The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-09-01
HUGE AIRSHIP
DESTROYED BY
BLAST; 43 DIE
Eighteen of u. S. Crew on Diriqi-
Bile ZR-2 Perish in Disaster
Near Hull, England.
CRAFT PLUNGES into RIVER
Commander Louis n. Maxfeld Who
Had Charge of Machine, Is Among
the Oead-Huge Snip Breaks in
Two After Exploslon-Most
OF Victims Burned to Death.


London, Aug. 70. - The United
States airship LI;-2 the largest air.
craft in the world, and valued ut 81
100000, plunged into the River Hum
Der, near Hull, England, after being
wrecked by an explosion. Eighteen of
the twenty-oue Americans who were
to pilot her across the Atlantic to the
United States, are believed to have
persisted
OF the 40 officers and enlisted men
In the huge dirigibles crew, - Of
whom were British, all but six lost
their lives when the ship exploded
over the city of Hull at six o'clock In
the evening.
Twelve bodies have been recovered,
among them that of Commander
Louis IL, MaXield Of Washington, d.
G., who was in command of the ZR-2.
Cause of Blast Unknown.
Air Commodore Maitland Of the
British air forces, who piloted the
dirigible and was Britalu's foremost
pilot, also was killed.
None Of the six survivors has been
able to advance a theory of the cause
Of the disaster. The HR-2 had been
in the air 30 hours on her trial flight.
The dirigible was floating easily over
Hull in plain sight of thousands Of
people on the streets, when suddenly
the crowds saw a flash and heard a
tremendous explosion
Ship PIunges Into River.
The concussion shook buildings and
broke windows in Hull The airship
burst into flames and appeared to
break In two. While the panic-stricken
popuace rushed to and fro to escape
the debris, the 70O-foot bag laden
with heavy engines, great gasoline
tanks and cabin equipment, plunged
burning, into the river
As it touched the water. another
explosion occurred. Many of the vic
Tins were burned to death after the
balloon fell, Eyewitnesses saw at
least four men leap in parachutes,
The six rescued were MI delirlous.
A description Of the ZR-2 disaster
was given by James Phipson Of Blrm-
ingham, an eyewitness
81 was just opposite Victoria pier
when 1t happened" said Phlpson.
could see the propellers turning
slowly as the ship disappeared into
a cloud bank.
Alrship Breaks in Two.
"The airshlp seemed to stand still
for a second or two as the two pieces
gradually broke apart, descending
slowly, the nose portion at first seem
ingly under control.
"Then ! saw portions OF the gon-
dolas falling away. The nose portion
fell on mud bank In the Humber,
which was at low tide. After bury
Ing It's nose in the sand that portion
of the ship continued to burn fiercely.
"There was no sign of any one on
that part Of the ship.
"The tail end fell I'm the middle OF
the river half n mile away and was
also blazing.
Three Drop in Parachute.
"When the nose landed there we're
two further explosions. The gasoline
tanks burst with the impact.
81 saw three parachutes leave the
front part of the ship as II broke. 1t
looked to me as If three men were
hanging to one of the parachutes,
but ! could not see where they landed.
AS far as | know only two men sur
vived. They were Mechanic Bateman
and Lieut. A. II, Wann, who com.
manded the ship. / saw Lieutenant
Estery's body taken away. 1t was
all burned and charred. Wann was
terribly injured, but Bateman was able
to walk. Both Wann ana Batcman
were rescued from the wreckage In
the Humber"
Planned Flight to U. S.
The ZR-2 was to have left Pullman
for the United States within ten or
twelve days.
The drlgble cost 100000 In ad.
dltion the United States government
expended SLOOO,OoO in the construc-
ton Of a huge hangar near Lakehurst.
n. j., aud IN sending a crew TO Eng.
land to bring the dirIglbe home.
More than Il month ago Il girdcr OF
the ZR-2 buckIed on Il trial trip, and
the ship was laid up for repairs
Frequent delays since then have In
terrered with intended flights.