Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-16
BLIMP'S ESCAPE
JOLTS PLANS TO
CROSS ATLANTIC
Giant C-5 Was Swept to Sea
From Moorings in
a Gale
By Associated Press.


st. Johns, N. f.. May IS. - The
dirigible C-5 was picked up eighty
miles off ST. Johns at s:35 p. m. by q
not be learned. The steamer stood
by the dirigible until morning. 1t fell
steamer before dark
ST. Johns, N. T., May 16.-Plans
of the United States Navy for a
trans Atlantic flight by dirigible re-
ceived a serious jolt when the giant
C-5 burst from her moorings in
gale and was swept out to sea soon
after she had arrived from Montauk
| Point, after being in the air con-
tinuously for 25 hours and As min
utes.
The destroyer Edwards imme-
diately set out in pursuit with orders
| to bring the big gas bag down with
anti-aircraft artillery If necessary.
Even IL the Edwards is able to bring
| back the Blimp before some Sc
rious misfortune befalls her. it prob
ably will require some time to repair
the damage which may have result
ed from her fall into the ocean.
| Lieut.. Charles G. Little, of New
buryport, Mass, who was given
I charge of the C-5 after her crew
| haQ Deon DuHuIeu OIL 10 peu dpSeiiu
the cruiser Chicago, was almost car
ried away by the fugitive gas bag
while making a nervy attempt to de-
fate it.
Seated in the Blimp's nacelle when
she broke away, he seized the rip
cord and gave a tug which should
have opened up the big envelope
and permitted the gas to escape.
The cord broke. however, and Lieut..
Little. realizing he would be un-
able to bring the ship down, leaped
out from a height of 25 feet. His
only injury was a sprained ankle.
The escape of the C-5 followed a
long struggle by sailors from the
cruiser Chicago, to prevent its in
Jury when gusty west winds swept
across it's mooring place in Quid Vidi
basin and began tossing it about
l4Several of the sailors, clinging to guy
ropes, were thrown down by the
dirigible's final tug but none Were
injured
The loss of the BIimp was a bitter
disappointment to Lieutenant Com
mander EmeNY w. Coil and his crew
of five. Despite a heavy fog and un-
favorable weather they had brought
the big ship over 1,3O0-mile course
from Montauk Point with a per-
|
confident would have brought the
coveted order from the Navy Depart-
ment to attempt the overseas flight
The dirigible was lost in the
fog for Il time yesterday morning
over Avalon peninsula, the south.
eastern point of New Foundland
For two hours she cruised about
seeking the landing field here which
was known to her crew only by radio
description. Radio directions receiv'
ed from the base served only to com.
plicate the situation, for while the
base was send the bearings of th'
sending station from the C-5, thu
C-5's navigators interpreted then
as the, ships, bearings from the sta
Z ton. 20.
Eventually. Commander Coil sight
ed narrow gauge railroad which
he followed to st. Johns. The towr
of Topsail was then recognized and :
direct course was laid which tool
the dirigible toward Quidi Vidi val
ley.
Lieut.. ]. V. Lawrence was at the
wheel and effected a landing tina
elected eXclamations of apprecia
ton from British airmen who hat
gathered to welcome the airship.