New-York tribune., 1921-08-25
BGckles Amidships

sociated Press Livery one of the
Americans or board the ZR-2 perished
when the airship collapsed and burned
to-day, as far as could be ascertained
at midnight tonight.
The American enlisted men who went
up with the craft from Howden were
c. l. Aller, Robert Coons, L. E. Crowell,
J. T. Hancock, William Julius, M. Lay,
a. l.. Loftin, A. |. Petit, W. U. Steele,
n. C. Walker and George Welsh.
The British losses include the fam
Gus sir veteran Brigadier General f. NJ.
Maitland and all the other officers on
board, except Captain Wann, comman-
der Of the ZR-2.
the airship, was among those aboard
the ZR-2, as were Flight Lieutenant
Pritchard of the Air Ministry, and two
presentatives of the National Lab
oratory Of Physics at Teddington.
Mr. Warren, superintendent of the
works where the airship was built, and
Flight Officers Wicks and Matheson
were others aboard
While flying at about 1000 feet over
Hull spectators saw the ZR2 suddenly
seemingly buckle am idships and plunge
downward. One theory Of the cause
Of the disaster is that while the ships
rudders were being tested the giant
craft took a sharp turn, which caused
her framework TO buckle, and that the
explosion OF gasoline tank completed
the tragedy Of the air. The actual
cause, However, never may be known.
A rumor had been afoat for some days
that the ZR-2 was structurally weak,
but this was stoutly denied by all in
authority
Some Leap Into River
Tens Of thousands of spectators saw
several men climb outside the balloon
and drop from the falling mass, which
was enveloped in smoke, and others
Jump into the Hum Der as the crippled
craft came over tho water AS the
dir.glbie struck, the wreckage above
water was burning, and there was
Wight chance for any of the men
caught inside to escape.
Tugs lmmedlately put out into the
Ftrcanl and brought ashore five sur
Nivcrs, who were taken in ambuances
TO hospitals. Among these was the
american quartermaster. N. O. Walker,
"co died soon after reaching the hos
pital from burns he had received.
Lieutenant Little also was rescued
from the debris alive, but succumbed
to his injuries on reaching the infirm-
AIRY A rescue tug pulled another
American out of the water. He was
dead. Inside of his coat was the name
Commander Maxfield"
One member of the rescuing party
SAID that when they got alongside the
burning airship the pilot of the tug
asked for volunteers to board one part
that still was almost intact Jumping
upon the wreckage, the rescuers ripped
open part Of the fabric, while parts of
the debris were pulled away by means
OF rooes. The task was a hazardous
one. because one of the balloonettes was
still filled with gas and another ex-
plosion was feared.
Looked Like an Exhibition
In the midst of the wreckage an
American naval man was seen to be
hanging by his coat to a girder in the
frame OF the airship. 1t was believed
he was dead, owing to the pecular po-
sition of the body, which was not re-
covered Another rescuer said one man
man was hanging on to the tail Of the
snip, apparently unnjured while an
other was found floating in the water
These two were saved. While the res
cuers were at work the balloon began
to turn over, and the rescue party had
to return to the tug.
When first seen from Hull the ZR-2
was approaching the city. coming from
southeasterly direction over the
Humber toward Hull. When sailing on
an even keel above the city, according
to some eyewitnesses, huge cloud of
dense smoke burst from the tail Of the
aircraft. 1t was thought the ZR-2
was sending out a Emoke screen as an
exhibition, but to the horror Of thou
sands Of spectators, it was seen that
she mad broken in two and was taking
tremendous nose dive which an
parently would bring her down into the
thronged streets.
Two Explosions
Then there came 4 loud explosion and
great crash, followed by another ex-
ploslon, which was accompanied by the
breaking OF glass in windows on land
tnc whole being reminiscent of war
times when GerNan airshps bombed
hull and explosions shook the whole
town- Io-day's conclusion was so great
tnat 1t wrecked windows over an area
OF about mlio square
Some spectators assert that thu air
snip began to buckle before any fame
or explosion was seen or heard The
broken naves OF the ZR-2 reached the
water nearly mile apart
Al who jumped from the falling
craft lost their lives. They had no
cnance for escape, for the water was
"'Nl oUiHlnR gasoline and the
neat from the burning wrccka0e was
30 Intense that even the regcuers ex-
pcrlenccd the greatest difficulty in an
preaching for some time
Immediately after the disaster te)c-
phone messages came from distances
up 20 hfty miles, reporting that the
people had felt an earthquake shock.
VIII Land Tomorrow"
The British Air Ministry tonight IT,
the wreck: mug
An Admiralty representative at
Humber reports that he visited tho
wreck of the airship ZR-2, which lies
half mile south % the corporation
pier at Hull. The wreck appears to be
In two portions. The whole vessel lies
tubmerged In northwcsterly dircc-
ton In the river In eight feet Of water.
The tail portion only Is showing, lying
In about four feet at half tide.
"Suryivors escaped in parachute
end were picked up by tugs and ANAL
boats. Cnstoms officers have been or
dered 70 guard ths wreck during the
night ana air force officers from How
den viii patrol the river in motor
launch 70 look out for bodies which
Dsy dr3ft In the river.
"The airshjp left the Howden base