Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-08-31


London, Aug. 26.-The great Lir.-
BILE ZR-2. which began a trial Li.l
on Tuesday morning, was wrecked a
an explosion and fell into the Hum5e-
river ON Wednesday evening. Tie arr
ship was valued al S2,OJO.UoO. EisAJ-
cen of the twenty-One Americans Wild
we're 10 pilot her across the Atlantic
10 the United states, are believed a
have persisted.
OF the 10 officers and enlisted men
In the huge diTigible's crew, 5 e
whom were British, all but six iOsl
their lives when the ship exploded
over the city of Hull az six O'Clock IN
the evening.
Twelve bodies have been recovered.
among them that Of Commanded
Louis II. Maxfeld Of Washington, ID
C.. who was in command Of the ZR-2-
Cause Of Blast Unknown.
Air Commodore Maitland OF the
British air forces. Who plotted the
dirigible and was Britain's foremost
pilot, also was killed.
None Of the six survivors has been
able TO advance a theory Of the cause
Of the disaster. The ZR-2 had been
i'm the air 81 hours on her trial flight
The dirigible was floating easily over
Hull In plain sight Of thousands Of
people on the streets, when suddenly
the crowds saw a fash and heard
tremendous explosion.
Ship Plunges Into River.
The conclusion shook buildings and
broke windows in Hull. The airshlp
burst into flames and appeared 20
break i'm two. While the panic-stricken
populace rushed 10 and fro 70 escape
the debris. the 7OO-foot bag, laden
with heavy engines, great gasoline
tanks and cabin equipment, plunged,
burning, into the river.
AS IL touched the water, another
explosion occurred. Many Of the vic
tins were burned 10 death after the
balloon fell. Eyewitnesses saw at
least four men leap IN parachutes.
The six rescued were all delirious.
Describes Disaster.
A description Of the ZR-2 disaster
was given by James Phipson OF BirIn-
inCham, an eyewitness.
'I was just opposite Victoria pier
when II happened" said Phipson-
coul6 see the proPellers turning
slowly as the ship disappeared into
a cloud bank. After two or three mo
ments she emerged again and was
almost struck dumb TO see the airship
break in two pieces.
Airship Breaks in Two.
ssThe airship seemed TO stand still
for n second or two as the two pieces
gradually broke apart, descending
slowly. the nose portion at trst seem
ingiy under control.
aThen l saw portions Of the gon-
doIas falling away. The nose portion
Zen on a mud hank in the HUMBER
which was at low tide. After bury
ing its nose in the sand that portion
of the ship continued 70 burn hereeiS-
aTbere was no sign OF any one on
that part Of the ship.
aThe tail end fell In the middle OF
the river half a mile away and was
also blazing.
Three Drop In Parachute.
ayben the nose landed there were
two further explosions The gasoilhe
tanks burst with the impact.
81 saw three parachutes leave the
front part of the ship as it broke. IL
looked TO me as II three men were
hanging 10 one Of the parachutes'
but I could not see where they iandea.
AS far as I know only two men sur
vived- They were Mechanic Batennah
and Lieut.. A. II. Wann, VINO CON-
manded the ship. saw Lieutenant
Fsterly's body taken away. II was
All burned and charred. Wann was
terribly injured. but Bateman was abe
70 walk. Both wann and Bateman
were rescued from the wreckage IN
the Humber"
Planned Flight 70 v. S.
The ZR-2 was 10 have left Puihah
for the United States within ten OF
twelve days. -
The dIrigihle cost 100000. In Id
dition the United States government
expended 100000 in the construe-
ton Of a huge hangar near Lakehurst'
\ T.. and In sending crew 10 Ing
land 70 bring the dirlgible home
More than a month ago girder 'l
-, = t...,,-1,a IN a trial trim ana
the ship was laid up for repairs.
Frequent delays since then nave 'l
terfered with intended flights.
-. -. .asLs~H T-LfaN