Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27
SHENANDOAH LOSS
STORIES CONFLICT
Some Survivors Say Gas
Cells Gave Way First,
Others Refute Evidence.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LAKEHURST, n. j.. September 26.
still more directly conflicting stories
as TO the condition of the helium gas
cells in the airship Shenandoah just
September were told today to the
naval court of inquiry here at the
single session held before adjournment
until Monday.
The testimony of James II. Collier,
chief riGger. that there was 81 fail
IRE of several of the gas bags was
supported in part by the statement
today by August C. Querenheim, an
other survivor, that he saw one cell
in the after part of the ship debated
before he heard any crashing of
Orders.
A kissing sound as of the tearing
of fabric just before the Shenan doa h
foundered was testified to by Fred J.
Tobin, aviation pilot. He said he
could not say whether it was in gas
cell or the fabric of the ship. as the
tearing of these cloths would sound
very much alike.
Says Cells Were Intact.
Standing out sharply against this
testimony was that OF Mark J. Dono-
van, boteSwains mate, who told the
court that all of the cells aft appear
ed to be in good shape and that he
was very positive that cells Nos.
TO were intact before the ship broke
up. and even after she finally hit
the ground.
Testimony of a somewhat similar
character was given by Henry o.
Boswell, rigger, and Joseph Shevlo-
WITT, a machinist's mate. Boswell
said he felt of one gas bag after and
found IT in perfect condition and there
was nothing later to indicate to him
that any of the others were in bad
shape.
"All of the cells appeared to be in
perfect condition" Shevlowitz stated.
Il was walking along the cat-walk
and 1t was not possible for me not to
observe the condition of the bags as
] went along"
Talked To Lansdowne.
A rather dramatic moment was fur
nished just before court adjourned as
Donovan told of a telephone CONVEX.
sation he had with Comdr Zachary
Lansdowne, dead captain of the ship,
While the craft was having her
death battle with storm.
1 was nearing frame so when |
saw a light on the telephone indi-
Gator at frame CO." Donovan said.
answered the signal and heard a
voice which l took to be that of Capt.
Lansdowne. He asked How are the
cells aft?' / told him they were all
right aft of frame 90. He then said
pass the word along forward to all
hands to be on their toes; we are
going through together.
Donovan's voice broke as he con-
Guided the quotation.
A moment after that" he re-
sumed, Il met O'Sullivan Zone of the
crew who was killed.. and he said he
would pass the word along as he went
forward
Will Hear Anderson Monday.
Three of the surviving officers still
are to be re-eXamined by the court and
fourth, Lieut.. Joseph B. Anderson,
still has to tell his story. 1t is the
hope of the judge advocate to hear all
of them Monday.
Lieut.. Anderson has been in Ohio
studying meteorological conditions at
the time the Shena ndoah broke I'D.
he is expected to be able to recon
struct the weather map for the court
ana describe just the character of the
storm which destroyed the Shenan-
doah. This has been referred to gen
eraiiy as a linesquall, one of the most
deadly OF all storms to aircraft. but
whether 1T was that remains to be de.
Veloped for the record of the inquiry.