New Britain herald., 1925-09-25
NOT SURE FAILURE
 OF ENGINES MADE
 SHENANDOAH FALL
(Continued From First Page)


 
 vortex of the storm which wrecked her after q spectacular flight of fif- teen minutes. One engine went out because of a cracked cylinder and the other because of a radiator leakage,
 Chief Gunner Raymond Cole esti- mated that it was approximately 4.S0 a. m, central time when he passed the ships galley and saw thermos bottles and canned goods falling down into the keel of the ship. This was when the Shenan- doah was on the first flight mp just before she began the uncontrolled ascent with her bow sticking almost straight up in the air.
 Heard No Cells Burst
 Further testimony that no sound of gas cells giving way before the break-up of the ship was given by William Richardson, navy photo grapher on board. Richardson was in his bunk when the vessel began to go 10 pieces,
 Chief Aviation Rigger Louis A. Alleby also declared he had observed no sound indicating any rupture of the helium gas cells.
 Alley said he actually saw the cars contining engines and break loose from the Shenandoah in the air This was at 4:40 a. m. central time by the clock in tho crews space,
 The witness was positive that the control car broke away from the hull at about the time the main struc- ture began 10 20 to pieces. Did you see the control car | thrown free?" asked Admiral Jones.
 "I did not, | arrived al my con- clusion hy my own reasoning from the noise"
 Alley said that moment later inc ship broke forward of amidships and that immediately after this en- zine cars four and five tore loose, carrying with them the section of the ship between frames 11o and I13o. The cars swung in the air for a time on their support wires, the weight tearing out part of the bot tom section of the hull.
 Saw Frames Break
 The witness testified that he ac- tnally saw the frames of thc ship break at the keel forward of amid ships. He had heard crashing sounds before that time. i When the ship reached the high est altitude of 6,065 feet the gas bags Iwcre under pressure, Alley said. He added that he heard no escape of Ihclum gas at any time and that ht lcould not have heard the valving ol gas.
 An opinion that the reported fall ures of tho engines of the Shcnan' doah were minor and not contri' outing cause to the disaster was giV' en by R. $. Halliburton, chief ma chinist's mate and assistant engineer officer of the ship.
 Tribute To Sheppard Halliburton paid this tribute t' Lieutenant Edgard Sheppard, chic , engineer Of the Shenandoah, Nh' was killed:
 , "Iieutcnant Sheppard was tn most able engineer officer l nay ever known. His courage, honest, and ability were an inspiration t every man In his department. Tn enlisted personnel in his departmcn were of the highest type and as t' mechanical ability without peers il naval aviation."
 Chief Riggcr Arthur K. Garrison testified that so far as he had knoWl edge all of the gas bags were intac up to the time the ship broke up Only one cell came under his per sonal observation, however.
 Carlson was one of the two mel whose duty it was to watch the ga cells. He said he examined th cells when the ship was over pres sure height and that there was n excessive pressure on the cells. Questioned by Commander ROsen 
 , dahl, Carlson said he heard farmer at the scene of the wreck say tha the storm had blown down trees an levelled corn in the field, He testi fed also that he saw the electri ] lights in a nearby town go off. Thi was while the Shenandoah was fight ing the storm.
 Wires Cut Frame
 While the ship was plungin downward. Carlson went on. he say the effects of control wires runnin from the control car back to tn rudders cutting through the frame at the keel. Sparks were fyin from the points where the wires GU through.