Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-08-25

Petit, w. J. Steele, N. P. Wa
The British losses include the famous
air veteran. Brigader General E. NJ
Maitland and all the other officers on
board. except Lieutenant Wann, the
commander Of the T. r. 2.
Starting from Howdon Tuesday
morning on test flight to Pulham, the
big aircraft had been afloat for "a
hours, at times in bad weather. and
was returning to the Pulham air dome
at the time of the disaster, which con-
stitutes the most terrible of it's kind
in peace times.
About 1000 Feet Up.
While flying at about 1000 feet over
Hull spectators saw the 4. r.
seemingly buckle amidships and plunge
downward over the city and into the
Humber river. One theory of the cause
of the disaster is that while the Ship S
rudders were being tested the giant
craft took a sharp turn, which caused
her framework to buckle and that the
explosion of gasoline tank completed
the tragedy of the air. The actual
cause. however, never may be known.
A rumor had been afloat for some days
that the p. r. 2 was structuraHy weak,
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
Jumped into the Humber as the Grip
pied craft came over the water. AS
the dirigible struck. the wreckage above
the water was burning and there was
slight chance for any of the men caught
inside to escape
TUGS Go to Rescue.
Tugs Immediately put out into the
stream and brought ashore the five
survivors, who were taken in ambu-
lances to hospitals. Among these was
the American quartermaster. \. L.
Walker. who died soon after reaching
the hospital. from burns he had receIv-
ed. A rescue tug pulled another Amer
lean ont of the water. He was dead.
Inside his coat was the name "tom-
mander Maxfield." Early reports were
to the effect that Lieutenant Esterly
had been saved. 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 intact. Jumping upon
the wreckage. the rescuers ripped open
part of the fabric. while parts of thu.
debris were pulled away by means OF
ropes. The task was hazardous one.
because one of the balloonettes was
still filled with gas and another ex-
plosion was feared.
Among the wreckage an American
fn hn
his coat to a girder in the frame of the
airship. It was believed he was dead.
owing to the peculiar position of the
body. which was not recovered. Another
rescuer said one was hanging on to the
tail of the ship, apparently unlnJured,
while another was found floating in the
water. Both were saved. While the
rescuers were at work the balloon be-
gan TO turn over and the rescue party
had to return to the tug.
When first seen from Hull. the IR-o
was approaching the city, coming from
n southeasterly direction over the
Humber toward Hull When sailing on
nm even keel above the city, according
TO some eye witnesses, a huge cloud of
dense smoke burst from the tail of the
aircraft 1t was thought the ZR-2 was
sending out q smoke screen as an ex-
hibition. but, to the horror OF thous-
ands of spectators. it was seen that
she had broken in two and was taking
a tremendous nose dive which appar-
emily would bring her down into the
thronged streets.
Then there came loud explosion
and a great crash, followed by another
explosion. which was accompanied by
the breakings of glass in the windows
on land, the whole being reminiscent
of war times when German airships
bombed Hull and explosions shook the
whole town. The concussion was SO
great that it wrecked windows over
an area of about mile square.
Some spectators asserted that the
airship began to buckle before any
flame or explosion was seen or heard.
The broken halves of the ZR2 reached
water nearly mile apart.
The general opinion Of the public
of Hull is that the commander of the
airship accomplished remarkable feat
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