Evening star., 1921-08-26
By the Associated Press.

AASH1, IhS idhN, IhdSASl ~.
Two bodies were recovered this
afternoon from the wreck of the
ZR-2. One was identified az that
of Albert L. Loftin, an American
mechanic on the ai-ship, and the
other that of Flight Lieut.. Rye
of the British crew.
HULL. England. August 26-Work-
men engaged in salvaging the wreck
age OF the Inflated ZR-2 from the
turbid waters Of the Humber. where it
fell with its human freight on We'd
nesday evening. employed powerful
cranes today to lift the skeleton Of
the airship. 1t was believed that as
soon as the twisted and tangled
framework Of the dirigible was raised
it would be possible to recover the
bodies Of many of the men who died
when the dreadnaught Of the air coi-
lapsed and caught fire.
The work Of lifting the wreckage
was a herculean task. for. in addition
to the great weight OF the aluminium
framework and the pendant gondolas
CARRYING the. driving machinery, the
swift current of the river had ALREADY
begun TO cover the immersed ruins
with deposits of sand. Divers VINO
went down into the labyrinthine runs
yesterday found the current SO strons
that their work was attended py
great danger and they finally declined
to take further chances beneath the
water.
Ernrments Carried BY Current.
River men believed that the bodies
of some of the victims of the disaster
had been borne away by the tloe OF
the rivers current, and 1t was fepor,-
ed that fragments sa or hsan the fnuna S,u,s0 ten
miles down the river from the scene
of the accident.
Oficial inquiry into the cause OF
the disaster will begin tomorrow
morning at Howden, where the Zh-S
was stationed before she started on
her last voyage. The United States
will be represented by a naval at
tache, who will sit with the court.
1t seemed probable today, however,
that the findings of the court would
be Influenced by the result OF exami-
nations by experts of the framework
of the airship after it had been IiIted
from the Humber.
Collapse OF Girder.
There seemed to be general
agreement that the accident was
caused by the collapse of a Longitude
nal girder in the middle of the dirig-
would be able to determine with some
degree Of accuracy the reason for the
tragedy when they had before them
the metal parts of the huge airship
1t was expected that the coroner's
inquest to be held today would be ad-
journed after formal identification' of
the three bodies which were recover
ed and the issuance of permits for
their removal. The adjournment. 1t
was reported, would be for several
weeks at least, probably to October /,
when it would reconvene for q full
examination Of witnesses with view
to determining the causes of the dis
was due to weather conditions or the
carelessness or negligence Of those in
control of the ZR-2.
Two Bodies Embalmed.
The English law does not permit
embalming until after the coroner's
inquest, but, in difference to the
wishes Of the American authorities
here. the bodies Of Lieuts. Little and
Esterly were embalmed a few hours
after they were recovered.
The coroner stated this morning he
did not believe many more bodies
would be found until the wreck Of
the airship was raised and searched.
Every effort is being made to recover
bodies of the victims, and searching
parties are maintaining a constant
lookout on. both sides of the Humber
for miles above and below Hull.
John H. Grouth, American consul
here, planned to accompany repre-
sentatives of the American embassy
in London to the coroner's inquest.
Members of the American naval de-
tachment assigned to the ZR-2 were
to be called upon to identify the
bodies of their comrades.