Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-07
MAKES 1854
MILE FLIGHT
TO new YORK
Reaches Destination With
Fuel Gone-To Return
by Southern Route.
(Bunetin.)

!
MfneOla, N. Y, July THE
R-94 was torn from her moor
ing rope this morning by viO-
lent gust of wind. The cross
grider to which the rope was
attached broke under the strain,
/ ripping a hole six feet by three
feet in the gas bag. The giant
! dirgible was saved from being
blown away by 300 men who
seized ropes hanging from her
sides and held her down with
great difficulty.
Major Scott announced defin-
heIy at noon that the R-54
would start on its return jour-
| ney at 5 O'Clock tomorrow
morning, flying over Boston.
The R-34 VIII not circle New
York before turning east, he
said.
New York, July The giant
British dirigible R-34 moored at
Roosevelt field, Mineola, L. l., at
9:54 o'clock yesterday morning,
/ completing the first fight of a
lighter than air craft across the
Atlantic, and the longest air trip in
history.
The distance covered is announc-
ed at about 5000 miles, but count
ing the mileage forced upon the
flyers by adverse winds during the
trip from East Fortune, near Edin-
burgh, Scotland, some of the pas
sengers estimate the distance at
1884 miles-3,690 to Trinity bay,
n. F., and 1914 from there to Min
cola
The time consumed was a few
minutes over 1O8 hours. The big
airship brought 81 persons, one Of
whom was a 16-year-old boy, stow
away, and a tortoise-she!i cat.
Starts Back Tomorrow.
Mineola, N. Y, July 7.-On her
return trip to her base in Scotland,
the British dirigible R-34 will take
the southern course, leaving the
United States at some middle At
lantic port and heading directly
for Spain. This announcement
and the further statement that the
giant airship would leave her an
chorage at Roosevelt field here at
g o'clock tomorrow TUESDAY
morning) on her homeward flight,
were definitely decided upon last
night by Major G. H. Scott, COM
mander of the dirigible
At a conference with Lieutenant
Colonel Frederick Lucas, of the
royal air forces, advance party
and Brigadier General Edward NJ.
Maitland, the official observer, at
noon today, the request of the
United States navy department
that the R-34 make a flight over
New York city, Philadelphia, Bal
timore and Washington, was to be
considered. SIf weather conditions
are favorable it is expected that
these cities and possibly other cit
les of the middle Atlantic section
may get glimpse of the giant air
ship.
Nearly Breaks Away.
In order to relieve the 400 SOL
diers of the Seventh United States
balloon company, who were Strain
ing at the anchor rope of the R-34
during an electrical and wind
storm last night, the big bag was
raised to obYiate the danger of
damage from wind. During this
operation a rope releasing water
ballast from an aft compartment
was released by accident and the
rear of the bag shot up into the air
to an altitude of some 400 feet
while her nose was only 200 feet
above the field. The R-34 remained
in this position throughout the
night and caused Major Scott to re-
turn to the field early today to dis
tribute the water ballast in the bag
to bring her to an even keel again.
Adjustments of the ballast had to
be accomplished before the heat OF
the sun caused the gas in the bag
to expand.
Had Weather Reports.
Members of the crew explained
that the failure of the R-34 to re-
ceive proper weather reports
caused her to run into two storms
off New FoundIand. The weather
reports picked up were from the
vicinity of the Azores islands, while
those from the North Atlantic reg
ion were very meager. With re-
ports telling of the storm areas 200
miles north by northeast of New
Foundland,. the R-34, it was said.
would have altered her course to
north of the circle of wind and pro-
ceeded over northern New Found
land and the Nova Scotia coast and
thereby would have avoided the
storm between New FoundIand
and Nova Scotia.
People Flock TO See 1t.
All persons other than those on
duty in the Immediate vicinity of
the R-34 were ordered from the
field about o'clock last night and
a guard was set about the giant
airship. Visitors who thronged the
outer field some 200 yards from the
airship paid no heed to the rain
and mud to get glimpse Of her.