The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-25
DENY HELIUM
CELLS BURST
UNDER STRAIN
Shenandoah Engines in Good
Condition Before Crash,
Claim
CRASH ACCOUNTS VARY
Probe Hinges on Condition
of Helium COmpart-
ment
CRASH ACCOUNTS VARY

Lakehurst. n. j., Sept. 25.-(AD
-COnfIicting testimony as to
whether any of the helium gas
cells gave way before the air
ship Shenandoah broke up was
given today before the naval
court of inquiry here.
After a half dozen witnesses
had testified that they neither
saw nor heard anything indicat-
ing that any Of the bags were
ruptured during the fight with
the storm, James IL. Collins,
chief rigger charged with inspec-
tion of the bags, declared that
when he awakened while the ship
was on her wild ascent one Of
the gas cells was 30 per cent de-
Hated. while another one next to
II was 100 per cent or more full.
81 knew the ship was gone
then and there" he said, adding
that this was before he heard
any sounds indicating the break
ing up Of the huh.
Lakehurst. n. j., Sept. 25.-(P)-
Reexamined today before the Naval
Court of Inquiry, Col. c. G. Hall,
U. 5. Army observer aboard the
Shenandoah on her fatal flight, said
his statement Of yesterday that the
failure of two engines of the ship
furnished &c possible contributing
cause to the disaster was more in
the nature of an assumption than a
statement of fact.
do you know at what time the en-
gines failed" asked Lieutenant Com
mander Rosenthal, Senior surviving
officer of the Airship.
Il do not know" was the reply.
WAS it after the uncontrolled
rise began showing that we were in
the vortex Of the storm ?" pursued
Commander Roscnthal.
IL cannot say" the army officer
returned. IL thought all engines
were going full speed until the ship
was wrecked.'
What is your opinion as to the
reliability Of the Shenandoah en-
gines ~
Engines Reliable
81 believe there have been no more
reliable aviation engines developed
than those on the Shenandoah"
In his testimony yesterday Col.
Hall expressed the opinion that the
failure of two of the airship's five
engines made more probable the
drawing Of the big craft into the
vortex of the storm which wrecked
her after a spectacular fight of 10
minutes. One engine went out be-
cause of a cracked cylinder and the
other, because Of Il radiator leakage.
Further testimony that no sound
breakup of the ship was given by
William Richardson, navy photo
grapher on board. Richardson was
in his bunk when the vessel began
to go to pieces.
No Rupture
Chief aviation rigger, Louis A.
Alley, also declared he had observed
no sound indicating any rupture of
the helium gas cells.
Allelv said he actually saw the
cars containing engines and 5
break loose from the Shenandoah in
tral time by the clock in the crews
space.
The witness was positive the con-
troll car broke away from the hull
at about the time the main structure
began to go to pieces.
did you see the control car
thrown free?" asked Admiral Jones.
II did not. l arrived at my con-
clusion by my own reasoning from
the noise"
Describes Breakup
Alley said a moment later the ship
broke forward Of amidships and that
Immediately after this engine cars
and 5 tore loose, carrying with
them the section of the ship between
frames l10 and 1870.
The witness declared he actually
saw the frames of the ship break at
the keel forward Of amidships. He
previously had heard crashing
sounds.
An opinion that the reported fail
ures of the engines Of the Shenan-
doah were minor in character and
not a contributing cause of the dis
aster was given by S. S. Halliburton,
chief of machinist's mate and assist
ant engineer officer of the ship.