Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-25
Disaster On Final Trip
Sharp Turn Damages
Craft.
BODIES RECOVERED
Six Saved BY BoatS-ihousands See
Giant Dirigible Collapse-Ihree
Owe Life TO Parachute.

nun, Ling lsliINI, -Nu5' -
officers and men Of the United States
navy and u officers and men of the
British navy met death today in the
collapse OF the great dirigible ZR-2
over the city of Hull.
Norman O. Walker, 4 rigger, was
the only American to escape when
the ZR-2 was destroyed. 1t was re-
ported early in the night that ne had
died, but inquiry has established the
ract that he is still alive. His home
is in Commerce, Texas.
Only six men Of the 49 who were
making the trial trip in the dirlgibie
prior to the vessel being turned over
to the United States navy are known
20 have been saved.
The British losses include the fam
Gus air veteran, Brig. Gen. h. NJ.
Maitland, and all the other officers on
board, except Lieutenant Nann, the
commander Of the ZR-2.
Starting from Howden Tuesday
morning on test flight to Pullman
the big aircraft had been af!oat for
"a hours. at times in bad weather,
and was returning to the Putnam air.
drome at the time of the disaster,
which constitutes the most terrible OF
its kind in peace times.
The ZR-2, which was a sister ship
Of the famous RI, the first dirlgible
to cross the Atlantic, was on her IL
nal test trip prior to being accepted
by the United States navy and taken
across the Atlantic by an American
crew especially trained for that pur-
2aec. She was 800 feet long and was
Quilt to carry crew of 80. Her speed
was estimated at 70 miles an hour.
The American navy was 10 pay S.
100000 for the craft.
While flying at about LOCO feet
over Hull, spectators saw the ZR-?
seemingly buckle amidships and
pluce downward over the city and
into the Humber river. One theory
of the cause of the disaster is that
while the ships rudders were being,
tested the giant craft took sharp
turm, which caused her framework t"
buckle. ard that the explosion OF a
gasoline tank completed the tragedy
nf the air. The actual cause, how
ever. never may Dc known. a rumor
had been afioat for some days that
the ZR-2 was structuralIy weak, bit
this was stoutIy denied by all in aU-
ihority.
Tens of thousands of spectators
saw several men climb outside the
balloon and drop from the falling
mass. which was encvolned in smoke,
ard others jump into the Humber as
the crippled craft came over the va
ter. As the dirieible struck, the
wreckage above water was burning,
and there was slight chance for any
Of the men caught inside to escape.
Tugs immediately put out into the
stream and brought ashore the sur
vivors, who were taken in ambu-
lances to hospitals Lieutenant Little
was rescued from the debris alive, but
succumbcd to his injuries on reachinc
the infirmary. A rescue tug pulled
another American out Of the water.
lie was dead. Inside OF his coat was
the name Commander Maxfield.' y
Early reports were % the effect that
Lieutenant Easterly had been saved.
jnhappily, this report proved to be
without foundation.
One member OF the resculng 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 res
cuers ripped open part Of the fabric.
while parts of the debris were pulled
away by means of ropes. The task
was a hazardous one, because one OF
the balloonettes was still filled with
gas and another explosion was feared.
Among the wreckage an American
naval man was to be seen hanging
by his coat to girder in the frame
of the airship. 1t was believed he
was dead, owing to the peculiar posi-
ton of the body. which was not re-
covered. Another rescuer said one
man was hanging on to the tail OF