New Britain herald., 1921-08-25
Were Testing Control When Girder Broke Stays In Cockpit Until Dnigible Reaches Water Of Humber River
Divers Working On Wreck age-Only 1 American and 4 Englishmen Saved - Brown Sees Disaster.

DlSdSVC1s
 Howden, Eng, Aug. 25 (By Asso- ciated Press) Norman Walker, sole American survivor of the wrecked airship ZR-2 today gave the Asso- ciated Press the first circumstancial account of the disaster which late yesterday wiped out the great super dirigible and every American mem Der of the crew on board except himself.
 Was a Rigger On Ship.
 Walker was seen at the Howden airdrome, near Hull where. he has just been brought after the terrible experience through which he passed unscathed He comes from Com merce, Texas and was a rigger on the ill-fated airship. He is of boy ish appearance, 20 years old and of a wiry build which carried him through the ordeal almost without, a scratch.
 We were all in the highest spirits when we left Howden on the trial flight" he said We sailed over the North sea first and then started down the north coast to Putnam.
 "A thick fog developed, so it was found impossible to land at Pull ham, In fact the fog was so dense we were more or less lost although we knew the general locality.
 We were flying at height Of about $500 feet, with the wireless Keeping in touch with both Howden and Pullman. The ship was behaving finely and there was not a. sign Of weakness anywhere.
 Out to Sea Again.
 we drove over the sea again and as the fog continued bad we flew along the coast until "Wednesday ait ernoon when we sighted land at Hull. We then flew across to Howdcn where it was decided to land Ut 6:SO D. m. so we sailed over Hull again. We encircled Hull twice and the speed trial was completed without a hitch.
 "A test of the ships control then began, I was at the lower rudder, proceeding back to the tail, and had just reached the cockpit when there was a tremendous crash. The girders amidship broke and the ship split in halves.
 Both the tail and the nose inn mediately pointed downward and the halves started to descend toward the 
 Humber.
 1T certainly cannot describe my sensation but thought my time had come"
 Makes Rush For Tail.
 .I made a rush for the tail to get a. parachute but I found two of my English comrades, Harry Bateman and Walter Potter were already there. I knew there was only one chute there dor the three of us Ratenan had the chute and jumped but it fouled and he hung to the tail of the 6irigible.
 "Poth Potter and I started to TUT forward for other parachutes but just as I got in the keel there came an explosion of either a petrol tank o1 hydrogen and flames Immediately began to sweep the forward part ol our half of the ship.
 ..wFat was happening to our com rades in other parts of the d1rlglo:e don't know Most of the officers and crew were amidships, either seated or lying in their hunks when the girders broke. At least one man dropped through the gap made by the break Possibly others did. but probably most of them rolled forward when the air ships nose went down.
 Gets Into Cockpit.
 T ran back to the tail to get away from the fire in the bag. Bateman Potter and I got into the cockpit. By this time the gas was becoming de- pleted and he ship was shooting dowr rapidly The forward half had already beaten us toward the water.
 We couldn't use a parac hute .ther as we were too low-only a few hundred feet up.
 T saw we were going to land IT the water so I climbed on the fabric forward of the tail cup. I couldn tell how fast we were falling, bu when I thought we were going tc strike I jumped
 'I was surprised to find my fec striking the bottom. I had landed il four feet of water near shore Botl my comrades stuck to the ship ane continued to cling to her as she struck l managed to scramble aboard tn wreckage, and the three of us wer picked up by tug"