The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-25
WALKER CLUNC TO WRECK ASIT
FELL THEN JUMPED WHEN NEAR
RIVER WADINC ASHORE UNHURT
Trip Was All That Could
Be Desired Until the
Fatal Accident Which
Occurred After Speed
Had Been Reduced and
Dirigible Was Prepar-
, ing To Land
Cause of Disaster

J Il. Howden, England, Aug. 25.-The
cause of the disaster to the ZR-2, ac-
cording to the best information OBJ
tainabIe here, the base of the de-
stroyed dirigible, was the breaking of
longitudinal girders amidstips, made
of an aluminium alloy, cutting the air.
ship in halves.
An explosion of either hydrogen or
petrol occurred Immediately after the
girders gave way, and flames burst
through the structure, but the explo-
sion, it is declared, was not the cause
of the breaking up of the airship.
Howden. Aug. 25.-Norman Walker,
sole American survivor of the wreck
ed airship ZR-2, today gave the Amer
ican Press the first circumstantial ac-
count of the disaster, which late yes
tcrday afternoon destroyed the great
super dirigible and every American
of the crew on board except himself.
Walker was seen at the Howden
airdome, near Hull, where he had just
been brought after the terrible exper-
fence through which he passed un-
scathed. He comes from Commerce,
Texas, and was a rigger on the i'll
fated airship. He is of boyish ap-
pearance, 20 years old, and of a wiry
build.
1--WE were all in the highest spirits
when we left Howden on the trial
flights he said. I'VE sailed over the
North sea first and then started down
TIE north coast to Pulham. A thick
fog developed, so it was found impos
sble to land at Pulham. In fac: the
fog was so dense we were more or less
lest, although we knew the general
locality.
Flew at Height of $500 Feet
I'VE were flying at a height OF
about $500 feet, with the wireless
keeping in touch with both Howden
and Pulham. The ship was behaving
finely and there was not sign of
weakness any where
I'VE drove out over the sea again
and as the fog continued bad we flew
along the coast until Wednesday af-
tcrnoon, when we sighted land at
Hull. We then flew across to Howden
where it was decided to land at $50
m., so we sailed over Hull again.
We encircled Hull twice, and the
speed trial was completed without Il
hitch.
Heard Great Crash
"a test of the ships control then
began. l was at the lower rudder,
proceeding back to the tail and had
just reached the lower cockpit when
there was a tremendous crash. The
girders amidship broke and the ship
split into halves.
Both the tail and the nose imme-
diately pointed downward and the
halves started to descend toward the
Humber.
Il certainly cannot describe my
sensation, but l thought my time had
come.
Rushed for Parachute
81 made a rush for the tail to get
parachute, but l found two of my
English comrades, Harry, Battman and
Walter Potter were already there. |
knew there was only one chute there
for the three of us. Battman had the
chute and jumped, but it fouled and he
hung to the tail of the dirigible.
Both Potter and l started to run
forward for other parachutes, but just
as l got in the keel there came an
explosion of either a petrol tank or
hydrogen, and flames Immediately be-
gan to sweep the forward part of our
half of the ship.
What was happening to our com.
rades in other parts of the dirigible
don't know. Most of the officers and
crew were amidship, either seated or
lying in their hunks, when the girders
broke. At least one man dropped
through the gap made by the break.
Possibly others did, but probably most
of them rolled forward when the air
ships nose went down. -,e
Ran Away from Fire
81 ran back to the tail to get away
from the fire in the bag. Battman,
Potter and l got into the cockpit. By
this time the gas was becoming de-
pleted and the ship was shooting
down rapidly. The forward half had
already beaten us toward the water
We couldn't use a parachute then, as
we were too low-only few hundred
feet up.
II saw we were going to land in the
water, so | climbed upon the fabric
forward of the tail cup. l couldn't
tell how fast we were falling, but
when l thought we were going to
strike l jumped.
Il was surprised to find my feet
striking the bottom. had landed in
four feet of water near shore. Both
my comrades stuck To the ship and
continued to cling to her as she
struck. managed TO- scramble
aboard the wreckage. and the three OF
Us were picked up by q. tug.