Evening star., 1924-10-16
DETA Ais OF EPOCHAL ZR-3 TRIP
REVEALED IN OFFICERS DIARY
Hour-by.Hour Experiences aboard Craft From
Friederickshaten to Lakehurst Ciue Veteran
Cre,p Many Thrills

people who pass by my little cabin
look in with astonishment at the
little bird
We should reach the Bay of Biscay
at 4 o'clock. Over the ocean it will
be more smooth. Over France here
the ship is rocking and there is
little danger of seasicknesS, but every
body is weathering the motion and no
body is sick yet.
Cognac Brings Laugh.
4 pm.-At $3.50 pm. we passed the
mouth of the Gironde. Shortly before
that the lookout sighted the town of
Coenac. We were reminded that
America is dry, and we had a laugh.
Thank God. we are not there quite
yet, and there is still little stuff
in our locker. OF course, we have
only a bit of wine and Cognac and
cherry brandy. and if our bottles were
counted there would be only a bot
tie of wine and half bottle of Cognac
around The alcohol is to be used
only for medicinal purposes.
1t is warm-in fact, too warm-and
we are sitting in our shirtsleeves.
If the heat keeps up like this we'll
get into bathing suits tomorrow.
The sea is deep blue. Against the
blue the white caps stand out sharply.
thus far. We are making about 100
kilometers an hour. In five hours we
expect to make Cape Orteal, on the
Spanish coast. Travel on an airship
is certainly the finest thing in the
world.
$40 p.m.-At $50 pm. we sighted
the Spanish coast of Cape Penas
The usually stormy Biscay is very
quiet and peaceful. Sunset, and the
,;. Io fn1l
wonderful view. On the north coast
of Spain, however a storm took our
view away from US very suddenly
but now we are coming near the
Azores, and the air is clear and quiet
again. Apparently flying makes one
hungry. Everybody is consuming
quantity of food. In spite of that
however, we are not going over our
quota for each meal, and everything
is apportioned justly. At midnight
must go on watch again. OFF with the
lights and quickly to bed for a few
hours sleep.
Hailed by Steamer.
October 13 (Monday) am.-Again
on watch. We pass over a brightly
lighted steamer, which halls us with
light signals. 1t is slightly stormy
with a good wind blowing. Wftte-
mann and have made an exact rec
ord of wind and drift. We find the
drift to be southwestward II meters
per second. Accordingly we have to
hold 20 degrees into the wind to keep
on an even course for the Azores. At
O'Clock we shall move our clock
backward one hour. because other
wise we would make a mistake in our
reckoning and we might be given
our noon meal in the evening and
our evening meal at noon.
In spite of the long watches the
time passes very quickly. Watching
the charts, find that the wind is
IMPROVING all the time. 1t is favor
ing US and We are looking forward to
good trip
a.m.-Had a good and refresh
ing rest from until and par
took of good breakfast. Our fast
progress across the ocean has put
everybody in a good humor. 1 took
my breakfast with the Americans,
who also are in high spirits over our
good progress. A few rain clouds
are lying on the sea, but we usually
ny over them and avoid getting wet.
OFTEN we see rainbows, but every
| time, just as our gondola seems to
touch them, they disappear.
Azores in Sight.
1l:3o a.m--Land in sight. The
Island Sam Miguel of the Azores lies
on our starboard bow. We are flying
true to our course. Weather signs
are very scarce in this neighborhood
nut what faint signs we see look
good
1880 p.m-Dinner was good and
plentiful. We had boullion, ham with
Burgundy sauce, and pearl beans,
peaches and cabinet pudding. Every
BODY praises the good cooking. Lud-
wig. who in addition to his wireless
work helps the chef, has. with the
saimaker, knorr, his hand full
knor helps in the Kitchen too. One
of the machinists also has to help
always in the kitchen. Often l lend
a hand, too, in shirtsleeves But
today everything was so excellent
they got along without me- Dr.
Eckener, our commandant sent a word
of praise to the kitchen. Over the
Azores we intend to throw off a bag
| of mail. l have written several let
ters which l want to post. Behind
me the phonograph is playing, and it
tlckles my legs to hear the lively
dance music and the marches Some
| OF the Americans even drum their
fingers on the chair arms. If this
glorious weather continues we ex-
| pect to be over there on Wednesday.
$3.50 p.m.-At 2:30 we were about
1,4o0 meters high, passing along the
Coast of Tercecia. Rich vegetation
covers the land outside of the rocks.
which stand out here and there. There
| is not spot on the island which is not
| cultivated. Vineyards and olive groves
are close against each other. Occa :
sionally a burst of blooming red shines
| through the monotone Of green. On
the north end of the island the land
seems useless, because the mountains
fall away sleepily to the sea, and
| no sun can fall on their seaward side.
Spick and span below us lies the City
of Angra, and a full-grown palm tree
| excites our admiration. We throw off,
directly in the middle of the city, a
| number of mail bags, attached to para
chutes. Above the clouds we caught
; sight Of the long -lookedfor Mount Pico
shining in hte suns rays. Capt. Steel
the American, cheers us with little
legend in verse about the mountain
| He says, See the Pico very clear, you
| will be lucky for year.
Ship Gathers Speed.
So we are destined for years good
fortune. Between San Jorge and Pico
we fly swiftly, with the wind at ouI
back.
| Now I have to play doctor again
must renew the bandages on the
| hand of one of the machinists. hope
| 1t stays on until we reach America
! p.m.-We enjoyed one more beau
tiful sight. We saw Mount Pico again
in all it's beauty, while passing Fayal
1t was so clear that Capt. Klein says
it's good enough for 10 years luck
instead of just one. Nobody ever
saw the great mountain from an air
| ship, in such fine weather. One OF
the cells was pinched the last time
we made altitude, and when we came
down it drew UP, making a tear. The
| Sailmaker and Ludwig had to natcl