New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-26


noon, when We sighted land d, Hui.
we then flew across to Howden, where
1t was decided to land at 80 D. NJ. 50
we sailed over Hull again. We en-
circled Hull twice and the speed trial
was completed without a hitch.
"A test Of the ships control then
began was at the lower rudder, pro-
ceedlng back to the tail and had lust
reached the cockpit when there was
SHIPS broke and the ship split in
halves.
Both the tail and the nose imne-
diate'y pointed downward and the
destruction. All the Humber seemed
1.-The tail end Of the balloon drifted
further east, and nit the river just
outside the blazing oil ring.
All the waternen il Hull and every
one else rushed to the riverside. 4
dozen tugs and boats put off from the
wharf, the men straining every nerve
to reach the remains Of the airship.
They couldn't get near. The flames
reached higher than ! ever thought
flames could mouH1 and huge rolls os
smoke arose from the furiously blazing
area. 1t was a circular column of fire
not fewer than 200 yards in diameter
'Soon the flames died down and the
smoke gradually cleared away. The
boats approached the scraps Of wreck
age and soon four survivors were
brought in
Saw Only One Parachute Fall
81 saw only one parachute descend
rms came almost Immediately after
the first sign of trouble when first
noticed the envelope begin to crinkle."
Major General William s. BrancNer,
director Of the Aircraft Manufacturing.
Company and leading authority on
commercial aviation, discussing the
catastrophe, said:
There are two things that feel
about this sad disaster. One is that
had all members OF the crew been
more lives would have been saved The
other is that America should employ
the designers Of the R-3S (ZR-2) to
build another arship like her and
profit by this dearly gained experience.
The R-39 was engaged in speed
trial. When q ship Of this SIZE is flying
swiftly turn to right or left brings
tremendous strain along the whole
length Of the huge frame. 1t is posi-
ble--and am simply judging from
spectators reports-that in The course
Of the speed maneuver the framework
became strained and one girder broke,
or perhaps more. The petrol tanks
sprang leak, spraying gasolene on the
hot engines and exhaust pipes and the
ship caught fire. This is q mere as
sumption.
Il sincerely hope that Americas be-
ilef IN the airshlp Will not be dashed by
lhls dlsaster- We nave shut down 80
far as the construction of arships is
concerned, but I believe that the de-
slgners Of the R3S are still associated
together. hope that America will take
the plans for the R-38 and get the
builders to make another like her"
1,. ~,
great sadness hangs over the
American crew members who had ex
pected TO ny across the Atlantic, but
VINO were not aboard the ZR-2 II yes
terday's flight, and over a England as
well. Business IN TINS little orkshlre
city has suspended entirely. while the
Nha0ltaEt5 tax about the disaster and
recall war days wnen Aeppellns were
sometimes shot down from the SKIES by
BRUSH antl-alrcraft guns. Many mes
sages OF sympathy have been received
by the SURVIVORS and the other Amerl-
cans.
IN several quarters to-day 1T was
broughc Out that TOR some time the
Hh-z mad oeen regarded with susplclon'
In ner early TRIALS, 1t was SAID: she
because Oh her great lcng1h. IL IS
GROWN 'nat she was streng'heAed AMID
The Aeronautical Research. Commit
tee. in recent report, said that the
az IN rcsis stance compares unfavor-