Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-08-24
Z-R 2 EXPLODES IN
mID-AIR WHILE ON
final TRIAL FLIGHT
Hull, England Aug. 24-Disaster overlook the
giant dirigible ZR late this afternoon. The mon
ster air ship exploded over the river Humber falling

the river 1umDer, falling
into the stream a mass of
flames, the explosion and
fall bringing death to
many of the officers and men on
board, among whom were five Ameri.
can commissioned officers and nearly
dozen other Americans of lesser
rank in addition to the regular British
crew.
The number of fatalities has not yet
been ascertaned, but twelve bodies
are said to have been recovered and it
is believed that not more than 10 on
board were saved
Six men were saved from crew of
forty-nine, 1t is said.
1t was learned the American officers
on board the drigible were Comman
der Maxfield, Lieut. Commanders Bieg
and Coil; Lieuts. Esterly, Hoyt and
Little.
The following British officers are
known to have been on board
Air Commodore Laitland; Lieuts.
Swan, Little, Montague and Flight
Lieut.. Thomas.
One U. S. Ensign Saved.
Advices late today say that Ensign
Marcus Esterly one of the American
officers, who had been reported lost,
had been saved and that Capt. Swean,
the British officers who commanded
the ship. was unharmed.
ExpIodes High in Air.
London. Aug 24-The giant airship
ZR 2, purchased by the United States
! from Great Britain, exploded over the
city of Hull today, according to ad-
vices received here shortly after $50
o'clock tonight The airship is
wreck in the river Humber The dead
and a number Of injured were landed
from the river and conveyed to the
city of Hull,
The airship was passing over Hull in
fine style when it was suddenly seen
to break in two. Instantly there were
explosions and the airship began to
descend Three parachutes were seen
to leave the ship.
Thousands of the people of Hull
watched the disaster which occurred
at $40 o'clock. They dashed panic
stricken in all directions for fear of
being enveloped by the wreckage
which fell just over the Victoria Pier.
Burning fragments OF the airship
belched dense columns of smoke and
flame which extended for hundreds OF
oil
witnesses say at least four men de-
sCended from the burning ship by
parachutes, Three were seen hang
ing from one parachute.
Emeraes From Clouds-ExpIodes,
1t is known that at least six men
have been picked up. one with a brok-
en- leg and one severely burned A
message at Hull said the ships cap
tain had been rescued Some bodies.
the message said had been recovered.
The explosions in the big dirigble
We're of such force as to wreck many
windows OF store fronts in the center
of Hull
Tugs and other crafts of all kinds
put off from shore for rescue work
Immediately following the explosions
simultaneously ambulanCes dashed to
the pier and took injured to the in
frmary as they were landed,
q Yanks Aboard.
Washington. Aug. 24-Twenty-one
Americans We're on board the IR-2
when she was wrecked today during
her final trial flight a report to the
navy department from London said.
The report filed at 1880 said at that
time there appeared to be only five
survivors from the entire compile
ment
The purchase price of the I-R , was
to be $2.000,000. This it is assumed
was to become effective after the craft
had delivered her trials and was de-
liyered to the American authorities.
The loss falls on the contractors and
those instrumental in building the
ship.
When the r started on her trial
flights Tuesday She had on board,
Commander Louis II. MaXtield, of the
United States Navy, who had been
designated TO bring the ship to the
United States; Brig Gen. Maitland.
the British air marshal Colonel Camp
bell, who designed the dirigible; five
other American officers, seven engin-
GERS and four riggers in addition to
the regular British crew.
The ship was 695 feet long: So feet
in diameter; capacity 2,700000 cubic
feet total lifting capacity SO tons.
The craft was operated by six engines.
She had cruising radius of so miles
an hour giving capacity to make an
aggregate of 5000 miles of uninter-
rlpted flight. She had capacity for
officers and crew of AZ men. The
gasoline supply was 10000 gallons,