The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-02-21

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cape.
Norfolk, Feb. 21.-Crashing into 4
n barracks building here after a plunge
downward due to an undetermined
cause, the army dirigible Roma, the
largest semi-dirigible airship in the
world, exploded shortly after two
o'clock today. An hour later only
eight of the more than half hundred
persons aboard had been listed as
safe.
Witnesses at the scene of the burn
ing ship said at 3 o'clock when she
was still burning like Il furnace that
fully half a dozen men were pinned
beneath the wreckage.. The body of
one man had been removed up to that
time.
Reported 35 Killed
Boston. Feb. 21-A bulletin received
at the Boston navy yard by radio
from Washington this afternoon said
that it was reported there that 35 of
the so men aboard the army dirigible
Roma we're killed when the aircraft
plunged to earth.
Only Eight Accounted For
Newport, News, Va, Feb. 21.-
There were SO people aboard the
Roma and only eight have been ac-
counted for thus far, according to Of
ficials of Langley Field and the Hamp-
ton roads army base. Undertakers at
this city who care for the dead at
Langley Field were officially notified
that 80 or more people had lost their
lives.
------~--s-s Account ofsa Witness -'>e--=sss
Newport News, Va, Feb. 21.-J. ].
Wilkinson, from his front yard on the
boulevard, saw the disaster which he
said occurred just a few minutes af-
ter the giant dirigible had flown di-
rectly over his home. When it passed
over his house he stopped work to
watch the ship. he said, but had
turned his attention back to his work
when the explosion was heard. He
looked over his shoulder and saw the
big ship falling.
The Firs; News
Newport News, Va. Feb. 21-The
Times Herald here was informed by
reliable sources this afternoon that
the dirigible Roma exploded over
Hampton Roads and sank immedi-
ately.
Langley Field Immediately con-
: firmed the report when called on the
telephone that the Roma had eXplod-
ed and sunk. What loss of life if any
has not been reported but number
of passengers are known to have been
aboard.
Was Largest Dirigible
Norfolk, Va, Feb. 21.-The Roma
was placed in commission only sever
al weeks ago after having been as
4 sembled at Langley Field. She was
the largest dirigible owned by the
I United States government and was
3 purchased from Italy. Her mammoth
gas bag had a capacity of more than
a million cubic feet.
NSGreat Sheet of Flame
Portsmouth, Va, Feb. 21-The giant
airship Roma exploded off the army
base, Norfolk, shortly after 2 o'clock
this afternoon. The ship was over
the Standard Oil plant at the time. A
great sheet of flame was seen to rise
0irom the ship as she plunged earth
ward\
Fell Like a Comet
Newport News. Va, Feb. 21.-The
Roma was sailing in southeasterly
direction when she suddenly burst in
to flames and fell like comet.
Four Men Taken OFF
Newport News, Va, Feb. 21.-The
giant army dirigible Roma exploded
in the air today and landed in flames
at the naval base. Four men were TAX
en- off her alive, but badly burned. The
conflagration is so hot that it is inn
30 ofoin and n ic
not known whether or not there are
more men aboard her.
Fell on Land
Newport News, Va, Feb. 21.-Ob-
servers at Old Point stated that the
Roma seemed to be well beyond the
naval base when she took fire and
fell. They believe that she fell on
land.
Another Version
Norfolk, Va, Feb. 21.-Catching fire
about thirty feet in the air above the
army supply base at 2:10 p. m. today,
the army dirigible Roma dropped in
nose dive into the army base en-
closure almost directly in front of fire
headquarters at the base.
Forty Men Aboard
Newport News, Va, Feb. 21.-Au-
thorities at Langley Field reported
there were fully forty men aboard the
Roma when she left the station. 1t is
impossible to give the names at this
time as all lines OF communication are
linked up with Norfolk
e. Loss Of Life Unknown
Norfolk, Va, Feb. 21.--W Whether or
not there was loss Of life was not
known during tie first fifteen min.