Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-09-03
Eighteen of u. S. Crew on Diriqi-
bic ZR-2 Perish in Disaster
Near Hull, England.
CRAFT PLUNGES INTO RIVER
Commander Louis n. maxfeld. Who
Had Charge of Machine, Is Amonq
the Deao-Huse Snip Breaks in
Two After Explosion-Most
OF Victims Burned to Death.

-OHi aug. 20. - Inc llteQ
States airship ZR-2, the largest air
craft in the world, and valued at 81
OVO,VOO, plunged into the River Hum
Der, near Hull, England, after being
wrecked BY an explosion. Eighteen OF
the tWenty-one Americans who were
TO pilot her across the Atlantic TO the
United States. are believed to have
persisted
VI the 40 officers and enlisted men
IN the huge dirigible's crew, IS 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 II. Maxfield of Washington. D.
T., VINO was in command of the ZR-2.
Cause of Blast Unknown.
Air Commodore Maitland of the
British air forces, who plloted the
dirigible and was Britain'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 ZR-2 had been
in the air 80 hours on her trial flight.
The dirgible was floating easily over
Hull in plain sight of thousands Of
people on the streets, when suddenly
the crowds saw flash and heard
tremendous explosion.
Ship Punges Into River.
The conclusion shook buildings and
broke windows in Hull. The alrship
burst into flames and appeared to
break in two While the panic-stricken
pOpulace rushed 10 and fro to escape
the debris the 7OO-foUt bag. laden
with heavy engines, great gasoline
tanks and cabin equipment, plunged,
burning. into the river
As 1t touched the water. another
explosion occurred. Many of the vic
tins were burned to death after the
balloon fell Eyewitnesses sa~7 at
least four men leap in parachutes.
The six rescued were all deliriOus.
A description of the ZR-2 disaster
was given by James Phipson OF Birm-
ingham, an eyewitness.
Il was just opposite Victoria pier
when 1t happened" said Phipson.
could see the propelers turning
slowly as the ship disappeared into
a cloud bank.
Airship Breaks in Two.
THE airship 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 1 saw portions of the gon-
dolas falling away. The nose portion
fell on a mud bank in the Humber,
which was at low tide. After bury
ing its 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 in the middle OF
the river half mile away and W.T.
also blazing,
Three Drop in Parachute.
"When the nose landed there were
two further explosions. The gasoline
tanks burst with the impact.
Il saw three parachutes leave the
front part of the ship as it broke. 1t
looked to me as if three men were
hanging TO one of the parachutes,
but / could not see where they landed
LAS far as know only two men sur
vived. They were Mechanic Bateman
and Lieut. a. II. Wann, who COM
handed the ship. l saw Lieutenant
ESterly's body taken away. 1t was
all burned and charred. Wann was
terribly injured but Bateman was able
70 walk. Both Wann and Bateman
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 dirigible cost 100000. In adj
dtion the United States government
expended 100000 in the construc-
ton Of q huge hangar near LaKehurst,
y. J., ana in sending a crew to Eng
land to bring the dirigible home.
More than a month ago q girder Of
the ZR-2 buckled on a trial Tip, and
the ship was laid UP for repairs.
Frequent delays since then have in
terfered with intended flights.