The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-03
FOURTEEN dead
in BLIMP CRASH
HOGS STEADY TO SIS CENTS LOWER Fe

lN DknsvEF UMASm
Continued From Page 0ne)
as missing. was to have dropped off
at his home to visit his new heir,
baby Masters, who arrived last week.
Refused permission to go immediate
ly after the birth, his second request
for permission to make a parachute
jump to his home had been granted
by the navy department.
Red Cross Sends Aid
expected to be his last flight, at
least for some time. He was 20 be
transferred to sea duty Sept. Is.
Lieutenant Commanders c. E. Ros-
endal, ranking survivor of the Shen-
andoah, took charge Of the wreck.
Conducting himself like a true
sailor, Rosendal quietly directed re-
lief work. advising members Of the
crew. and filing frequent reports 20
Washington. The Ohio Red Cross
sent aid crews.
Only now and then did a CULVER
ing muscle betray the terrific strain
under which he was laboring. Rosen-
dial was on watch when the ship
broke.
Twister Strikes Blimp
"I had inst gone on watch" he
told the United Press. There was
a heavy electrical storm in progress.
The ship was making no Roadway.
She had been blown about ninety
miles out Of her course. We were
headed due north when the twister
hit us.
I'VE were flying at an altitude Of
alb out $500 feet. The twister shot
us up about 1000 feet, I should say.
1.-The ship made two violent
plunges and broke near the middle.
The forward end shot up into the
air like an airplane soaring from
the ground.
Drops to Ground
1.-THE control car, in which all pas
sengers and officers was carried, was
on this forward end. The struts
supporting the cabin snapped. The
cabin dropped to the ground like a
hunk Of lead.
You know now the result of that
sickening drop"
At this point Rosendal, whose
home is in Texas, was interrupted by
member OF the crew and ended the
interview.
Aid Sent by Air
From Lakehurst, Washington.
Pittsburgh. Cincinnati and Cleve-
land. the Navy Department is send
ing officers by airplane to the scene
Of the accident. Secretary Of the
Navy Wilbur announced in Wash
ington.
Medical assistance has been sent
from Cleveland. Cincinnati and
Pittsburgh. Commander Fulton Of
the construction corps IS rushing TO
the scene by airplane.
Blown OF Course
Buffeted by the storm the gant
craft was blown from it's course to
the southeast. Unable to withstand
the gusts the ship crashed. cracking
IN two, other survivors explained.
Then a freakish up-gust struck
the forward section. From this point
confusion reigned, although the men
stuck TO their posts until II was
seen there was no hope.
Ropes were lowered in n vain eff
fort to anchor. one member of the
crew said. and some men tried to
slide down them TO safety.
One man jumped from a forward
section cabin as the half bag floated
southeast and landed in a tree. He
was seriously injured. Seven others
stayed in the compartment and Of
those. only one was injured. They
finally landed at Sharon.
Photographer in Bunk
The story Of the tragedy as told
by Lieut. w. L. Richardson, chief
aerial photographer Of the Shenan-
doah who escaped uninjured, fol
lows:
I'VE were up 5000 feet and was
In my bunk" he said. I'VE were
caught in a squat. We Immediately
headed tho ship upward and
assembled to a height Of 5000 feet.
Conditions in the higher altitude
were unfavorable, however, and we
dropped back to 1900 feet.
I'VE thought then that the ship
was under control, but it was side
swiped by a terrific wind. The con-
troll car was broken off and the
ship nosed up to an angles Of As
degrees.
Fore Part Is Safe
Frame No. 90 buckled and
snapped and the craft broke in two.
Then the front half split again.
THE aft part grounded in a field.
The center section which was a
part of the front half drifted and
landed in woods. 1t was in that
section that all deaths occurred.
THE fore part had so many gas
cells that it drifted about and
finally landed safely like a balloon
near Sharon"
Rear Admiral Z. r. Stitt. surgeon
general of the Navy, announced that
bodies of all the victims would be
held at Caldwell. Ohio. until rela-
tives notified the department what
disposition they desire.
Farmer Tells Story
Minor Wood. farmer. said he was
told by survivor Of Shenandoah the
Engineer Officer