The Washington times., 1924-01-17

from her spectacular and
involuntary voyage.
Charles Burgess, of Wash
ington, D. c., an aeronauti-
cal engineer, who, with Cap
tain Heinen, were the only
two civilians on board, said
that the wild cruise Of the
Shenandoah had proved the
practicability of the big
dirigible.
Burgess was on board to
see how the cable and other
parts of the airship stood
the strain of high wind.
ASTONISHING FEAT.
In a statement to Inter
national News Service, he
said:
"Did you ever see a
steamship put to sea in q
0eventy-mlIe gale with her
bow torn off, two forward
compartments flooded, two
thirds of her steering gear
out of commission? A ship
in such condition would
never leave port. But that
was the condition of the
Shenandoah when she broke
loose from her moorings and
began her sensational jour-
ney. And she travelled 500
miles before the voyage
ended.
"This flight was certainly
proof of the practicability
Of dirigibles. They will soon
be a commercial adjunct.
This incident will not change
the plans fora Polar flight.
In fact, it assures the flight
to the pole"
Nearly Destroyed.
That the great Shenandoah was
nearly destroyed Immediately
after the gale had torn her from
her moorings was revealed by
Capt. Anton Heinen, German
Zeppelin expert, who was on
board.
The Shenandoah suddenly jerk
ed heavily and the officers in the
control car, seeing that the ship
was close to the ground where
she might collide with trees or
buildings, released the water
ballast.
The tug on the emergency lever
sent three orty-gallen tanks of
water tumbling to the ground,
and the ship began to rise at
once.
Covering Tangled in Rudder.
After the Shenandoah had been
returned to its hangar, it was
learned that part of the torn cover
ing from the nose of the ship had
become wrapped around the rudder.
hamperfng the steering Of the ship
somewhat.
gIt was learned that Captain
Heinen had recommended that the
nose of the ship be repaired at
exactly the same strength it had
before the accident. He said that
If the nose were to be made
! stronger 1t would mean adding
more weight and that would de-
crease the lifting power.
'"The ship should ride out all
such storms" he said. 81 don't
believe it advisable to attempt to
keep the ship anchored to u mast
during such a gale"
Throughout the night the crew
of the Shenandoah was in continu.
Gus wireless communication with
the naval aeronautic station at
Lakehurst.
''We are having a delightful
cruise" wirelessed Lieut.. Com.
mander e. III. Kincaid from the
balloon at 1:15 o'clock.
The dramatic cruise Of the Shen.
nandoah proved her airwOrthy in
the teeth of a most severe storm
AM. testified to the superior con.
Utruction.
Ship's Framework Stands Strain.
Naval officers at Lakehurst were
elated over the safety Of the ship.
but no less so over the calmness
and bravery Of the crew ard the
strength of the ships framework
While the Shenandoah was being
buffeted by wind and rain, the
officers and men attached to the
Lakehurst air depot were in fear
the ship might be carried seaward.
It was about 3 o'clock when the
Shenandoah was sighted putting
back to her home berth. A mighty
cheer went up from the 400 mem.
bers of the land force as the big
ship, flying gracefully as a swan,
began circling over the field pre-
paratory to landing.
Captain Heinen, in charge of the
landing operations, stood with a
Inegaphone in his hands and shout
ed to those below:
"You sons of guns, you were
waiting for something to happen.
weren't your"
This cool greeting brought forth
another burst of cheering.
A strong ground breeze was blow
ing as. the Shenandoah, after her
second circle over the field, pointed
her nose downward and began to
slide Z towards earth. The wind
blew strongly into the rents in the
fore I, end of the ship, where the
nose cap had been torn away, re-
tarding her progress.
Grasp Landing Ropes.