The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-31
Quarters for Men Rather Cramped and
Conditions Under Which They
Live are Un-
usual.
NO LAMPS ON BOARD
If Man Falls Out of Bed While Asleep
He Would Go Smashing
Through the
Floor.
.[By w. r. Hargraves, United Press
Staff CORRESPONDENT

[By w. r. Hargraves, United Press
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, July 31.-The boil
ish never break promise" This
statement by Commander G. H. Scott
Of the British dirigible R-34, explain
ed my visit to the interior Of the
giant airship during her stay at
Mineola. Only two male civilians
boarded the ship for inspection and
my permission to do so was granted
as 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
landsman's eyes.
In spite of what may appear to be
hardships and discomforts, perils and
privations there were none Of the
thirty members of the crew who
failed to express the same admira-
ton for her that is felt by those who
have become accustomed to travel on
certain steamships.
"Of course the quarters are rather
cramped and the conditions under
Lieut.. R. D. Durrant, the radio oper-
ator, "but 1t is splendid thing to
feel that one Is part of new trans
portation development-and then,
too, 1t is our duty to our country to
further her interests"
This is the spirit that kept the OFF,
GERS and crew cheerful during their
1O8-hour trip westward, when
weather conditions of unprecedented
violence and atmospheric changes OF
unusual variety made life on the
dirigible anything but rosy.
One of the greatest drawbacks to
life on the R-34, perhaps, is the lack
of space in which to execrise. AL
though there is "board walk" 500
feet long, running the length Of the
ship along It's keel. this is only nine
inches wide and as 1 walked 1t, cat.
like, l could not help wondering
what might happen II some of the
crew took an overdose Of the rum
ration allowed all membesr OF the
British navy, on sea or in air, and
tried to walk 1t OF.
Before boarding the ship, which
was constantly in motion through the
action OF the wind, although held
down by hundreds Of men, my shoes,
hat and all matches were 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 1t be
blown of. A step over the side of
the 9-inch walk would land one on
the thin linen fabric which covers
the aluminium frame. thence through
it into the thin air below.
The dirigible is about $40 feet long
and is cigar shaped. The framework
is of massive aluminium Orders
welded together similar to the struc-
tural frame Of a steel skyscraper.
This frame is covered with prepared
linen, like that used on airplanes,
and within the body thus formed are
the sixteen gas" bags. sleeping
quarters, petrol tanks, water ballast
and drinking water. The navigating
quarters and engines are in the gon-
dolas which hang below.
The petrol tanks which supply
fuel to the engines by gravity flow,
are located beside the narrow walk
and are held by clutches like ice
tongs, which can be quickly opened
to drop the tanks overheard II
necessary.
On either side Of the narrow walk
are huge f1ne-spun hammocks, strung
from cross bars of the aluminium
frame. If one of the air-gobs or OFF,
GERS should become restless In sleep
and roll out, he would fall through
the fabric which encases the frame
and make a swift descent to land or
sea. Tied to each hammock Is a de-
fated rubber life preserver ,Sand a
silken parachute In case Of a great
emergency, as fire, or imminent de-
struction through other causes, the
life belt Is inflated and the parachute
hooked to a ring in rope belt al
WAYS worn. To make a safe exit,
thus prepared for descent, the wearer
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 f.
through, leaving clean, round open
ing instead of a tear.
These ports" are located just be-
meath the aluminium petrol tanks, OF
which there are eighty-one, weighing
500 pounds an deach containing sew
enty gallons. Sixteen Of them are
fixed and the remainder are called
slip tanks. Should occasion require
rapid ascent or immediate decrease
of weight for fight, the slip tanks
are released from their fastenings
and drop on and through the holes.
The only light in the living quar-
! tiers is that which filters through the
green painted linen, an uncanny and
continual gloom or dusk. At night
hand electric lights are used and
when the watches are changed, every
four hours, these lights are used to
signal the approach of one Of the
crew along the walk should another
member be coming from the opposite
direction. There are no turn-outs on
this narrow-gauge walk.
Amidships is the dining hall' or