The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-07-23
By W. 4. HARGRAYEs

statement by Commander G. II Scott
Of the British dirgihlo R-31, explain
Ell my visit to the interior of the
giant airship during her stay at Mi
neola Only two male civilians board.
cd the shin for inspection and my
hardships and discomrorts, perils and
the result of a promise made on the
first day of her arrival
Thus it is possible for the United
Press to give the first details of the
living and working accommodations
on the aircraft as seen through a
landsman's eyes
IN spite of what may appear to be
hardships an ddiscomforts, perils and
privations there were none of the
thirty members Of the crew who fail
ed to express the same admiration for
her that is felt by those who have
become accustomed to travel on Ger.
tain steamships
'Of course the quarters are rather
cramped and the conditions under
which we live arc unusual" said
Lleut. r. ID. Durrant, the radio op.
orator, but it is a splendid thing to
feel that one is part of q new trans
nortation development and then, too,
II is our duty to our country to fur.
ther her interests
This is the spirit that kept the Off
GERS and crew cheerful during their
loS-hour trip westward, when the
weather conditions of unprecedented
violence and atmospheric changes of
unusual variety made life on the
dlrigible anything but rosy
One Of the greatest drawbacks to
life on the R-3t, perhaps, is the lack
OF space in which to exercise Al
though there is q "board walk" 600
feet long running the length of the
ship along its keel, this is only .
inches wide and as walked it. cat.
like, could not help wondering what
might happen If some Of the crew
took an overdose of the rum ration
allowed oil members of the British
navy, or sea or in air, and tried to
walk it off.
Before boarding The ship, which
was constantly in motion through the
action Of the wind, although held
down by hundreds Of mon, my shoes.
hat and all matches wero taken from
me. This was, to prevent the danger
OF creating sparks through friction
from the nails in shoes. The removal
OF my hat was no doubt to prevent
me dashing after it should it be
blown off. A step over the side Of
lhe 9-inch walk would land ono on the
thin linen fabric which covers the
aluminium frame, thence through il
into tho thin air below.
The dirigible is about $40 feet long
and ls cigar shaped The framework
i5 Of massive aluminium girderg weld.
ed together similar to the structural
frame Of steel akyscraper This
frame ta covered with prepared lin.
en- like that used on airplanes and
within the body thus formed are The
sixteen gas bags, sleeping quarters,
petrol tanks, water ballast and drink
ing water The navigating quarters
and engines are in the gondolas
which hang below.
Tho petrol tanks which supply fuel
to the engines by gravity flow, are
located beside the narrow walk and
which can be quicly opened to drop
are held by clutches like ice tongs,
the tanks overheard if necessary.
On either side of the narrow walk
are hung fine-spun hammocks, and
strung from cross bars of the alumni
mum frame If one of the air-gobs or
officers should become restless in his
sleep and roll out, he would fall on
through the fabric which encases the
frame, and make a swift descent to
land or sea Tied to each hammock
is doflated rubber life preseryer
and a silken parachute. In case of
great emergency, as fire, or immi-
mont destruction through other
causes the life belt is inflated and
the parachute hooked to a ring in a
roPe belt always worn. To make a
safe exit, thus prepared for descent
the wcarcr must jump upon circle !
in the linen fabric which has been cut
out and replaced, held by soft gum. |
This gives way, and permits him to
fall through, leaving a clean, round |
oreBiug instead of a tear.
These ports" are located just be- |
meath the aluminium petrol tanks. of
which there are 81, each weighing
500 pounds and each containing 20
gallons. Sixteen of them are fixed and
the remainder are call slip tanks.
Should occasion require rapid ascent