Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-17
Waiting for Return
(continusd from Page one)

OF her crew could De nearo ON the
ground, had reached Staten Island.
N. Y, and after lowering there for
several minutes had turned her Prov
toward New Jersey again in tho di-
rection Of Lakehurst.
Breaking away of the Shenan-
doah, which was moored to the mas
sive mast in q ten day test of its ca
pabilities in such a position. cast a
shade wover the station. The test
was in preparation for flight to the
North Pole and as the giant craft
slipped away in the rain and wind
before the very eyes of the men who
had helped build her and had flown
her, they saw their hopes dashed.
Then came messages by wireless
from Commander Pierce, who. with
Captain Heinen. who helped build
the ship, was in command when she
tore away, assuring the officers, that
Everything Is 0. K. We will ride
out the Storm"
The Shenandoah tore loose with a
crash. All day she had been swayed
to and fro by strong wind and
there was considerable speculation
as to whether the ship would be re-
turned to her hangar.
Those in command, however. de-
clared, the test was to determine
how strong a wind the ship could
stand, and that they were confident
she would remain aloft.
Captain McCrary and Commander
Weyerbacher. both had been aboard
the Shenandoah q few moments be-
fore she broke loose. They had de-
scended, however. and were at din
ner when a sudden crash was heard.
Rushing to the field. along with
scores of0ther officers and enlisted
men, they saw the Shenandoah sway
from side to side then rise slowly in
to the air and be carried away by
the terrific southeast wind. They
were showered with debris as frag-
ments of the crafts outer rigging
fell to the ground. At first il was
feared the entire structure might
be a wreck, Field glasses were
turned upon the dirigible. 1t was
only few moments until she was
out of sight. Telephone and tele-
graph wires were blown down by
the storm and 1t was many minutes
before any word whatsoever had
been received concerning the Shen-
andoah's fate. Finally, however,
there came a report that she was
over Westfield, N. j., and that her
engines had been heard humming
overthe city as the excited popuiace
stood on housetops in the binding
rain to watch the silve.y airship
glide through the darkness.
These reports treasured the officers
for they felt if those on board had
succeeded in getting the engines
started they at least had a chance in
tho storm, Thpp panna moro moments
of anxious waiting and finally, as the
Shenandoah reached Newark, her
wireless outfit began to function and
the "An o. H., message was received.
Immediately after the ship had bro
ken away an examination of the
mooring mast was ordered. 1t was
shown that the metal nose cap had
been completely torn away. This
caused great anxiety, as 1t was point
ed out that the entire framework of
the ship converged into this cap and
it was feared the framework had been
so badly damaged as to make it i'm
possible to fight the gale. When 1t
was learned that the Shenandoah was
keeping aloft. however, fears began
to abate and the officers placed their
hopes upon the we'll known ability
of Captain Heinen and Commander
Officers pointed out that had the
Shenandoah remained at her mast
eight minutes longer. the break came
at 6.52 p. NJ she would have been
there exactly four days.
The main part of the mast was not
damaged. 1t having been built to
stand hurricane and would not buc-
kle under a gale of 10 miles an hour.
This type of mast had PLAYED an inn
portant part in the plans for the Po-
lar flight. 1t had peen tentatively
planned TO have similar structures
built at Fort Worth. Tex: San Diego,
Cal: Puget Sound. Wash; Nome.
Alaska: and aboard relief ships in the
Artic Ocean. 1t was to. these that the
Shenandoah was to he moored when
through the air.
Officers expressed tho oninion that
unless the ship was over the field by
three o'clock the morning she
would have to remain aloft until
noon. when It was believed weather
conditions would he favorable. The
wind, which died down considerably
in the last fnw hours, was from the
south and favorable for a landing
| but it increased in velocity and would
shift to the northwest it was said
at tho field.
| IF there is strong ground wind
! no attcmDt will he made to bring the
shin to the ground. Weather reports
indicate that although the wind will
| he stiff through the morning. it will
| die down after midday.
The Shenandoah had fierce bat
| tie with the wind before she was
| able to turn her nose toward New
| Jersey. Her engines were running
with terrific roar but at times the
gale drove her in the opposite direc-
| ton. Time and again tho huge
craft would rise high in the air,
! then PLUNGE downward to within
! three hundred or four hundred feet
| Of the ground. IT was believed this
action was taken nv the commander
to keen her from going too high In
| the air.
Ate" nearly three duarters OF an
| hour the moon came ort.. tho storm
ahcted somewhat and twinkling
lights along the New Jersey coast
rave those on hoard chance to see
| in what direction thrv were going.
| The silverv craft SLOWLY nosed about
and headed in the direction of Lake
hurst.