The New York herald., 1921-09-08
Is ZR-2 DEAD sent
HOME BY PLYMOUTH
American Bodies Aboard
the Dauntless on Way
to New York.
TRADITIONS RECALLED
English Post Has Bid Adieu
to Drake, CabOts and
Pilgrims.
2 NAVIES SYMPATHETIC
Great Devonport Dockyards
flushed for Ceremony Over
Draped Coffins.
? NAvIEs SYMPATHETIC

Copyright, 1891, BY THE NEw YoRK HERALD.
PLYMOUTH, Sept. THE bodies Of
Commander Louis H. Maxfield and
fourteen of his comrades of the air.
ship ZR-2 passed beneath the shades
the Pilgrim Fathers to the shrill chat
ter of 'bosuns pipe as they started
home to-day on the bosom of their
mother deep instead of in the air
above her.
1t was just 2:30 o'clock in the after
white ensign half-masted at her taft
rail. swung in past Plymouth's Hoe.
where Sir Francis Drake was playing
bowls when news of the Spanish ar
m2da came past the Barbican, and
whence the Plymouth Fathers sailed.
She headed out over the track where
Lieut.. Commander Albert c. Read and
the NC-4 had triumphed over the
Atlantic's airs.
1t was just such an afternoon of
England's hazy sun as in June, 1919,
when watchers on the Hoe heard the
roar of motors. detected spot in the
sky and saw at last the men who had
flown across the western ocean over
which Plymouth folk had gazed for a
thousand years.
Flags on Boxes Only Color.
But TODAY there was only silence
there. The Dauntless slid. smoothly
down from Devonport past Devils Point
where the tides meet. reversed her port
engines and headed in toward the Hoe,
leaving brakes Island to starboard. II
was as IL she wanted to pay her respects
to every Plymouth tradition. Even the
shrill yelling of children bathers down
below Lord Astor's house was stilled as
the long. low, gray craft slid by. A
single splotch of color showed on her
upper after part. 1t was the fiag-draped,
fiower-decked boxes of the fifteen going
home
At o'clock yesterday afternoon a
field OF industry known as Devonport
dockyard 1t arrived at the Key. to find
the British navy in charge there. and It
is not only tradition. but a fact. that
where the British navy is in charge
things move with the orderliness OF the
eternal variety.
Whatever diapasons may have been
ringing through the aisles of Westmin-
ster Abbey about the same hour in
praise Of the heroic men who dared this, |
at Devonport dockyard 1t was a funeral
ceremony that should satisfy any sea-
mans heart There were solid ranks of
bronzed men in dark blue. backed by |
other ranks of blue with gold lace
flatfoot and brass hat unitel to do honor !
to their comrades.
Backyard flushed for Ceremony.
Through all the hammering wilderness
where men make ships of steel there fell
a silence as the tiny yard locomotive
drawing the funeral train tried to give
dignity to itself by its ridiculous whistle.
The silence was broken only by a sharp
word of command Naval Guard,
shun -
The Air Force guard and the Marine
guard followed suit.
When the train stopped the silence
was broken only by 4 click. click. click
of motion picture cameras. An Admiral.
a General. civic officials and the whole
ships company stood stiffly as the doors
OF the cars opened. AS each coffin was
carried out and across the quay. guards
ashore presented arms in general salute.
and as each coffin reached the Daunt-
1esss deck. the Marine guard aboard.
and aboard every other ship in sight.
paid the same honors. There was no
sound of music of any sort Only the
sharp words of command were heard.
The dead men we're fathers, husbands.
brothers. perhaps. but not a single
woman appeared in this picture. But
there was relationship old and deep
that OF man with the sea. smart
guard Of honor in the air force light blue
was there. but the air force blue wac
merely a spot in the background. This
was an AFFAIR between messmates of the
dark blue. Ono by one etaiwart groups
of eight bluejackets shouldered their bur-
dena There was no indication OF rank
for any one, and the same honors were
paid TO all.
At Hull the train had been delayed
because the unexpected weight OF the |
lead case collins necessitated the use OF
special tackle to get them aboard the /
train. But those special tackle giant |
steam cranes which have become part |
OF modern seagoing vessels stood ready !
In the Devonport yards.
Vessel starts Quickly.
Each squad. with midshipmsn gravely
leading and grizzled petty officers fol- |
lowing. stepped slowly on board the
Dauntless- As the last went to the ship. /
the shore guard was formed again and
the 'bosun's pipe aboard shrilled with
mysterious Significance. Then the Daunt-
less began to edge into tho stream. Two
signalmen stood at the starboard and
port quarters. each holding n white flag
high Suddenly. with her bow cleared.
the Daunfiess's own engines thrilled I.er
and the water boiled beneath her stern.