Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-11-27
Los ANGELES
IS NEW NAME
OF ZEPPELIN
Monster Dirigible Christened
At Capital On Tuesday
Is Peace Ship.

A vast gray bulk roaring northward
through the darkness, the United
States air liner Los Angeles sped
Tuesday night 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 half score OF homlng
pigeons carrying word to the Lake
hurst station that with full pomp and
ceremony. the name of the California
city had been bestowed ON the ship
by Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, wife OF the
nations president. With that act, the
designation ZR-3 she has carried so
long passed off the navy's rolls, the
name Los Angeles, signifying the
peaceful mission she has been assign
ed by international agreement, BIOS
soming in its place.
Swinging slowly westward, the
windows of her cabin and control car
crowded with PIERCING faces, the air
ship began q leisurely Jaunt ABOUT
Washington.
The distant roar of guns at the
navy yards, across the narrow river
branch from the air station, told that
president and Mrs. Coolidge were
coming by barge. The word went
cracking by radio to Commander j.
III. Klein, the skipper of the airship,
who had brought her down from Lake
| hurst on her maiden voyage under
American command for the christen-
ing.
Commander Klein made four at
Etempts TO land the giant aircraft. On
the last into-the-wind plunge for a
landing, the skipper released some or
his precious gas and swung his down.
ward rudder to stand the ship almost
ON her head as she cleared the hill
barrier. 1t was close enough to drop
repaired bow lines and in moment
the ground crew had them fast and
brought the ship gently to earth.
Tackles crowded thickly about the
CONTROL car and the rear engine gon-
dola TO get hand holds and keep the
shin steady in the wind. They walk
ed her swiftly along to the appointed
Mace and as she came head first 10
the waiting stand, "A squad OF huslxies
rushed ribbon-draped stand for
ward to rest it against the doorway to
tbe control car. The president and
Mrs Coolidge mounted the stand un-
der the shadow of the great hill over
head. A decorated line was passed out
and at a signal, Mrs Coolidge pulled
it sharply.
High up in the bows of the ship n
trandoor opened. There was a stir
and flutter of frightened wings as
fine message-laden pigeons rushed out
70 circle ana twist in the air moment
and then head off for home. The
words II christen thee Los Angeles,
were inaudible i'm the stir and hustle
about the shin but Mrs. Coolidge turn
/ cd smilingly away coiling up the
ribbon-decked cord she had pulled to
free her aerial messengers. She TOOK
the cord with her as memento.
Presidential Inspection Hurried
Meanwhile, President and Mrs.
| Coolidge had been escorted up iau-
der to inspect the control car OF the
shin and to peer about WITHIN her
vast hull They spent ten minutes or
more aboard and were followed by
throng of distinguished guests, 100
eager to see this sight TO heed the
necessity for speed in getting the
Los Angeles back to safety in the air
before the gathering night closed. All
were ushered hastily through. :.
-Once we'll clear of the ground ana
lowering again above the city where
the dome of the capital doomed now
through the fading light bathed IN
the yellow floodlights that are turn
ed upon it every night, the Los Ange-
les with Admiral Moffat's flag flap
ming brayely to mark his presence a.
board .circled slowly to her northward
course. flattened out and faded swiftly
from sight against horizon already
vague and dark with the coming
night.