The sun., 1919-01-13
U.S.DIRIGIBLE ON
1900 MILE TRIP
Starts From ROckaway Point
in 80 Mile Wind and Lands
at Hampton Roads.
IS BOUND FOR KEY WEST
Crew of Navy's 200 Foot Filler
Hopes to Continue to Bruns-
wick, Ca, To-day.
IS BOUND FOR KEY WEST

Wrapped heavily with electrically
meted and booted til they resembled
Esquimaux. seven officers and men of
the United States Coast Guard climbed
into the glass trimmed basket of the
C-1, the largest navy dirigible, at Rock
away Point yesterday morning and
began a 1900 mile air journey to Key
West, Fla, where the big air cruiser is
to do patrol duty. The first leg OF the
flight, to Hampton Roads. Va. naval
base. was completed successfully by
midafternoon. This morning the C-1
will go on to Brunswick Ga, and COM
plete the flight by night II possible.
Word that the dirigible had landed
safely at Hampton Roads was received
with great satisfaction by Capt. Coffin.
in charge Of the naval air station at
Rockaway Point. The start was made
in thirty mile breeze from the north
east. cold and vicious, and some fears
were held that trouble might be met In
keeping the big craft to It's course.
Before the journey was begun George
Du Bon. the helmsman. turned the nose
Of the craft toward Manhattan. beating
against the wind. The ship crossed
Brooklyn and the East River at an
altitude OF several hundred feet and
after lowering a moment over the sky
scrapers down town turned tail and
went racing down the coast with the
wind. 1t was estimated she was going
sixty miles an hour. flying clear and
high. when she passed over the naval
station at Rockaway.
First Leg of Trip Inland.
Capt Stanley V. Parker, commanding.
announced before the start that he would
head inland during the first leg OF the
Journey to enable people along the
route to watch the fight. He was con-
fident the C-l would come through the
perils of the gale and winter cold with
out difficulty.
The craft Is 200 feet long. with n gas
capacity OF 10000 cubic feet. She is
propelled by twin motors of the Hlspano7
Suiza type, developing 300 horse power
The cabin is twenty feet long and ten
feet wide. The sleeping quarters are
encaeeu WIN glass loT
against the wind. and emergency pro-
visions were carried. Aerial and navi-
eating Instruments are fixed TO the
bridge, mounte0 in the centre OF the
cabin.
The motors are in the rear. being
partly balanced in weight by a gun
mounted forward. Along the sides OF
the great gray envelope are the words
IT. s. Navy" in red
Looks ms safe as a HOusebOat.
In size and luxury of arrangement
the C-l looked as safe as a. houseboat
when she was brought out OF her shed
for the flight. A thousand or more SOL
diers and sailors gathered to watch the
start. The sun was bright. but the wind
was anything but pleasant.
The crew clambered aboard. the en-
gine tuned up with a loud roar, the tie
ropes were cast of and the C-l sprang
into the air. She went directly up until
she reached an altitude OF 1000 feet and
started on her journey.
When Capt Parker and his men de-
scended at Hampton Roads base they
said the trip was without incident. Most
OF the fiiers We're shaking with cold
The trip il completed will be the long
est made by an American dirigible. The
crew consisted of Lieut. ]. c. Lawrence.
pilot Ensign e. b. Packard, Ensign w.
p. Hansen. radio operator: Gunner w.
George Du Bon. helmsman,