The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-27
TWO MORE BODIES
TAKEN FROM WRECK
Are Those of Albert L. LOftin,
an American Mechanic, and
an English Sergeant.
(By The Associated Press,

HULL, England. Aug. 26-The re-
covery from the wreck Of the ZR-2
late today Of two more bodies, those
Of Albert l.. Loftin, an American me-
chanic, and Flight Sergeant A. p.
Martin, of the British crew, and the
near recovery of an ,ther which slipped
from the mass OF wreckage just after
1t was brought to the surface, gave
hope to the searchers and officers that
they would soon be able to locate
other missing members OF the crew.
As the saiyagers were continuing
their work, another brief chapter in
the tragedy was written when the
coroner's inquest on the bodies Of
Lieutenant Marcus H. Esterly, of
Washington, d. c.; Lieutenant Charles
q. Little, of Newbury Port, Mass, and
Lieutenant r. 8. Montague, of the
British personnel, was opened. The
session, however, was a brief one and
after the taking of some evidence. ad-
Journment was taken until October 4.
The formality enabled the coroner to
issue burial certificates so that the
bodies could be taken away.
Further inquiry is impossible at
present, owing to the lack of evidence,
and the fact that the most important
witness, Flight Lieutenant A. II. Wann
is still in hospital where he must
remain for another fortnight The
American air force was represented
by Lieutenants John B. Lawrence,
Joseph B. Anderson and William r.
Taylor.
Lieutenant Taylor identified the two
Americans speaking in a voice which
shook with emotion, A British air
officer identified Lieutenant Montague.
An interesting point, brought out
rather casually was that the airship
had never been officially named ZR-2
but was still the RIBS. The coroner.
for the purpose of record, asked Vice
Admiral A. v. Vivian, Of the British
Air Service, about this, and he re-
piled that she was the R-3s, to which
Lieutenant Taylor, who was In the
box, nodded his head.
Frome early morning the salvagers
We're at their work among the wreck
age of the ZR-2. They discovered
what is believed to be the remains
of the forward part of the ship, where
most of the members Of the crew were
on duty when the career of the dirigi-
BILE was cut short. Late today huge
100-ton crane was placed in position
in the middle of the Humber river
and with this apparatus it was ex-
pected to lift a portion Of the wreck
age.
n - II g,,av1 Iol
to identify the masses of twisted
girders as belonging to any particular
section of the ship, except the arched
girders Of the tail, which projected
above the other wreckage
showing that the ship crashed perden-
dicularly into the river. 1t was the
tail of the dirigible that the only sur
vivors escaped.
1t is reported by the salvage wreck
ers that they have been able to locate
the remains of but two Of the six
gondolas. This leads to the belief
that the violence Of the explosion
blew the center gondola to pieces and
threw the others away from the shipl
and that the remains of them may be
found by dredging the vicinity of the
wreck
An official announcement issued by
the river and harbor authorities today
which said that the wreck is ASS feet
from shore and on shoal which at
low tide is covered by only two feet
OF water. lends proof to the theory
that the gondo'as were destroyed:
otherwise they could be seen az loy
tide
River craft have been ordered byI
the authorities to keep sharp look
ont for bodies and wreckage A great
funeral. oper 70 the public. |
IS to be heli at the Howden airdrome
next Wednesday.