Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-25

the disaster. WIS one OF the nrst 10 reach
the wreckaga IN the river.
The first intlmation that I had that
something was wrong was the peculiar
movements OF the ship" said Brown. 4
saw her nose go down and l knew some
thing had happened, for the craft would
not attempt a landing over a city. /
kept staring az the dirigible and It must
have been less than two minutes after
ward that / saw her break clean in two
The parts shot downward into the Hum
Der AS quickly as I could I procured
tugboat and made for the wreckage,
which was stiIl smoking and steaming in
the water We put off q small boat and
rowed 20 the after cockpit. which was
nartlv on the surface Of the river and
nsrtlv submerged 7 went overheard and
swan up the wreckage. thinking there
might be helpless wounded men whose
lives / could save. found one body and
swan back % the boat with IT.. l went
back a second time but could not find
anv more bodies I think q number Of
the victims were pinned under the water
They never had fighting chance for
their lives
ACCOUNTS AGREE
THAT SHIP BUCKLED.
All the survivors emphasized the SUD
denness with which the calamity
occurred This accounted for the heavy
loss OF life Elaborate precautions had
been taken TO provide safeguards for the
men on board and there was an In
diviGuaI parachute for each. But so
quickly did the glrders break and the
ship explode that the men were caught
unawares and only a few were able to
take advantage Of parachutes
Sergeant Bushby, OF the American air
service. was another eye witness to this
aerial tragedy. He was watching the
flight. he said. when he suddenly noticed
fire amidships. He had not noticed the
sagging Of the ship because Of his
position. Immediately after flames ap-
peared there came the Foar Of two almost
Instantaneous explosions. The ship col
lapsed I'm the center and the wreckage
began falling with the gondoias spinning
around Ike tops and a long comet-hke
trail Of smoke and fire ranging out be
hind.
According to the British district naval
Intelligence office at this port the ZR-2
was 1000 feet IN the air when she
buckled. caught fire and blew up. Despite
her great height It took the blazing
vreckage less than two minutes to reach
the surface Of the river
ARRANGE TO
SALVAGE WRECK.
British and American naval officers
conferred as to the best means of
salvaglng the debris Of the rear portion
Of the ZR which fell in the mud and
was submerged by high tide.
Divers were ready TO explore the wreck
age early this morning. when, unless the
tide had materially shifted the shattered
dirigtble would again be visible.
II was hoped to reach the control car
from which Commander Wann leaped at
the last moment. Several bodies might
be found in the car, naval officers said.
after comforting with Wann at the hos
pital
American naval officers superintendent
salvage parties which worked through
out the morning.
At . o'clock this morning pieces of
charred wood from one Of the hunks built
into the interior Of the envelope were
found, testifying to the terrific heat of
the explosion.
Experts said they believed the bucklng
occurred in the rear Of No. 10 frame,
where the ZR2 buckled Eve weeks ago.
The buckIng of the ship at this point
would have caused the bursting Of petrol
pipes. naval officers said.
Petrol, leaking down upon the engines
of the control of the ship, would have
burst into flames and an instant later
tho petrol tanks in the car would have
exploded.
This theory of the accident was CON
sidered the most plausible By experts
especially as the control was known to
have been wrecked.
Those who saw the wreckage at close
range declare none Of it ever can be used
again. 1t is a tangled, twistel, charred
mass Of metal, cloth and wires.