Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-08-25
ONE AMERICAN
SAVED, II LOST
ON AIRSHIP zR-2
Divers Begin Exploring
Wreckaqe In Humber
River

HULL, Eng, Aug 25.-(By Asso-
ciated Press Divers began at dawn
today to explore the fire-twisted
wreck of the dirigible ZR-2, which
last evening exploded in mid-air ov-
er this city and fell in to the Humber
river.
Only enc American, Norman 0.
Walker, of Commerce, Tex, and four
British members of the crew of 40
survived. Seventeen American Off
GERS and men and 27 British lost their
lives.
1t is believed the ruins of the aerial
dreadnaught held the bodies of IS
Americans and 2G British officers
and enlisted men. Most of these were
killed by the explosion which follow
ed the buckling and swapping of the
girders, declared Flight Lieut.. A H.
Wann, in command as the navigating
officer, in a statement to the AssO-
ciated Press. He said the ship was
running beautifully at 60 knots an
hour and this was reduced to so
when the crash came.
The American officers who start
ed the trip included: Commander
Louis Il. Maxfield Lieut.. Command
or Emory Coil, Lieut.. Henry w.
Hoyt. Lieut.. Marcus H. Esterlv,
Lieut.. Commander Norman N. Beig
and Lieut. Charles G. Little.
The American enlisted men who
went mp with the craft from howden
were c. ]. Aller Robert Coons, L. e.
Crowel. J. T. Hancock, William Jul
ius, M Lay. A. L. Loftin. A. I. Petit.
w. J. Steele, n. 0. Walker and Geo.
! Welsh.
British Veteran Dead
The British losses include the ia
mons air veteran. Brigadier General
+ F.. M. Maitland and all the other Of
ficers on board, except Lieutenant
| Wann. the commander of the ZR-2
While flying about 1000 feet
over Hull spectators saw the ZR-2
seemingly burst amidships and plunge
downward over the city and into the
/ Humber river. One theory 0f the
/ cause of the disaster is that while
the ships rudders were being tested
the giant craft took a sharp turn
which caused her frame work to buc-
/ kle and that the explosion of a gaso-
/ line tank completed the tragedy of
the air. The actual cause, however,
NAV never he known
Tens of thousands of spectators
! saw several men climb outside the
balloon and drop from the falling
mass, which was cnveloped in smoke,
and others Jump into the Humber as
/ the crippled craft came over the wa
/ ter. As the dirigible struck, the
wreckage above the water was burn
/ ing, and there was slight chance for
the men caught inside to escape.
Tugs Immediately put out into the
stream and brought ashore the sur
vivors who were taken in ambulances
to hospitals.
A rescue tug pulled an American
out of the water. He was dead. Inside
of his coat was the name Command
er Maxfie1d."
Among the wreckage an American
naval man was to be seen hanging by
his coat to girder in the frame of
the airship. 1t was believed he was
dead, owing to the peculiar position
of the body, which was not recovered.
! Another rescuer sal done was hang
! ing onto the tail of the ship, appar-
entity uniniured, while another was
found floating in the water. Both of
them were saved. While the rescuers
were at work, the rescue party had to
return to the tug.
Huge Smoke Cloud
When first seen from Hull, the
7R-2 was approaching the city, coming
from southeasterlv direction, over
the Humber toward Hull. When sail
ing on an even keel above the city
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