Evening star., 1925-09-22
Continued from First Page.)

NohliHucu ITOIIi flTSL FaRo.)
the court that this matter will be
aired thoroughly, so that the experts
who will be called later may under
take to determine whether these
might be regarded as a contributing
cause.
Just when Col Mitchell of the
Army Air Service and Capt. Anton
f1einen. the German dirigible expert,
will be called for questioning concern
Ing their charges in connection with
the disaster remains to be determined
Thus far there has been introduced
no testimony bearing on the ability of
the crew to valve. Capt. Heinen con.
tended that the reduction in the num-
Der of the gas valves to save helium
was largely responsible for the in
ability of the Shenandoah to outride
the storm.
Wreckage to Be Studied.
Two carloads of the wreckage of the
Shenandoah arrived at the air station
here today, and will be available for
examination by the technical experts
who will be called later. The wreck
age includes part Of the framing,
much of 1t twisted and broken; largo
eXpanses of the covering, gas cells,
pipes and guy ropes.
This material was that salvaged
after souvenir hunters had taken
away much of the wreckage from
where parts Of the ship landed near
Ava, Ohio. It was assembled at Cald-
well, Ohio, and boxed for shipment to
the air station. 1t is being unloaded
in that part Of the hangar from which
the Shenandoah was taken on Sep
tember for her fatal Western trip.
Lieut.. Mayer told the court that
the ship began to break up after
her terrific descent from high alti-
tude had been checked, and her nose
suddenly started up again.
There was terrific vibration of the
whole structure, like that of plane
going into a tail spin he said.
Il heard cracking and then there
was a terrific crash. l saw large
hole in front of me and saw the
control car go. / saw a mans hands
reaching up into the air and then he
disappeared"
Lieut.. Mayer was in the control
cabin when the ship first began her
wild ascent in the line squall which
tossed her about. When the elevator
man reported that he could not check
the rise Comdr Lansdowne ordered
the ship held down and the engines
speeded up. Mayer then went into
the ship and notified men at their
stations to be ready, as the ship was
going over her pressure height.
Gas Bags Nearly Full.
At that time the gas bags were
sc per cent full, Lieut.. Mayer SAID.
and all engines were running except
No. 2, which had lost its water. The
ship then was badly down by RE
nose and continued to rise, but Lieut..
| Mayer said the valves were blowing
satisfactorily. The craft then had
passed the pressure height and still
was rising rapidly. Mayer was notl-
fed that there had been valving for
! five minutes.
The air got rougher and then the
ship began to drop at a terrific rate
of speed. Suddenly the nose shot up
again and the breakup occurred.
Lieut.. Mayer was in the forward
section, which broke away. and as
sisted in getting it to the ground.
Lieut.. Hendley, who came down
fith the main section, testified that he
was awakened by the sharp angle of
the ship and by the pressure OF the
expanded gas cells on his face. lmme-
diately after he awakened he heard
control and other wires snap. and then
the ship broke up after she suddenly
had begun to nose up again.
the ship was not excessive was given
by Lieut. Bauch. He said the bags
were 81 per cent full, and told of pre-
cautions taken on the first ascent to
have emergency gas valves ready to
function.
This officer corroborated all the tes-
tfrnony gone before that the ship went
up rapidly, came down like a plum
met, checked her drop, started up
again by the nose and then broke in
pieces.
Lieut.. Comdr. Lansdcwne and the
officers and men with him in the con
troll car went to their death attempt
ing to keep control of the Shenandoah
the hourt was told yesterday by Col.
C. G. Hall, an official observer for the
Army Air Service, survivor of the
disaster.
Despite the terrific storm which was
buffetfng the great ship about, Col.