The New York herald., 1921-08-25
BIZ the Associated Press.

HULL, England, Aug. 24.-Starting
from Howden Tuesday morning on a
test fight to Pulham, the ZR-2 had
been afioat for thirty-four hours, at
times in bad weather and was return
Ing to the Pulham airdrome at the
time Of to-day's disaster, which con-
stitutes the most terrible of it's kind
IN peace times
The ZR-2, which was a sister ship
Of the famous R-34, the first dirigible
to cross the Atlantic. was on her final
test trip prior to being accepted by the
United States Navy and taken across
the Atlantic by an American crew
especially trained for that purpose. The
American Navy was to pay s2.000.0o0
for the craft.
While flying over Hull spectators
saw the ZR-2 suddenly seemingly
buckle amidships and plunge down.
ward over the city and into the Hum
Der River. One theory of the cause of
the disaster is that while the ships
rudders were being tested the giant
craft took a sharp turn, which caused
her framework to buckle and that the
explosion of a gasolene tank completed
the tragedy OF the air. The actual
cause. however, never may be known.
A rumor had been afioat for some
days that the ZR-2 was structurally
weak, but this was stoutly denied by
all in authority.
Tens of thousands OF spectators saw
several men climb outside the balloon
and drop from the falling mass. which
was enveloped in smoke, and others
jump into the Humber as the crippled
craft came over the water. AS the
dirigible struck. the wreckage above
water was burning. and there was
slight chance for any of the men
caught inside to escape.
Tugs brought ashore the five sur
vivors. Among these was the Ameri-
can Quartermaster n. o. Walker. who
died soon after reaching the hospital
from burns he had received. Lieut..
Little also was rescued alive. but died
later In an infirmary. A rescue tug
pulled another American out OF the
water. He was dead. Inside of his
coat was the name Commander Max
field" Early reports were TO the ef-
feet that Lieut.. Esterly had been saved.
Unhappily this report proved to be
without foundation.
One member Of the rescuing party
said that when they got alongside the
burning airship the pilot of the tug
asked for volunteers to board one part
that still was almost intact Jumping
upon the wreckage. the rescuers
ripped open part OF the fabric. while
parts OF the debris were pulled away
by means of ropes. The task was
hazardous one, because one Of the ball
loonettes was still filed with gas and
another explosion was feared.
Among the wreckage an American
naval man was to be seen hanging by
his coat 20 a girder in the frame of
the airship. II was believed he was
dead. owing 20 the peculiar porition Of
the body. whsth was rot ..cc-----1
Another rescuer said one man was
hanging on TO the tail OF the ship, ap-
parently uninjured. while another was
found floating in the water. Both OF
them were saved. While the rescuers
were at work the balloon began TO
turn over and the rescue party had to
return to the tug.
All who Jumped from the falling
craft lost their livss. They had no
allance for escape. for the water was
covered with burning gasolene and the
heat from the burning wreckage was
so intense that even the rescuers ex-
perienced the greatest difficulty in
approaching for some time. Barges,
trawlers and small boats thronged
around the debris, willing to render
any possible assistance.
Immediately after the disaster tele-
phone messages came from distances
up to nifty miles reporting that the
people had felt an earthquake shock.
Among those on board the airship
we're Mr.. Warren, superintendent OF the
works whore she was built. and Flight
officers Wicks and Matheson.
ZR-2 closely resembied her sister ship
the rt-Sf which sailed across the At
lanEc in July. 1919, although she was
al feet longer and Z feet greater In