The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-07-19
BRITISH DIRICIBLE
FIRST OVER OCEAN
Travels $500 Miles In 1903
Hours and IL Min
uteS.

| cross the Atlantic, anchored at RoOse-
welt Flying Field at 1854 a. m. Sat.
urday 1:54 Greenwich time) after an
aerial voyage of 1913 hours and II min
utes, which covered 5000 miles
Passing through uense banks of
| clouds with the sun and sea visible
only at rare intervals, the R-34 was
forced to cruise $500 miles to reach
Trinity Bay, N. F.. from East Fortune,
Scotland. and 1874 miles from there
to Mineola.
When the super-Zeppelin arrived
she had left only enough petrol to
keep her moving 80 minutes longer
Her crew. almost sleepless for four
and half days, were weary almost
to the point of exhaustion, but happy
at the successful completion of their
epoch making trip.
Haggard, unshaven, their eyes
bloodshot from the long vigil and
lines of care bitten deep into their
faces. Major G. H. Scott, the com
mander. and his officers showed
plainly the effects of the anxious
hours through which they lived while
they were cruising over the far reach
es of Canada and the Bay of Fundy,
beset by fog, heavy winds and terrific
electrical storms
1T seems as though the atmosphere
was haunted by 5000 devils" said
Lieutenant Guy Harris, the metero-
logical officer.
With the R-34 long overdue at it's
destination, the petrol supply running
low and buffeted by strong head
winds. Major Scott decided while over
the Bay of Fundy to send wireless
call to the American navy department
to be prepared to give assistance, if
it were needed. This was merely a
measure of precaution and did not in
dicate Encouragement. While destroy
ers and submarine chasers were rae
ing to her assistance the R-34 was
plugging steadily ahead ON the way to
Mineola. Once clear of the Bay of
Fundy the atmospheric hOodoo which
had beset the craft from the time it
took the air was gradually left in it's
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 destroyer 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 the coast that unless a favora-
BILE wind came up the R-34 would be
forced to land at Montauk Point, and
wireless message was sent out max
ing that announcement With the
Cape left behind, however, fortune
finally favored the dirigible and the
wind veered to her favor.
Headed straight for Montauk Point
she ran true and before 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 center of it
for Roosevelt Field, 100 miles away.
The mammoth balloon was sighted
In the distance about 9 O'Clock and
fifteen lott
welt Field. She cruised about in a |
circle at height of about 1000 feet
until word was telephoned that every
thing was In readiness for the landing.
While the R-34 was circling the
field at a great height Major Pritch-
ard jumped off with a parachute. He |
landed safely near headquarters and |
smilingly hurried indoors before an
that had been rushed to |
the scene could reach him. This was
nearly half hour before the dirigible
came to anchor.
Lieutenant Hoyt, United States
navy. the ground officer. had assem-
bled on the field force of more than
500 soldiers and sailors, ready for in
slant action as the R-34 circled lower |
and lower When she was only 200 |
feet from the ground a huge hawser
was let go from under her nose.
British noncommissioned officers,
with American soldiers, shouted glee-
fully as they seized the rope and hung
on.
The hawsers were attached to con-
crete blocks, two at each end and one
at either side in the center When
the great ship was safely anchored all