Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-25
Only One American
SurUiUOr of ZR-2
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was today at the Hull infirmary, where
he died after being removed from the
wreckagc Of the ZR-2.
The body Of Lieutenant Marcus II
Esterly, another American victim. was
at n mortuary. and both were being held
pending an inquest. which probably will
not be held until attempts to take other
bodies from the ruins have been made.
Lieutenant Little was identified by a
fellow officer, who arrived from How
den. while Identification of Lieutenant
Esterly's body was effected through
wallet found in the clothing.
May Not Recover Bodies
Harbor officials today expressed doubt
that many bodies would be recovered
unless they were held fast in the wreck
age or were imprisoned in the gon-
dolas. They said they feared the tide
and the swift current of the Humber
would carry them away.
Large quantities of wreckage were
found this morning to have been foated
up the river by the tide. and little was
visible outside of the hull of the air
ship. A diver. who went down early
this morning. failed to locate anything
material.
Men engaged in the work Of salvage
reported at the American Consulate to-
day that they had found n body be-
lieved TO be that of Commander Louis
II. Maxfield. in charge Of the Ameri-
can contingent aboard the ZR-2, sew
eral miles below this city.
immediately after the disaster John
II. Grout. the American Consul Lieu
tenant Pennoyer. who becomes senior
officer Of the American detachment. and
Naval Physician Taylor assumed con-
troll of the situation for the American
They are CO. operating in
the work of recovering and identifying
the bodies. and are preparing an OFF,
cial list Of the missing.
Relatives Of Dead Notified
Lieutenant Pennoyer today wired
London that the next of kin OF the
victims of the accident had been ad.
yised. SO far as has been ascertained.
Mrs. Maxfield is still at Ambrough.
near Howden. where she and her hus-
band lived during their stay there;
Starting from Howden Tuesday
morning on test flight to Pulham. the
big aircraft had been afOat for thirty
four hours. at times in bad weather,
and was returning to the pulham air
drome at the time OF the disaster. which
constitutes the most terrible of its kind
in peace times.
While flying at about 1000 feet over
Hull spectators saw the ZR 2 suddenly
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 ships
rudders were being tested the giant
craft took q 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 afoat for
some days that the ZR-2 was struc-
turally weak, but this was stoutly de-
MED by all in authority.
Tens Of thousands OF spectators saw
several men climb outside the balloon
and drop from the falling mass. which
was envcloped In smoke, and others
jump into the Humber as the crippled
craft came over the water. As the
dirigiblC 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 survivors.
who were taken in ambulances to hos.
pitals.
One member of the rescuing party
said that when they got alongside the
burning arship 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 n hazardous
one, because one of the ballOonettes
was still filed with gas and another ex-
plosion was feared.
Among the wreckage an American
naval man was to be seen hanging by
his coat to a girder in the frame of the
Arship. 1t was believed 10 was dead,
owing TO the peculiar position Of the
body, which was not recovered. An
other rcscuer said one man was hang
ing on the tail Of the ship, apparently
while another was found
thOating in the water. oBth Of them
were saved. While the rescuerg were at
work the balloon began 10 turn over
and the rescue party had to return to
the tug.
When first seen from Hull, the ZR-2