The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-15
NEW RECORD IS
MADE IN 5,006
MILES FLIGHT
Giant Airship Pokes Nose
Into Great Hangar at Lake
hurst, Landing Nicely
SOME BAD WEATHER
First Part of Cruise Fine. But
Ship Has Tough Time
Part of Way

AlruOme, LakehurSt, N. j.,
Oct. Is. .- (By the A. P.)
The giant Zeppelin ZR-3 at
the naval air station air.
dome, Lakehurst, at 1O:45 a.
m. today.
Immediately that she was
snubbed fast, her navigating
officers and crew disembark-
ed. Officers climbed into her
hull and cabins with mechan-
les to begin an inspection of
the gas bags duraluminum
structure and motors.
DR.. Hugh Eckener, COM
mander Of this ship, and
president of the Zeppelin
Company, jubilantly declared
as his feet touched the con-
crete floor of the airdome:
Gentlemen, a new worlds
record-5,0O6 miles of con-
tinuous flight"
FIRST PART FINE
The first part of our voyage was
fine" DR.. Eckener continued. "The
last part was full of heavy weather.
From 5 a. m. Tuesday to s a. m.
today we battled against the wea-
ther with velocity of IS to go
miles an hour.
1--WE changed our course from the
direct line we were pursuing from
the Azores to Lakehurst because we
found ourselves heading into
southwest wind which was rising and
small low pressure area.
Monday evening we were making
As miles an hour. We headed to-
ward Nova scotia in southwest
wind, then came along at great
speed along the coast southwark,
passing between the scout cruisers
Milwaukee and Detroit but seeing
neither.
"A favoring wind pushed US TO-
ward Lakehurst, past Boston and on
to New York at a rate of 80 miles
an hour. So, gentlemen, we are
here"
Beautiful Landing
She made beautiful landing, ap-
pearing over the northern edge Of
this naval air station at 9:16 a. m,
She drove straight over the airdome
to the far edge of the field. where
she headed around and skirted the
station for a quarter of its circum-
ference, before nosing downward
into the breeze and coming to a
stop before the airdome.
Thirtyfour minutes after she was
sighted her motor stopped. For a
moment she driftcd easily, bobbing
up and down like small boat in
rolling swell.
Straight past the red and white
signals on the ground which indicat-
ed her chosen landing place she
glided. 1t appearing that she in
tended to sail into the airdome- but
the pilot of the ZR-3 contemplated
no such spectacular exhibition.
When within 200 yards of the tower
ing dome a trap door flopped open
from the bottom of the main cabin
and out dropped bundle of rope
as large as a barrel. Another trap
door opened and another coil thudd-
ed below. Signal horns and bells
footed somewhere out of sight as
hn nso -
les shrilled below. Sailors and mar
ines hooked their spider-webbed
rope harnesses into the trailing tow
line Of the dirigible and almost with
out effort drew her gently down.
Mighty Shout
A mighty shout went up from
thousands as the air vessel came
down.
"Please don't make so much
noise," shouted Commander J. H.
Klein Jr., commander of the Lake.
hurst station and a passenger on
the ZR-3 as he leaned from q for
ward cabin-port. The din of well
come was silenced and the clear,
sharp order of the navigators to the
ground crew rang out sharply.
ORGANIZE AMERICAN CREW
Washington, Oct. 15.-Organization
Of an American crew to take charge
Of the ZR-3 was begun today in the
Bureau of Naval Aeronautics, but
beyond that no plans have been made
for immediate operation of the ship.
Under the German contracts, II
members of the crew which brought
her over will "stand by" at least
three months to assist in the train
ing.
When an efficient operating force
has been organized the department
will take up program of tests Of
long cross-country flights on propos-
ed commercial freight and passenger
trips.
1t is possible that commercial
firms may be asked to bid on operat-
ing the Zeppelin during this period.
1g.Gts -