Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-27
ATLANTA MEMBER
Of zR-2 CREW. SAFE

Assurance Of the safety Of Lew
elyn T. Stevens, well-known young
Albanian and chief machinist's mate,
who was supposed to have, been
member of the crew of the Inflated
dirigible. ZR-2. which exploded on
it's trial flight near Hull, in Eng
land, Wednesday, was contained in
cablegram received late Wednesday
night by his father, M. E. Stevens,
of 4O7 CORTLAND street.
The cablegram, which was sent
from Hull, England. merely stated
that young Stevens was safe and re-
quested his father to wire Miss Bet
ty Finley, a pretty Washington, D.
c., girl, to whom Stevens is engaged
to be married, and tell her that ne
not state whether young Stevens was
on the dirigible at the time Of the
explosion which wrecked the. giant
ship, but Associated Press dispatch
es received in Atlanta carrying a list
of the crew did not contain Stevens
name.
The cablegram to Mr.. Stevens read
as follows:
"ship is wrecked; am safe; wire
Betty"
Knowing that their son was in
c1uded in the crew which was en-
gagged in the construction of the
giant ship, members Of Stevens fam
lily IN Atlanta were very much wor-
ried concerning his safety until the
receipt Of the message Wednesday
night.
Mr.. Stevens exhibited a letter We'd
nesday night which was received
which Chief Machinist's Mate Ste
vens expressed his doubts of the
ability of the giant dirigible to make
the transatlantic trip in safety.
THE ZR-2 is not what it is sup
ter stated. "On a recent trial trip,
the ship was able to remain in the
air only 10 hours instead of the 40
hour test scheduled. Four inside cir
ders were broken on this trip and it
will probably take two weeks to re-
pair them"
The letter went on to say that the
ship was supposed to leave on it's
TRANSATLANTIC voyage during the
third week in August. but that the
time consumed for repairs would
probably delay it's departure.
II am not sure I am to be a mem
Der of the crew''-the letter contin-
ued, land 1 have no way of finding
out until the time set for the final
trial flight"
4OunS stevens also stated III Tic
letter that he hoped he would not
be chosen to make the trip across the
Atlantic, because he distrusted the
ability Of the dirigible to make the
trip in safety. The letter was mailed
on July 10, 1921.
Members of the crew Of the dir
igible were selected for their pre-
vious service record, Mr.. Stevens
stated Wednesday night, and it was
the prospect of being a member of
the picked crew which was to con-
struct and pilot the ZR-2 that in
duced his son to re-enlist after his
first term of service expired
He enlisted in 1917 and was sent
to the big machine shops at Not
tingham, England, where he was
taught to build and operate hydro
planes. He was transferred to St.
Cyr, France, where he studied French
hydroplanes and later went to Pam
boueff, France. where he was IL
charge of a hydroplane base.
When peace was declared. young
Stevens was stationed near Wash
ington and early in 1920 was select
ed for service in the crew which was
to build the ZR-2. He sailed for the
United States on March 81, 1920.
Stevens lived in Atlanta for five
years prior to his enlistment in the
navy. He is said to be an expert
machinist and to have qualified also
as a pilot for hydroplanes. He re-
ceived his education in the schools
of Columbus and LAGRANGE, where
his father was located in the cotton
manufacturing business before NOV
ing to Atlanta.