was slightly overcast to-
day and sharp winds blew across the
field, causing the air giant to ride a
bit rudely at her anchor. The |
weather men at the flying field were |
receiving reports hourly and keeping |
a sharp lookout for any signs of bad |
weather, fearing that a sudden storm |
might tear the R-S4 from her moor |
ings or crush her against the earth. |
More than 100 men surrounded her |
at all times, and she was ready to |
cast off and climb to safety above the |
storm at moments notice.
The dirigibe's balloonets will have |
received their fresh supply Of gas |
early this afternoon. Mechanicians |
spent the forenoon placing the |
smashed handrail on the rear gondola
and making other repairs. Before |
nightfall the R-34 will be ready for |
the 3000-mile flight back to Scot
land.
Maj. Scott, commander of the R-34,
anticipates little trouble on the re-
turn trip.
Will Sail Over New York City.
we shall start just before day
break Tuesday, if weather favors."
he said. I'VE shall have winds at
our back most of the way and should |
make much better time than in cross |
ing. We expect to be home again be-
fore Friday night"
The R-34 will sail down over New
York city Immediately after her start
tomorrow, soaring over the metrop-
oils for a few minutes before head
ing home. Requests have come from
Boston, Philadelphia and other east
ern cities for flights, but 1t is un-
likely that the dirigible will pass
over any of these towns, excepting
possibly Boston, on the return home.
The British airship will pass over
the heads of President Wilson and
members Of the peace party, return
ing home aboard the George Wash
ington, tomorrow forenoon. The
George Washington will be ap-
preaching New York harbor as the
R-34 sails out. Shortly after day
break today a great stream ofkspec-
tators began pouring into Mineola to
catch glimpse of the R-34.. Thous-
ands made they way to the flying
field in the early forenoon.
Air Giant Shot Upward.
A serious accident to the British
transatlantic dirigible R-S4, whic.. is
preparing for her return flight to
Scotland, was narrowly averted this
forenoon when the expanded gas in
the bag was above normal, and the
giant suddenly shot skyward.
1t was feared she was about to
suffer the same fate as the American
dirigible C-5, which broke away at
Newfoundland, drifted to sea and
was lost. But at the height of 800
feet the eight steel hawsers attached
to the R-34 got her under control,
and after a half hours tussle she
was brought back to earth with a
long rent in her covering below the