The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-26
GIANT DRICIBLE
SAILSNTO NIGHT
AS LOS ANGELES
Mrs. Coolidge Braves
Wintry Blasts To Re-
christen ZR-3
DAY is PERFECT
FOR THE EVENT
Big Ship Returns To
Lakehurst After Re-
naming Ceremony
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-

w AOdlNI1 YIN, INV. Eo'
A vast gray hulk, roaring
northward through the dark
ness, the United States air
liner Los Angeles sped tonight
to take her appointed station
as a commissioned ship of the
navy, but none the less ship
of peace.
Somewhere ahead of her in
the blackness fled a half score
of homing pigeons, carrying
word to the Lakehurst station
that with full pomp and cere-
mony, the name of the Califor-
MIA city had been bestowed
upon the ship by Mrs. Calvin
Coolidge.
With that act, the designation ZR-3,
she has carried so long passed off the
navy's rolls, the name Los Angelo, signi-
flying the peaceful mission she has been
assigned by international agreement,
blossoming in its place.
1t was almost perfect day for the
christening. By the time the air giant
came nosing out of the blue gray haze to
northward just before 1 o'clock, the sun
had broken through the banking clouds
of the morning and was sweeping the
sky clear moment by moment. The trip
from Lakehurst was made swiftly and
the ZR-3, as she then still was, found
herself with more than two hours of
4 L. L. ExzE- ,Ha
Gown at tile naval air station at ANA
costa, since the President and Mrs
Coolidge were not due to arrive before
2 :45 p. IN.
Passes Big Dome
Up past the great dome of the capitol
the ship sauntered, dipping and rising
as though in friendly salute to the figure
of freedom that towers above the state
ly struture. On again over the White
House and the Washington monument,
dipping and rising, dipping and rising,
the ship plowed along through bath
of golden sunlight softened by the au-
tumn haze.
The distant roar of guns at the navy
yard, across the narrow river branch
from the air station, told that President
and Mrs. Coolidge were coming by
barge. The word went by radio to Com
mander j. H. Klein, skipper on the
airship.
Far to the eastward of the hill rim,
the ship swung majestically about to
head gack toward the field. Her en-
gines were driving her downward against
the lifting force of the helium gas that
filled the mighty bags within the en-
velope. 1t was her first trip with this
non-Ihflammable gas. She cleared the
troops fringing the hill top bysonly a
narrow margin and came on with her
nose sianting down sharply. Just be-
yond the hills, an upward surge Of air
currents gripped her. 1t swept her
swiftly upward and her skipper rang
on his power again to make another
attempt. $3.50
Meanwhile, the President and Mrs
Coolidge had taken places in the official
box, with Secretary Wilbur. Acting Sec.
rotary Davis Of the war department and
scores of high government Officers about
them. The stands were packed with in
vited notahles and all round the mile
wide circle of the field were parked
motor cars and the thousands of the
public, doomedNto no more than distant
view.
Mrs. Coolidge bore great cluster
of roses, the gift of the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce, as she sat in her
blace. All about her automobile robes
began to appear as the spectators wrap
ped themselves against the chill.
On the second round Commander
Klein got his ship down close enough to
drop two forward landing lines. The
bluejackets chung frantically as the ship
dragged along. One line broke and the
jackies went flying with the sudden
release of the strain, but their comrades
at the other line chung desperately UNI
till the ship lifted score of them off
the ground. AS they dropped back, the
south for another try.
Third Attempt Made
This time the tricky air current got
in its work before the airship had made
a fair start at its dive for a landing.
and the river rim to make a gradual
drop, and with the added upthrust of
the bump" of air, the ship got nowhere
near her target, and she plowed off to
circle for fourth attempt.
Commander Klein, with long night
journey ahead and no chance to replen-
ish his helium, hesitated to open valves
an lower the buoyancy of Nhe ship.
But on the fourth dive into the wind
for a landing, the skipper released some
of his precious gas and swung his down
ward rudder to stand the ship almost
on her head as she cleared the hill bar
rier.
Tackies crowded thickly about the
&C troll car and rear engine gondola
t. Get land holds and keep the ship
sdy in Inc wind. They walked her
8 fly along 70 H.. appointed place
as she cai1a deal first to the wait
tand, y,uHl # huskies rushed a
1hOn drape siaI.s forward to rest it
gainst he 100 yI to the control car.
Cue Presto Mt cnd Mrs. Coolidge mount
ID the stTad unier the shadow of the
great hui over d. A decorated line
vas pp- d on; nd at signal Mrs.
Coolidg. pulled sharply.
Eifl mp IN te bows of the ship a
GAP door on d. There was a stir
and fIutter Of frightened wings as the
n. sage lader geons rushed out to cir