The New York herald., 1921-08-26

into a rescue tug. Neither man was
scratched.
Young Norman Walker OF Texas. the
lone American to be saved OF the seven
teen aboard. gave a straightforward,
simple account. 1t was not originally
intended that he should go on this flight
Of the ZR-2. He was standing near the
dirigible when one OF his comrades, who
had been i'll and who was 10 have gone
aboard the zR-2. asked to be relieved.
Commander Maxfield then called Walker.
He was forward aboard the airship
when she was flying over Hull, but for
no particular reason he strolled aft. He
was near Bateman when the accident
occurred. He said he simply sat down
and remained sitting, because there was
nothing else for him to do.
II was still sitting there when we
struck, and boat came out and picked
me up" he said.
Commander Wann gave an idea Of
what he thought of the ship when he
was asked to-day what his plans were
just before the accident. He said he
meant to make the last test and then
so to Howden.
Then what?' he was asked.
Then further tests at another time
would have been advisable he re-
piled. Therefore. It seems that the zR-2
had not entirely satisfied her commander
before the crash came.
The most accurate versions Of what
was responsible for the disaster will
never be known, because the two men
best qualified to speak on this subject
Col. Campbell and Lieut.. Pritchard-
went down like good mariners with their
ship. Gen. Maitland also was lost. No
men in the British airship service were
respected like these three. They de-
signed the ZR-2, built her and went
aboard her to stand or fall on her per-
formances. Speaking of Col. Campbell
and Lieut.. Pritcharo. British officer
said to-day:
IF she had to 60. perhaps It was best
that they went with her. for her failure
would have broken their hearts"
In British flying circles much anxiety
over the ZR-2 developed when her
girders first failed on a previous flight.
The delays caused by bad weather and
other little annoyances that were re-
sponsibe for several postponements OF
her final trials all contributed to max
ing many persons here suspicious OF the
great airnli;p. Perhaps 1t was more
superstition than actual knowledge. but
some time ago the Job Of building the
ZR-2 ceased to look as rosy az It once
did.
The surviving Americans now likewise
admit that they were apprehensive OF
the airship, but were banking on their
common sense and reasoning that II the
test proved that the ship was a good one
she would fly home. In justice to the
Americans 1t must be said that they had
considerable TO irrtnte them while they
were waiting to take the ZR-2 to Amer
lea One OF them declared:
I'VE have been waiting sixteen months
in the face of delay after delay. At
Cardington we sensed that tho workmen
had not the right spirit. There was too
much talk of Bolshevist theories and too
little work.
Promise after promise was broken.
until 1t became a toss up whether we
would get the ship before the weather
beat US.
We have lived and worked together
with one glorious idea before us. but
the strain became increasingly greater,
especially during the last fvc months.
What Is the future Of the airshlp?'
he was asked.
with a great deal OF money. great
deal or patience and helium gas we car
succeed. but not under this system under
which the ZR-2 arose and fell" an
swered this officer, who had not slept q
wink in fifty hours.