The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-24

Only 10 of Grew of 49 Sur.
vive-21 Americans on
Board Ill -Fated Bag.

Hull, England, Aug. 2I-By
The Associated Press Dis
aSter overlook the giant diTig-
ible ZR-2 late this afternoon.
The monster airplane exploded
over the river Humber here,
falling into the stream a mass
OF flames, the explosion and
fall briIging death TO many of
the officers and men on board,
among whom were five Ameri-
can commissioned officers and
nearly a dozen other Americans
of lesser rank ne, in addition to
the regular British crew..
The number of fatalities has
net yet been definitely ascer-
taineJ, bat II bodies are said to
have been recovered and it is
believed that not less than ten
on beard were saved.
In addition to the six Ameri-
can officers On the ZR-2, there
also were IL American enlisted
men. They included Z. +. Nor
gan, mechanic, and G.. /. AIIer,
NJ. Lay, A. Petit and n. o.
Walker, riggers.
London, England, Aug. 24s-
Thousands of people of Hull
watched the disaster, which
occurred at $40 o'clock. As
the explosion occurred they
dashed panic stricken in all
directions for fear of being en-
velOped by the wreckagc. which
fell Just over the Victoria pier.
Two dead and a number of
injured were landed from the
river and conveyed to the Hull
intirmary.
Burning fragments OF efhe
3 airshiRs helched dense columns
OF snlpAe and HaHle which ex-
tended for hundreds. feet
along the surface Of the sfitrr.
e-WitnesseS saw at least
four men descend from the
burning airShip by parachutes.
Three men were seen hanging
from one parachute.
Twenty-One Americans.
Washington, Aug. 24-Twenty-
'ne Americans were on board the
Iirigible ZR-2 when she was wreck
ID today during her final trial
light, report to the navy depart
nent from London said. The re-
Dort, filed at 1880 o'clock, scid at
hat time there appeared to be caly
TX survivors from the entire com
lement.
Easterly Saved.
London, England. Aug. %. -
he Press association had a mes
age from Hull shortly alter 8 p.
l.. saying that Ensign Marcus Eas-
arly, one of the American officers.
tho had been reported lost, had
cen saved.
One OF the survivors, named
ateman of Halifax. said he was in
ne tail of the ship making photo
raphs, when the rudder was turn
d sharply to the right, bringing
ne airship from the center of Hull
)ward the Humber. One of the
lain girders failed to stand the
train, it appeared, and the disas-
er resulted. The turn OF the ship
arried her over the Hull pier.
rhere she descended, a burning
1ass, the crowds running for safe
y in fear that the burning mon
ter would fall in the streets.
British Officers.
The following British officers are
,nown to have been on board for
he flight:
Air Commodore E. NJ Maitland.
Lieutenant l. c. Little.
Lieu, enant K. S. Montague.
Flight Lieutenant Thomas.
Another message to the Press as.
;ociation from Hull says it is be
ieved 10 of the men in the ZR-.
nave been saved. Twelve bodle.
lave been recovered.
The disaster occurred while tht
ZR-2 was on what was indicted u
Je her final trial trip before beinl
urned over by her British build
ers TO the United States navy fol
Ter flight across the Atlantic.
The airship set out from HOwdeI
Early yesterday, was prevented By
/ storm from landing last night
md was cruising about today max
ng further tess before proceed
ng to Pulham, in Norfolk, wher,
I was intended 10 moor her.
It is learned that the American
)fficers on board the dirigible weTt
Commander Louis H. Maxfield
D. c.; Lieutenan
Commander Valentine y. Bieg, Q
3ryn Mawr, Pa; Lieutenant Com
nander Emery Coil. of Marietta
ohio; Lieutenant Marcus H. East
,rly, Washington, D. c.; LieutenaD
Henry ". Hoyt, Clear Water, Fla.
ind Lieutenant Charles c. Little
(ewbury Port, Mass.
Rescue Captain.
A message from Hull received
shortly before Z p. m. said the air
ships captain had been rescued
some bodies, the message added
lad been recovered.
The explosions in the big dirig
BILE were of such force as L
wreck many of the windows o
store fronts in the center of Hull.
Tugs and other craft of all kind
put off from the shore for rescu
work Immediately the disaster wa