Pueblo chieftain., 1922-02-22

for tho flight and made all attempts
Mt rescue work futile. Barely one dozen
of those aboard were picked up alive
and one of these died on the way TO
the hospital. All who survived tho IRE
escaped bv jumping tho ship struck.
The others. pcnncd in the hull of the
falling bag were burned to death.
The flames were finally brought into
submission by three fire departments
who fought them with chemicals.
Derricks then began picking up tho
wreckagc which consisted OF scarcely
more than the aluminium frame work
and the six Liberty motors of the
once proud ship of the air.
Within tho wrcckagc lay the bodies
practically all charrcd beyond recoE
milton. But before the night had passed
~ bodies had been removed. account
ing for the last of those who were
voyage.
Accounts of survivors and eye wit
ncsscs as to what had happened ap-
pearcd to agree tonight that tho huge
kitclikc structure or tn" stern ruddor.
itself as large as a bombing plane had
slipped to one side as the Roma drove
to the army base.
She was making a trial flight with
n new battery OF Liberty motors. They
were installed to replace tho 1tainn
| but which have not proved satisfac-
tory. Installation was completed ut
Langley field two weeks ago.
1t was just before . o'clock when
those below at the army base at
Hampton Roads had their attention
caught by tho approaching thunder of
the six motors and looked up TO soc
the Roma dip down from hcr straight
flight. They agreed that tn" ruddcr
seemed to have slipped bodily down
Il In ono psrt1 1Fa 'tts g1al i1,s
down as she came closer and II was
sccn that her crew was hurting out
sand ballast from tho ports In the
fragile fabric that formed tho covering
OF tho space between her keel and
back. tho living and operating quarters
Of the ship. Tho dipping blunt nose of
the bag did not respond,
on tho ship came. unchecked in her
glide carihward. head FIRST. Her com
mandcr could not force hcr the few
hundred feet that would hav"
dropped her into tho waters Of the bay
and comparative safety for her people
Below ran tho high double wires Of
tho high power electric line. 1t carried
a 2.5o0 volt current Tho Roma. nose
shod with its aluminium guard sank
into the wires. broke them n. the ship
flattcnod 10 earth. rolled over and tho
next Esomcut cam" the noise OF an
explosion. Flames burst out along th.
hun space. There was a rush Of men
TIL" navy beyond.
Just as tho Roma ncared the wires
two mon were seen to leap from high
in in her sl1ntinE hull. AS tho stricken
flaming monster writhcd in her nrst
death agony. ten more dropped from
doors or ports or thru holes they tore
in tho fabric s!dos that enclosed them
Some lcaped from tho platform whcro
the engines stood. far out from tho
hull. So fierce was the fare OF tho Eas
fame that rcscucrs were driven back
before its terrific heat. They watched
h"lplcsslv as tho great eighty foo. bag
shrivel In tn" blaze Of tho liberated
gas. TIL" Roma was wall OF namc n
city block long and until thc thousands
Of gallons OF chemicals and water
had checked tho holocaust Il was i'm
possible to reach tho manglcd and dead
in that blazing furnace.
Tho ship left No passenger list he
hind her whom she went out for