The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-25
AERIAL TRAGEDY
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took a shary Turn. which caused hef
framework TO buckle. and the cHpiosio"
of gasoline tank completed the Ias
edy Of the air. The actual cause, now
eyor, never may be known. \ ruho'
had been a!ioat for some days mat inc
ZR.o was structurally weak. nut ih's
was stoutly denied By all in authority
Jumped Into The 1tvsr
Tens OF thousands Of spectators sa"
several men climb outside the balloon
and drop from the falling mass ~hi"n
was cnvelOped in smoke ana othera
iump into the Humber rs. the crlppIeu
craft came over the water. As inc
d!rigible struck. the wreckase ABOVE
water WAS burning. and there was
slight chance for any OF the men cauRn'
inside to escape.
Tugs Immediately nut out into the
stream and brought ashore the nvc sur
ylvors. who were taken in ambulances
TO hospitals Among these was the
American quartermaster, y. q. Walker
who died soon after reaching the nos
pI,al, from burns he had received.
A rescue tug pulled another American
from the water. He was dead. Inside
Of his coat was the name Commander
Maxne!d" Early reports were 10 the
effect tina, Lieutenant Esteriy had beer
saved. Cnhappily. this report proved
to be without foundation.
Daring Rescue work
Onr member Of the rcscueing party
said that when they got alongside the
burning R!rshtp the pilot Of tho tug
asked for volunteers 10 hoard one part
that still Was almost intact jumping
upon wrcckase. the reScuers ripped open
part Of the fabric. while parts or the
debris were pulled away by means OF
ropes.
The task was hazardous one. be-
cause one OF the balloonettcs was stu
filled with gas and another explosion
was feared.
Among the wreckage an American
naval man was seen 70 b. hanging by
his coat to Il g!rder 81 The frame OF the
a!rsh!p. II was believed he was dead
owing to the peculiar position Of the
body. which was not recovered
Another rescuer said uac WAS hang
ing on 10 the tail OF the ship. apparent
Is umnjured while another WAS found
floating In the water. Both OF them
were saved. While ,ce rescLers were
a; work the balloon began 10 turn over
and tho rescue party had 10 return 10
the tug.
spectacle OF Horror
When first seen from Hull. the ZR-2
was approaching the city. coming from
aoutheastcr.y direction over tho
Humber towards Hull. When sailing
on even kce, above tho city. according
TO some eye-witnosses. a huge cloud OF
dense smoke burst from tre tail OF tho
aircraft II was thought th~ 2R-2 was
sending out n smoke screen AS an exh!-
bition, but 10 tho horror OF thouSa nds
OF spectators. II was seen that she had
broken in two and was taking tremen-
dous nose dive which apparently would
bring her down into the throngcd
streets
Thon there came a loud explosion and
great crash. followed by another cx-
p!oS.un which was accompanied by the
breaking OF glass in windows on land.
tho whole being reminiscent OF war
times, when German alrships bombed
HUH and explosions shook tho whole
, town.
Todays concuss!on was so great that
II wrecked windows over an area OF
about n milo square.
II was moment oc terror for the
porulace when the disaster occurred
People in the streets rushed mad!y to
cover. fearing that the massive wreck
would fall upon and crush them. Tic
terror gave way. however. 10 horror rs
tho wreck plunged into the middle Of
the river near the corporation pier.
On Iinal Trial Trip
The disaster occurred while the HE-2
, was on what was intended {" he her
final trial trip before being turned over
hv her British builders to the United
States navy for her flight across the
Atlantic.
The airship. which get out from How
den early yesterday. was prevented ny
storm from landing last night. ana
was cruising about to-day. making FUR
;h.r t"sts before proceeding TO putnam
n Norfolk. where II was intended |"
moor her.
The dirigihle was floating over ms
ciry shorty after $40 "'ci"tI ms
afternoon. all being seemingly we'll WIN
her, when. according I" survivors, Z
SHARP turn was given her rudher anu
she nwrrrcd inward. The strain OF
the turn was too much for her. CROWDS
gathered In the streets OF Hull. IN
tcntiy watching the movements OF mo
mir monster, saw sudden fash and
heard the repo-t Of tremendous eNpio-
s!ons vio!en, enough to shake the ouiIo-
!nss beneath and break windows IN clty
store fronts Then the airship appeared
to break In two and burst into names'
the crowds beneath. meanwhile running
manic stricken in all directions to escape
the wreck Of the falling monster, which
i, seemed would drop directly upon the
city. The fall OF the diriEible. however
wa. into the river. close 10 the shore
and IT. piers. where 1t settled into the
water.