The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-25
AMERICAN SURVIVOR
TELLS OF ESCAPE IN
DIRICIBLE ACCIDENT
fRy Associated Pressl

HOWDEN, Aug. 25-Norval Walker,
sole American survivor of the wrecked
airship ZR-2 today gave the Associated
Press the first circumstantial account
of the disaster which late yesterday
destroyed the great super-dirigible and
every American member of the crew
on board except himself.
Walker was seen at the Howden air
drom, near Hull, where he has just
been brought after the terrible exper-
fence through which he passed un-
scathed. He comes from Commerce,
Texas, and was rigger on the fated
airship. He is of boyish appearance,
twenty years old, and of a wiry build.
I'VE were all in the highest spirits
when we left Howden on the trial
flight" he said. I'VE sailed over the
North sea first and then started down
the north coast to Pulham.
Run Into Fog
"a thick fog developed, so it was
found impossible to land at Pullman.
In fact the fog was so dense we were
more or less lost, although we knew
the general locality.
I'VE were flying at a height of about
$500 feet, with the wireless keeping
in touch with both Howden and Pull
man. The ship was behaving finely
and there was not a sign of weakness
anywhere.
I'VE drove out over the sea again
and as the fog continued bad we flew
/ along the coast until Wednesday after
noon, when we sighted land at Hull.
We then flew across to Howden. where
| it was decided to land at $50 p. M,
so we sailed over Hull again. We en-
| circled Hull twice, and the speed trial
was completed without hitch.
Test Ships Control.
"a test of the ships control then
began. l was at the lower rudder,
proceeding back to the tail. and had
just reached the cockpit when there
was tremendous crash. The Orders
amidships broke and the ship split in
| halves.
Both the tail and the nose i'm
mediately pointed downward and the
halves started to descend toward the
Humber.
Il certainly cannot describe my
sensation, but l thought my time had
come
Il made rush for the tail to get a
parachute, but l found two of my
English comrades, Harry Bateman and
Walter Potter, were already there. I
knew there was only one chute there
for the three of US.
Bateman had the chute and jumped.
but it fouled and he hung to the tail
| of dirigible.
Both Potter and started to run
forward for other parachutes, but lust
as | got IN the keel there came an
explosion of either a petrol tank of
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 amidships. either seated or
! lying IN their banks, when the Orders
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.
i ran back to the tail to get away
from the fire in the bag. Bateman,
/ 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 al.
ready beaten us toward the water. We
could not use a parachute then. as
we were too low-only a few hun.
dred feet up.
Il saw we were going to land in the
water, so l climbed on the fabric for.
ward of the tail cup. l couldn't tell
how fast We were falling, but when ]
4 thought we were going to strike ]
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 tug"