Evening star., 1924-01-17
BLIMP'S SAFE RETURN
ASSURES POLAR DASH
CONTINUED from First Page.)

present fastening methods between
airship and mast already has been
developed and will be put into use
Immediately. 1t was stated that a
gale pounding against the ship with
much more force than that of last
night could not separate the two.
Because of known conditions in the
curing the dirigible to the mooring
mast would not be needed. but ii will be
put into use anyway.
Navigator IL Praised.
Praise for Lieut.. Commander Pierce.
the navigator. and his assistants was
voiced In every quarter at the bu-
reau this morning. 1t was an ex-
cellent piece OF airmanship to bring
the 6so-foot dirigible under control
after she had been tossed about In
the storm. The engines were started.
which enabled radio messages to be
sent and, unlike the ill-fated Dix
nude, messages were Forthcoming
from the craft at few-minute inter-
walls.
The first message was received at
Lakehurst at s:l0 o'clock 1t said:
storm" This and many more COM
munications from the ship itself and
other points were sent Immediately
to Washington by Commander Frank
H. ,:Is MeGrary' i.T cskipper % n,, the craft
r. T. Patterson. Lieut.. Reiehelderfer
and Lieut.. Hoicomb remained on duty
until ( o'clock this morning. Ad-
miral Monett was in telephone COM
muntcation with these officers every
few minutes until final word of the
ships safety was received.
The second meSSa ge from th. She n =
andoah came in at 9:14 O'Clock We
think we are over New Brunswick
Holding our own. Verify position and
send US weather information" it said.
Another received at 9:34 said: -Four
engines over" This was followed by
one at 9;55 stating: ''Everything fine.
Keep US informed on weather" At
II o'clock this message was received ::
Please arrange to give us hourly
weather reports. Use messenger"
tervals and at 1858 am. the follow
ing was picked up: over Keyport
making some headway to south.
Speed all engines Please tell fami-
lies not to worry. Control car de-
lightful. First time not being over-
crowded. Signed kincaid.''
The bureau received Il message
from Commander McCrary that ~. s.
8. Shenandoah on field in hands of
crew at 3:35 o'clock. Being walked
When first word was received here
that the ship had broken loose, no
orders were sent Commander Nc
Crary. but he was allowed to act on
his own initiative. The message as
nouncinE the escape of the dirigible
said: Shenandoah broke away.
Drifting to northwest. Capt Heiuen
aboard. Not in sight. Radio in an
hour. Full crew aboard"
The Shenandoah, on which the fu-
ture Of dirigibIes has been resting
ever since 1t was launched last Sep.
| tember 4. now should have the sun
port Of the nation, naval air service
officers said today.
The fact that she was inflated with
| heliun. non-inflammable and non.
explosive gas. eliminated pfactica IL,
all danger, even on this wild flight
She carried fuel enough to turn hey
six motors over at full speed fol-
forty-eight hours. and there were
| enough rations aboard for her crew
for several days.
And while four ships went afou
yesterday. the Shenandoah was tn.
only one that came through"
Since its launching the Shenandoah
has flown more than 5000 miles ant
| has spent 120 hours in the air. Hel
| major flights include trips to Wash.
| ington in September and to st. Louis $
October, LIS: flight down the
Shenandoah valley, October 81, and {
| fight to New England November 20
1 Many minor and practice flights aIst
have been made.