The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-03
.DIRIGIBLE DRIFTED
|. AT MERCY Of SEA
Unusual Story of Hardships Is
Told by Grew Of the
BIZ.

WASHINGTON, July s.-An unusual
story Of hardships. daring and miracu-
lous escape from death during the war
was brought to light for the first time
To-Day when naval officers made public
an account OF adventures Of the crew
Of the navy dirigible Biz, which was
gwen up for lost by the department in
July. 1918, after drifting around at sea
Tor more than two days, during which
the crew had practically nothing to eat
ana ran short of drinking water. The
dirigihle finally was forced to descend
on the surface Of the sea and the crew
vas rescued by the Swedish ship
The BIZ, with Ensign w. B. Griffin
as commanding officer and pilot, En-
sign W. G. Briscoe as assistant pilot
and Machinist's Mate A. f. Upton as
mechanic, was ordered to leave Chat
ham, Mass, early July 10 on a patroll-
were then operating off the Atlantic
coast and the dirigible was well loaded
with bombs when II left the air
station. Scanty food supplies we're car-
RED as Ensign Griffin expected to re-
turn to Chatham hat night. The radio
equipment had only been partially in
stalled and could not be used to send
or receive messages.
Big Bag Adrift.
The B-l2 patrolled to the north along
the. coast and sighted a transport about
$3.50 pm. Ensign Griffin headed toward
the vessel, intending to escort II toward
port, when the heel brace on the rudder
was carried away, making 1t impossible
to steer the craft. High winds were
prevailing at this time and the B-12
was forced to cruise around in a great
circle while the crew attempted to at
tract the attention Of several ships
and two seaplanes then in sight. No at
tention was paid to repeated signals,
and finally Ensign Griffin ordered the
motors cut off in order to save the
gasoline for ballast.
The Biz was at that time about 200
feet in the air and was virtually a free
balloon. Darkness was coming on n
the big gas bag was drifting north
ward at a speed of about 20 miles an
hour with an increasing wind behind It.
A sea anchor was rugged UP and an eff
fort made to retard the dirigible's
progress by dragging it in the sea,
After a few moments, however, the
towing cable parted and the northwaTd
progress was resumed at an increased
speed. About $50 O'Clock that night a
ship was sighted and nine rockets we're
fired from a pistol. The vessel appar-
emily saw the signals and directed its
course toward the B-12, only to turn
away in a few moments and leave the
helpless gas bag to the mercy Of the
wind. About that time the pipe line
leading to the emergency oil tank
broke, and before the leak was discov-
cred all Of the oil was lost, causing a
considerable decrease of ballast. The
BIZ began to rise and ascend steadily
until an altitude of 1900 feet was
reached.
All night the dirigible continued Ms
wild dash northward, the crew mean
time consuming the small amount of
food aboard, Ensign Griffin had no
idea of his WheraahOutg
Suffer From Hunger.
Early on the morning Of the second
day the gas bag buckled and the hori-
zontal fins dropped to a vertical posi-
ton, Throughout that day the big bag
alternately dropped until ~perilously near
the sea and assembled to altitude of
more than $500 feet. Every available
article was thrown overheard during
these variations in altitude to keep the
ship from ~plunging into the ocean. Not
a vessel was sighted during the day or
that night. The crew, meantime, was
commencing to suffer from hunger.
On the morning Of the third day OF
the involuntary cruise the sun shone
brightly, and as the gas in the bag ex-
Ensign Griffin, after a conference with
the other members OF the crew, decided
to bring the Biz to the surface and
take a chance OF being picked up.
Accordingly, gasolflet water, SAND
bombs, bomb launching gear, batteries
and the radio outfit parts were dumped
hoverboard and the Biz brought to the
surface safely.
Shortly after descending a ship wa,
sighted and it directed it's course to,
ward the ~dirigible, the crew Of which
meanwhile were having great difficult,
in keeping clear Of the water, The yes
gel proved to be the Swedish steame'
Skagern, bound for Halifax. A smal
boat was put over the side and tn,
crew OF the Biz taken off. Then a
y the increasing heat from the sun cause,
the gas further to expand, the dirigibl
rose a few feet and above the surface
was pulled over TO the Skagern, the ri
cord pulled and the BIZ s~alvaged with
out much damage more than 800 mile
- L e.. - nnna- 1 nAAnu