Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-22

dumping. The others, pinned In tbo
hull of the fallen bag, were burned
to death.
chnrrcd Beyond Recognition.
me flames were finally brought
into submission by three fire depart-
ments, who fought them with chem
ica's. Then derricks began picking
up the wreckase. which consisted
scarcely more than the aluminu,o
framework and4llho six Liber,v ,ne
'ors OF the once proud ship of tho
ar. Within the wreckage Law IN.
ooaies' practically all charred be-.
!ohd recognition. But before th.,
night had passed 80 bodies had hem
removed. accounting for the last os
'hose wh" were known to haze tax
ell hight on tho fatal voyage.
Accounts OF survivors and of av.
witnesses as to what had hannan.,,
appeared TO agree tonight that m,
hnGe kitelike structure OF tbo -.
OF the rudder, itseif as largo ,s q
bombing plane. had slipped In ona
SIDE as the Roma drove along -
Thousand feet above the army base
'he was making trial Hight with
new battery of Liberty mo,nr.
Ihey were installed to replace Italian
engines bought with her in Italy h,,r
W"ich nave not proved satisf lctorv
installation was completed at Lang.
ley Field two weeks ago.
Ship Noses Down steenIy.
II was just before 7, ",
those below at the Hamnton paa,..
approaching thunder of the six n,o.
iooNe" UP To see the Roma dip
uoWh from her straight flight.
me snip nosed down steeply. AS
she came closer il was sesn ~,
her crew We're hurting our san, Ia
last from the ports in the frarI.
fabric that formed tn. covsr,n s
'he space between her keel and i,,.L
the living and operating u,,or,.
tne snip. The dipping blunt nos. a,
the bag did not responC IN
snip came. unchecked i'm her ,,iaa
earthward. head first. Her cornm,,-
her could not force her the few bun-
hred feet that would have dronnn
hef into The waters G: the bay ana
comparative safety.
Fellow ran the double wires NJ n
aihh .t,, power electric line. CARRYING F.
,-Noit current. The Roma's nose
Wv" It's aluminium guard, thrugt
INTO the wires. broke them as tho
'"p hat'ehed TO earth and rolled
over. ana the next moment came tho
NOISE as OF an explosion and the
l'ames burst out along the hull
space.
Rush OF Men to Rescue.
Iherc was rush Of men 10 tho
rescue from the army most and tbs
navy base beyond. Just as the Roma
lie ''fed the wires.two men were seen
I EMP from high up in her slantinr
'ui. AS the stricken. flaming mon.
seer "rithed in her first death agony.
ten more dropped from doors or
ports or through holes they tore i'm
the fabric sides that enclosed them
Some ieaped from the platform where
the engines stood. far out from tho
hull.
So swift was the Harc of the gas
flame that rescuers were driven
back before its terrific hear.
They watched hciplessly as the
great bag shrivelcd In the fierce
blaze OF the liberated gas The Roma
was a wall OF flame city block long.
and until the thousanGS "f gallons
OF chemicals and water had checked
them. II was impossible TO reach the
comrades mansied ana dead in that
fiery furnace.
Few Had Chance for Life.
The ship left no passenger lis, be-
hind her when she set out Tor
brief trial run from Langley. She III
known TO have carried many officers
and men rs Passengers. however, ia
addition TO her operating crew. As
she rose from the heid. her COM
mander leaned out 10 signal that ha
had forty four persons aboard. IL
Is believed he did not inclpde on.
(conflnued on Page :, Col s.J II