The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-16
FRS FLIGHT
IS DESCRIBED
BY j. s. OFFICER
Prospective Commander of
Giant Dirigible Tells of
Trip Across Atlantic
TRIP IS COMFORTABLE

"The twelfth Of October came in on
foggy day. When the hangar doors
were opened there was blue fog
outside, but things were better. The
ship had been carefully trimmed and
\ the temperature was better, that is,
colder. At 6:25 the ground crew
started to take the ship out, and at
6:35 the engines were started and we
were off. There was a great cheer
from the crowd; the band played
the national air and there was much
fluttering of hanSkerchiefs. Several
thousand people were on the field,
but their view of the ship was brief.
She at once rose into the fog and dis
appeared from sight.
"ln that manner we passed out OF
Germany. When the clouds at last
permitted view of the ground, we
saw France. We passed some dis
lance from Belfort, Besancon, Man
lin and Rochefort. But we made a
slight deviation to pass over Coghac.
Over Atlantic
"At $3.50 we passed over the mouth
2Sbf the Gironde river to the bay of
Biscay. 1t had taken US only nine
hours to reach the Atlantic, averag
ing over 60 miles an hour. The ship
felt the effect of the complications OF
currents in the air In addition, we
were near the ground-500 to 1000
feet-and the movement of air across
the hills caused additional eddies.
y
pitch but not uncomfortable. When
we reached the sea, the bumpy mo-
zion ceased.
Eat four o'clock when the watch
was relieved, the men stretched out
comfortably and began to bank up
sleep against their night watches.
Some of the more energetic ones
blayed a tune on the monograph, but
this met with disapproval. Evening
fell over a calm sea with clear sky,
with just enough red in the west to
be sailors delight
"The course was laid for Cape
Finisterre. but darkness fell before
we sighted the Spanish coast. While
DR.. Eckener and | were in the din
ing room, about o'clock, the snip
began to jump about. We looked out
of the window and there under a full
moon, lay the pIecipitious coast OF
Spain. At TAO we had La Estacada
lighthouse abeam, and course was
laid for the Azores. During the
night the course and speed we've
shecked occasionally by sighting on
torch bombs dropped from the ship.
Sleep Well
"When the end of our watch per.
iods came, we found the berths very
comfortable and enjoyed undisturb-
ed sleep. l bought large wooden
comforter and blanket in Friedrich
shafen to take on this voyage. The
ship is not equipped by the builders
with. bed clothes, and those supplied
for the crew were made OF kapok.
hesltated to bring my comforter, on
account of its bulk, but | am glad
did. With its protection l was able
to sleep in nothing heavier than pa
jamas.
I'm the morning of the thirteenth
~e passed directly above a British
steamer headed for the opposite di-
rection. BY radio, the IRIS inquir
ed the steamers position and reply
was received indicating that we had
drifted about 60 miles southwark Of
QUIZ assumed position. Course was
accordingly changed and at II 40 San
Miguel island was sighted on the port
bow.
"At 2:20 we reached the southeast
ern end of Terveira island and ira
versed its south coast. After leav-
ing Terveira, the ship was driven to
a height of about 5000 feet, in order
to lift the safety valves and lose lift
ing gas to compensate for the loss of
weight of gasoline used.
During this maneuver today,
something happened which must be
carefully watched during all SUCH
msneuvers. Upon returning to fly
ing height, which was at this time
about 1000 feet, rip about two feet
long was discovered in the lower part
1 of one of the gas cells. This was
"a Immediately repaired and the result
], was nothing worse than a small
\ amount Of air finding it's way into
VA tHc Cell " lila WIFI LHc
4, and reduce it's purity. If, however,
1.-THE hole had been larger, or had not
Sabeen so soon discovered, enough air
might have found it's way into the
4 cell to form dangerous mixture OF
gas and also to reduoI the lifting
Nbwer of the cell. 1t is, therefore,
standard practice to have men care
Il fully inspect the bottoms of the gas
! cells-the only part they can see
during each considerable gain or loss
OF, altitude by the airship.
Eat a height Of 5000 feet, down
to 1000 feet, we were approaching
Pictou island, and all we could see of
S the island was it's peak, triangular in
8outline, projecting above the clouds.
1 From 1920 we were passing through
and over the islands of the Azores.
Calamity overlook US later in the
day. The wash water gave out. We
have joined the ranks Of the un.
washed and unshaven. The commits
sary promises to ration sufficient wa
tn for shave just before landing
gif we land soon enough. He is mean
\ while furnishing good hot meals and
We are at least we'll fed. We are we'll
housed, too; and anyone who will
quake a couple of trips Il day through
thu corridor from the tip Of the nose