Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-07
R-34 SAFELY IN
M|NE0LA after
PER|LOUS TRIP
Voyage Ends Early Sunday
Morning; Aircraft Arrives
With but Enough Gas
0Iine for 80 Miles


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
center of it for Roosevelt field, 100
miles away.
As she cruised over Riverhead.
the dirigible came within range Of
the wireless telephone installed at
Roosevelt field by the navy radio
service and perfect communication
was established. During the night
the wireless calls from the R-34 were
received by the navy radio station in
New York.
Over the wireless telephone it was
explained to Major Scott that large
part of the crew assembled to assist
in landing had been sent to Montauk
Point in motor trucks in the expec
tation that he would tie up there
and that consequently preparations
for receiving him had not quite been
completed.
The mammoth balloon was sighted
in the distance about 9 o'clock and
IS minutes later was over Roosevelt
field. She crused about in circle
at height of about 1000 feet until
word was telephoned that everything
was in readiness for the landing.
Drops From Parachute.
While the R-34 was circling the
field at a great height, Major
Pritchard jumped off with a para
chute. He landed safely near head
quarters and smilingly hurried in
doors before an ambulance that>had
been rushed to the scene could reach
him.
Lieutenant Hoyt, U. S. N, the
ground officer, had assembled on the
field a force of more than 500 SOL
diers and sailors ready for immedi-
ate action as the R-34 circled lower
and lower When it was only 200
feet from the ground huge hawser
was let go from under its nose.
British noncommssioned officers
with American soldiers and sailors
shouted gleefully as they seized the
rope and hung on.
Then water ballast was dropped
from the forward end of the dirigi-
Bile and its nose tipped. Then it be-
gan to descend. Five more guide
lines were dropped and landing par
ties grasped them as the water bal
last was dropped from the stern. In
both operations at bow and stern,
the landing crews were drenched by
the cascading water Major Scott
directed all the details of the land
ing and it was carried out smoothly.
The hawsers were attached to
concrete blocks, two at each end
and one at either side III the center.
When the great snip was safely
anchored all the ropes except the
ones at its nose were cut loose so
it could swing with the wind like
ship at anchor. The landing crews
will stand by all through the night
to hold it safe.
Mayor Scott First ashore"
The first man to step ashore"
was Major Scott. He obviously
was tired, but happy. On his face
was several days growth of beard
and he showed plainly the strain he
had been under. He wore the regu-
lation air costume. Short and
chunky and typically British, the
military skipper of the huge airship
shook hands with Gen. Lionel E. 0.
Charlton. British air attache in the
United States, who was waiting for
him. The greeting was as typically
English as the appearance of the
commander. There was no demon
stration and the two officers met as
casually as though the trip had been
across the English channel Brig.
Gen. E. M. Maitland. D. S. O., Of
fetal observer for the British air
ministry, was the next to step out
of the car. He looked fresher than
his companions. for he had no du-
ties to perform on the way across,
except to keep the log.
His only regret seemed to be that
the R-34 chad caused anxiety" by
5fil0 ~ r. SsSa1ln