New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-28
ZR-2 Collapse
Due to Defect.
Pilot Swears
Commander Wann Signs
Statement in Hospital
That Structural Weakness
Caused Frame to Break
Jnouirv Facts Are Secrel
Dredge Brings Up Jacket
of American With Ring
and Letter 10 His Fiancee


Copyright. 1921 New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Aug Lieutenant A. A.
v.nn. who was in command Of the
american navy direiole zR-2 when it
.ollspsed in mid-air Wednesday above
Full and plunged into the Humber
River. with the loss Of forty-four lives.
said in a signed statement to-day that
he structural weakness of the ship had
caused the disaster.
This declaration was made to the
suII police in connection with the
official inquiry into the tragedy, which
began to-day at the airdrome at How
den. AS reported by the Hull CORE
spondent Of The London Star" this
svening, Wsnn's statement reads:
Il want to say that the accident was
du. to a weak structural part of the
snip which broke in two pieces. I
couldn't say which part it was. had
been flying for 36 hours when the mis-
hap occurred and had intended to make
his my last fight"
Desired to Make Statement
"The Star" correspondent saws that
Lieutenant Wann sent word to the
police that ne desired to make a state
ment regarding the disaster. Inspector
Don't, accompanied by a constable. went
to the hospital where Wann is, and
took down the statement, which the
liver signed.
The fact that Lieutenant Wann was
the only person in the front part Of the
balloon VINO survived-tfe other four
who lived through the accident were
in the stern-makes his testimony re-
garding the cause of the airship's col
lapse Of particular Importance at the
Investigation. The explosions &C.
CURED in the fcrepart OF the craft.
The strictest secrecy is being main
aimed regarding the investigation at
Howden- Newspaper men who went to
the airdrome were requested to leave.
Sir John Salmond, Vice Marshal Of the
Air Ministry, presided at the inquiry
and Commander Horace T. Dyer. u.
5. n, appointed by the American naval
attache to represent the Navy Depart
msut, and several other United States
laval officers, attended the hearing By
invitation from the Air Ministry.
To Make Inquiry Complete
Every facility was given the Ameri-
cans to make the inquiry s complete
and searching as possible. The testi-
mony of the airship's designers and
others acquainted with the details of
is structure is being heard.
At Hull thousands watched all dav
nom TIC CUayside the salvaging oper-
stions in progress n the river. 1t is
aoped that the raising Of the wreck
age may assist in clearing I'd the
cause OF the disaster. The forcpart
o. the airship was found to-day, but
when the floating crane tried to raise
i the steel hawsers snapped on two
different attempts. The jacket Of an
american naval mechanics uniform
vas picked Up in the river and iden.i-
ned as having belonged to R. NJ. Coons,
o. Greensboro, Ky. A pocket OF the
garment contained diamond solitaire
rng and letter addressed to a Lon
Don girl, who Coons was to have mar
ned before the airship started across
The Atlantic to America.
The uniformed body Of an American
sHHcer was brought up by the crane
Just at dusk. but 1t was caught in the
s.eckage and before it could be iden-
Aaed It had slipped back into the water.