The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-07

OTncefS OF Cne ulIlSIDle were pl%lH-
ming to get away tonight upon the
return trip to Scotland. They were
going by way of the southern route
to Spain. Major Scott announced
this afternoon that the return vog-
age would be started tomorrow
morning He said the damage from
the accident was not great.
The dirigible on her voyage here
was 108 hours and II minutes in the
air covering approximately 5000
miles. When she arrived she had
fuel enough to keep her going but so
minutes longer.
There had been a request that she
fly over New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington and this
request was being considered in a
conference of officers this afternoon.
Theofficers who scattered after the
landing of the dirigible reported back
to the ship at II o'clock this, fore
noon. The crew of the dirigible had
been given leave of absence until one
o'clock. During the night the dirig-
ible was forced to raise to obviate
damage from electrical and wind
storm.
Haggard, unshaven, their eyes
bloodshot from the long vigil and
lines of care deep in their faces, Maj.
G. H. Scott, the commander, and his
officers sowed plainly the effects of
the anxious hours through which they
lived while they were cruising over
the far reaches of Canada and the
Bay of Fundy, beset by fog, heavy
winds and terrific electrical storms.
1T seemed as though the atmos-
phere was haunted by 5000 devils" "
said Lieut.. Guy Harris, the metero-
logical officer.
With the R-34 long overdue at its
destination, with its petrol supply
rnnuing low and buffeted by strong
head winds, Maj. Scott decided while
over the Bay of Fundy to send a
wireless call to the American navy
department to be prepared to give
assistance if it were needed. This was
merely measure of precaution and
did not indicate Encouragement.
While destroyers and submarine
chaers were racing to her assistance,
the R-34 was plugging steadily
ahead on the way to Mineola. Once
clear of the Bay of Fundy the atmos-
pheric hoodoo which had beset the
craft from thet ime it took the air
was gradually left in its wake.
The R-34 headed southwest out
across the Atlantic along the coast of
Maine, her nose pointed for Cape Cod
with the United States destroyer
Bancroft hanging on her tail and in
constant wireless communication
with her. The bulldog navy craft
stuck close in the wake Of the air
monster, running under forced draft
until Cape Cod was reached and then
the dirigible cut across lots.
1t had been decided on the voyage
along IIl6 CUetoJ Cilcbe uiiACoo " ANNNA
able wind came up, the R-34 would
be forced to land at Montauk Point
and early Sunday morning wireless
message was sent out making that
announcement. With the Cape left
behind, however, fortune finally fav-
ored the balloon and the wind veer-
ed in her favor. Headed straight for
Montauk Point she ran true and be-
fore the tip end of Long Island was
reached it was decided to go on to
Mineola. With the goal almost in
sight, the R-34 flew majestically
above the island and headed straight
down the centre of it for Roosevelt
Field, 100 miles away.
AS she cruised over Riverhead, the
dirigible came within range of the
wireless telephonei Installed at Roose-
velt Field by the navy radio service
and perfect communication was es-
tablished. During the night the wire
less calls from the R-34 were received
by the navy station in New York.
Over the wireless telephone it was
explained to Maj. Scott that a large
part of the crew assembled to assist
Il