The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-22
Death List Still Stands
at "a With Eight
Injured
THIRTY Identified.
Many of Most Gallant
Officers of Air
Lose Lives

NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 22.-Gom.
pietely wrecked by fire and explo.
sion, the Roma, the worlds largest
semi.rigid airship and the pride Of
the American air service, had yield.
ed up to today the last Of the dead
OF the disaster which overlook her
yesterday while maneuyering over
Hampton Roads and sent her hur.
Ting downward to crash into the
network of high power electric
wires that wrought her destruc-
ton.
Recovery OF the last body fixed
the toll OF the dlsaster-the great
est in the history of American aer-
onautics, "a dead, eight injured
and three practically unhurt. OF
the dead, 80 had been identified al
though many OF the bodise OF
those caught in the interior OF the
ship when she crashed were burn.
ed, blackened and charred almost
beyond recognition. These dead
included some Of the air services
most gallant officers and men. The
list containing the names OF Ma.
jor John Thornell, commander OF
the ship at her christening at
Washington last December and
Captain Dale Mabry, her command
er during yesterdays Ill fated
flight.
Air service men from Langley
field. the home station OF the
craft, shortly after dawn began the
investigation Of the skeleton. Ma.
jor General Mason NJ. Patrick,
chief OF the air service, who came
here by airplane yesterday as soon
as word OF the disaster was flash.
cd to Washington, made a personal
inspection OF the wreck during the
night and orGefedS an immediate,
Investigation. Gofflcers at Langley
Field still were at loss to account
for the mishap that caused the
ships ruder to tilt and thereby rem
dered the 40 foot craft to be.
come unmauagable. Possibility dc.
veloped. that the inquiry would
take notice OF reports that the bag
OF the Roma, constructed in Italy,
was rotten although officers
the field declined to discuss such
reports.
In connection with the forthcom-
ing inquircy, these developments,
some officers said, had ebeen cstab'
lished definitely:
First-The left rudder Of the
Roma gave way when she was less
than half a mile from where she
went down near ethe army base
fire station.
Second-There was no fire OIL
the ship until after the tilt began
as a result Of the right hand siede
of the rudder going into an almost
vertical position.
Third-The craeft became un-
manageable as she swooped over
the base reservation, baerely miss
ing a 45o foot stack.
Fourth-The cauese Of the explo.
sion with such forece as to wreck
the entire craft aend set her on
fire waes contact wieth a net of
1900 volt high power lectric wires,
less than one hundred from where
the Roma crashed into a pile OF
debris.
Fifth-The liberty motors were
not responsible for the disaster,
unleses something more tangible
should be learned than appeared
today.
The point which the army board
OF investigation, which will be or
ganized today. will decide Is what
caeused the rudder supports to
give way.
7 There were two piolts in charge
OF the ship's steering gear. They.
we're Captain Waelter j. Reed and
Lieutenant B G. Burt, both OF
whom had been at the wheels OF
the Roma on previous rtips. Burt
was uniniured and Reed Is on the
road to recovery from slight in
juries.
Charles Dworak, McCook field,
Dayton Ohio, one OF the passoen.
gers on the Roma, was in seri-'
Gus condition today at the Public
Health hospital having swallowed
flames and is also suffering from
gas fumes. Other injured survivors
are expected to recover.
Bag Reported Rotten
Reports that the bag OF the
semi.rigid dirigible Roma, destroy
cd yesterday at the Norfolk army
base with loss Of "a lives, was
rotten, win be probed by an army
board OF inquiry. Both officers and
men early today declined to COM
meut on tho report.
Belief was expressed today by
those who saw the Roma on her
flight that one OF the after quar-.
ters gave way, pushing the rudder
out OF line. Mechanics who work
ed on the Roma when she was
first brought to Langley field are
indirecly quoted as saying that the
bag was rotten. This is discount
ed by officers and enlisted men,
who point out that the Roma was
given several thorough tests by e1-
perts before she was ever sent up.
ThaV ftfrthar danIare that had the