Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-08-26

london. Aug. %. = Americas 81
oaooo airship, the ZR-2, Titanic of
a air * n wreck in the River Hum
naar Hull. Eighteen of the
.anty.one Americans who were TO
nor her across the Atlantic to the
nired States are believed to have
erished.
q M the forty-nine officers and en-
isle5 men in the huge dirigible's
row. tweaty-eight of whom We're Brit
I All but six lost their lives when
u ship exploded over the city of
I'm at six o'clock in the evening.
Twelve Bodies Recovered.
Twelve bodies have been recovered,
monp them that of Commander
4 onis H. Maxfield of Washington, D.
who was in command of the ZR-2.
II Air Commodore Maitland Of the
british air forces, who piloted the
irigible and was Britains foremost
'blot. also was killed.
II Among the members of the crew
|sjsted before the dirigible sailed APP
hears the name of George WEIGH,
Ebief machinists' mate, of Elgin, III.
10 far as known he was the only
illinois man aboard the dirigible. His
sate is unknown. Norman Walker of
,ommerce, Tex, a rigger, is among
Me survivors.
a None Of the six survivors has been
hble 10 advance a theory Of the cause
HI the disaster. The ZR-2 had been
h the air 50 hours on her trial flight
sShe get out from Howden early in the
lay and was prevented by storm
from landing that night.
The next day she had been cruising
bbout in further tests, her commander
blaming to moor the giant craft at
|sPuIham, in Norfolk. The dirigible was
floating easily over Huh in plain sight
Df thousands of people on the streets
Ighen suddenly the crowds saw a flash
lnd heard a tremendous explosion.
Ship Breaks in Two.
The concussion shook buildings and
broke windows in Hull The airship
burst into flames and appeared to
BREAK in two. While the panic-stricken
Nlopulace rushed to and fro to escape
the debris, the 700-foot bag, laden
#Fith heavy engines, great gasoline
Ranks and cabin equipment plunged,
Mburning, into the river.
q As it touched the water, another
Explosion occurred. Many of the vic
films were burned to death after the
#balloon fell Eyewitnesses saw at
leasr four men leap in parachutes,
The six rescued We're all deiirious.
Eyewitness Account.
A description of the ZR-2 disaster
was given by James Phipson of Birm-
mgham, an eye witness.
i was just opposite Victoria pier
when it happened" said Phipson. Il
saw the beautiful silver ship sweep
'majestically toward the city of Hall.
1t was about 1000 fet high and was
SSalling along on an even keel.
I could see the propellers turning
slowly as the ship disappeared into
cloud bank. After two or three mo-
ments she emerged again and / was
almost struck dumb to see the shin
ing coat glistening in the sun sudden
y break in two pieces. A second OF
Two later, when the sound of the ter.
rinc explosions was heard, the flames
We're shooting upward and the black
smoke was already settling below the
ship
Plunges into River.
The airship seemed to stand still
LOT a second or two as the two pieces
sFadually broke apart, descending
SLOWLY, the nose portion at first seem
msly under control.
Then l saw portions of the gon.
aola falling away. The nose portion
ieu on mud bank in the Humber
winch was at low tide. After bury.
lg It's nose in the sand that portion
VI lhe ship continued to burn fiercely
There was no sign of any one on
'ial part of the ship.
HE tail end fell in the middle of
Ie river half a mile away and was
also blazing.
Three Drop in Parachute.
When the nose landed there wer,
TWO further explosions. The gasolin,
'anNs burst with the impact.
l saw three parachutes leave tn,
nun, ,,gat part Of the ship as it broke. Il
,OOhea to me as if three men were
1@nSiAs 10 one of the parachutes
~, could not see where they landed
As Tar as know only two men sur
sA, They We're Mechanic Batemar
an1 Lieut.. A. H. Wann, who com
r'enled the ship. l saw Lieutenan
~ i3'F''F body taken away. 1t wa
- burned and charred. wann wa,
''lo'y injured, but Bateman was abb,
"a'S' Both Wann and Batemar
rescued from the wreckage il
NE Humber =
q. I, II. Bateman, a British mechahi,
ga r4al'iax, was the first to be revived
~ at-leiently TO discuss the catastroph,
suffering from fearful burns abou