The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-05
Navy Dirigible DESTROYED at
Camp Holabird Near
Baltimore
MANY LIVES
IN JEOPARDY
Lives of Two Hundred Persons
in Danger When Huge Craft
Blows Up

Baltimore, July 1.-ENplosion OF the
big navy Giirigible C-S at Camp Hoia-
4 bird near here today shook the coun-
rryside and eastern Baltimore like an
earthquake and jeopardized the lives
Of 200 persons, who had gathered to
see the flyer. The dirlglble, pounc
from Cape May. n. J., 10 Washington
and commanded by Lieut.. \. j.
4 learned. with crew Of six men and
1wo passengers, landed on the camp
field to repair the rudder. The ex-
pIosson followed shortly afterwards
and flames and blazing fragments
scattered over the heads Of the crowd
burning and injuring Is persons. most
II women and children. The dirlgibie
Immediately burst into flames
According to the commander the
explosion was due to TOO rapid eNpan-
sion from heat.
Several persons were blown 20 OF
80 feet by the force Of the explosion
B and houses a mile away were shaker
and windows broken. The air was
filled with gas fumes.
Lieutenant Learned was in the Of
fee of the camp adjutant, comnauni-
eating with the navy department IN
Washington when the explosion near
ly took him off his feet. The crew
wss at work on the rudder.
Relief was organized from the Camp
Holabird. hospital and so persons ap.
4 plied for treatment. 90 being burned
seriously enough to remain in the IN
stitution.
The men who formed the crew O..
tfin airigible besides Lieutenan;
Learned were: Navigation officer
conndr. ". NJ. Wyerbach: directiona.
( pilot. Ensign CIV. Tyndall; engineer.
Warrant Officer 3. 2. Sherman; First
easas Machinlst Keller and Radio Off
cet ~ Lynch. The passengers were
Lieut.. Comdr. r. D. ouisley and
Lieut.. A. r. Tilburn.
washington, July IA nava! court
of inquiry will be convened. it was
announced at the navy department to-
night, to determine, if possible. the
cause of the explosion which wrecked
the huge naval dirigible C-S at CamI
HoIabird, near Baltimore, today. an'
endangered the lives of 200 persons
A thorough investigation. viii be made
with view TO preventing similar fu-
ture accidents.
Naval aviation officers expressed
the belief that the explosion n11gh'
have been the result OF careless use o
:. lighted match or cigarette or clga;
by a spectator who approached tot
near the big hydrogen-filled bag.
was pointed out that the development
of an adequate supply Of heliom, TT
non-inflammable gas discovered dur
ing the world war, would prevent an,
similar action in the future. Hellun
at present is being obtained only nea'
Fort Worth. Texas, and the quantltle:
so far produced have been insuhlcier
to fill the bag of even one dirlg;pie
The production is in the hands OF {
joint army and navy commission aHt
is expected to be increased sre2ti!
soon.
The C-s, rs sister dirigib1e to tht
c-s which broke from the moorins!
at st. Johns, n. F., and drifted out t
sea after making record. breahlnt
fight from Rockaway to the New
dirigibles contracted for by the navy
during the war After the arlnlstlcf
was signed the contract was reduced
10 Is, seven OF which have been de
ivered. The C-S was the latest OF the
class to be accepted and was 200 feet
long. It had q total lifting power OF
more than six tons, carried crew c
five men and cost complete with al
equipments about $4,000. Two 13'
horse power Hispano-suiza motor:
furnished the power.
The C-S on its trial trip made ;
maximum speed Of 60 miles an hour
believed to- be worlds record for IL
class. The machine had a crcis:n:
radius Of 1000 miles.
An innovation in the line Of radio
equipment was being subjected 10 eN,
periments of the C-S when the eX
plosion took place. the radio antenn:
being strung inside the big gas bae
rather than outside, exposed tc
weather. Thus far the experiment;
have been successful.