Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-23
OFFICERS OPROBE
A|RSH|P DISASTER!
COSTING "a LIVES
Giant American DifigibIe
Roma Falls in Mass Of
Flames at Naval Base at
Newport News, Va,

NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 23.--Com-
pletely wrecked by fire and ex-
plosion the Roma, the worlds
largest semi-rigid airship and the
pride of the American air service,
had yielded up today the last of the
dead of the disaster which overlook
her yesterday while maneuvering
over Hampton Roads and sent her
hurtling downward to crash into the
net work of high power electric
wires that wrought her distinctions
Recovery of the last body fixed
the toll of the disaster-the greatest
in the history of American aeronau-
tics-at thirty-four dead, eight iIl-
jured and three practically unhurt.
OF the dead thirty had been identi-
fled, although many of the bodies Of
those caught in the interior of the
ship when she crashed were burned,
blackened and charred almost be.
yond recognition. These dead in
cluded some of the air services
most gallant officers and men, the
list containing the names of Mai.
John Thornell, commander of the
ship at her christening in Washing
ton last December, and Capt. Dale
Mabry, her commander during yes
terday's Inflated flight.
Air service men from Langley
Field, the home station of the craft,
began shortly after dawn today the
clearing up of the wreckage OF the
warped and blistered skeleton and
at the same time preparations began
for the official inquiry. Maj. Gen.
Mason M. Patrick, chief Of the air
service, who came here by airpiane
yesterday as soon as word of the
disaster was flashed to Washington.
made a personal inspection of the
wreck during the night and ordered
an immediate investigation.
Causes of Disaster
Officers at Langley Field still
were at loss to account for the
mishap that caused the ships rud
der to tilt and thereby rendered the
410-foot craft unmanageable. Pos
sibility developed, however, that \
the inquiry would take notice of re-
ports that the bag of the Roma,
constructed in Italy, was rotten, al
though officers at the field declined
to discuss such reports.
In connection with the forthcom
ing inquiry these developments,
some officers said. had been estabr
lished definitely:
/. That the left rudder of the
Roma gave way when she was less
than half a mile FROM where she
went down near the army base fire
station.
2. That there was no fire on the
ship until after the tilt began as
result of the right-hand side of the
cal position.
8. That the craft became unmaE-
ageable as she swooped over the
base reservation narrowly missing
heating plant.
4. That the immediate cause of the
explosion with such force as to
wreck the entire craft and set her
afire was contact with net of 1900
volt high power electric wires, less
than 100 feet from where the Roma (
crashed into a pile of railroad car
parts.
s. That the Liberty motors, which G
were being tested, were not respon-
sible for the disaster unless somel
thing more tangible should be lealSl-
ed than appeared today.
The point which the army board
of investigation, which will be or
ganized today, will decide, it was
said, is what caused the rudder sup
ports to give way.
There were two pilots in charge OF
the ships steering gear. They were
Captain Waiter J. Reed and Lieu
tenant 3. c.. Burt, both of whom
had been at the wheels of the Roma
on previous trips.
Both Reed and Burt escaped with
their lives.
Soon after the rudder support gave
way Burt, it was said, discovered he
could neither elevate nor right the
ship. He and Reed used their levers
in every way, and yelled to the
mechanicians to cut the motors off.
1t was apparently their intention to
land the ship and every emergency
apparatus was brought into play.
The Explosion
But when the Roma hit the cleo
tria IITiro
into the pile of car material, the ex-
plosion came, sending sheets Of
binding flame high into the air.
The Roma was going at reduced
speed as She came in a northwest
erly direction over the army base
reservation, but survivors were un-
able to estimate the exact speed, &C.
cording to army officers.
How eleven men managed to es-
cape. from the mass of flames and
gas fumes with their lives, three Of
them practically unhurt, was said to
have been miraculous.
When the cabin of the ship-that
part in which the men were riding
under the great bag-Was wrenched
loose from its support, was hurled
into the ground and more than
twenty bodies were found piled
among the girders and supports, all
in a tangled mass.
AS the flames enVeloped the ship,
the cries of the wounded and dying
could be heard for a considerable
distance.
The eleven men who jumped out
Dr. were dragged to safety by res
cuers were scarcely safe before the
cries of the others ceased because
1eath had ended their suffering, so
intense was the heat