Evening star., 1925-09-29

at the same time there was momen-
tary jarring or shaking of the control
car. Some one said. There she goes
/ felt the ship start TO fall rapidly.
so I turned to the ladder and started
for the keel. Col. Hall had just pre-
oeded me-"
Lieut.. Anderson then described how
girders and wires gave away around
him on the catwalk and how he final
ly grabbed the keel and held on there
as the bow of the ship broke away
and began to rise as a free balloon.
He remained in %this perilous posi-
tion several minutes before Lieut..
Roland G. Mayer. another survivor.
could throw rope to him and drag
him to a place of safety. The bow of
the ship finally was brought down.
Suggested Southeasterly Course.
When Anderson had concluded the
reading Of his written narrative Judge
Advocate Foley took over the exam
ination.
What was the first information
you had that the Shenandoah was in
danger from weather. he asked
The first remote danger I saw was
when / returned to the control car at
the summons of Comdr. Lansdowne.
The first near danger l was sure of
was shortly after the ship began to
rise
The storm was cycionic and not
the heat type" Anderson said. We
were in local storm; the larger storm
was well to the north of u.s.
Anderson testified that after the
ascent had been checked he suggested
a southeasterly course. but southerly
course was ordered.
What was your reason for sug
gesting a southeasterly course?" ask
ed Capt Foley.
I'm that direction the distance to
clear sky was shortest. The wind
was to the southwest and I thought
the ship could make more speed
DO you think on southessterly
course the chance Of escape would
have been better"
That was my impression"
DO you feel that all reasonable
precautions were taken?"
Course Considered Safe.
Looking back, l can see that an
other course might have been safer.
but l can understand why at the time
the course taken was considered safe.
DO you think the storm would have
been avoided in daylight"
Il think we could have seen the
cloud formations better and that the
storm might easily have been
avoided"
Questioned by Rear Admiral Hilary
p. Jones. president of the court, Lieut..
Anderson said before the ship was in
immediate danger he suggested that
the course be changed to the south.
Did the captain follow your ad-
vice?" asked Admiral Jones.
The captain asked me 10 show him
what danger l considered we should
avoid. I was unable TO show him any
immediate danger. therefore he con-
tinued on his course.
Did you concur in this or did you
again warn him.
"Our conversation continued a little
longer. during which I still thought
we should go south, and | adhered to
that advice"
Lieut.. Anderson said the reason he
suggested a change Of course was be
cause a storm to the north of the ship
was one not Of familiar appearance
Feared Thunderstorm.
Did the officers give any reason for
not following your advice" asked
Admiral Jones.
Yes, SIR" replied Anderson. For
in the southeast there was a thunder.
storm with active lightning
ITO your knowledge did any of the
officers, including the captain. have
any qualifications in aerology?",
Capt. Lansdowne himself, 7
thought, was well versed in aerology."
Anderson said he thought it was a
matter of opinion that caused Lans-
downe to hold his course.
DO you consider the failure to turn
southeast at that time an error Of
Judgment" asked Admiral Jones'
That's a hard question to answer.
1 thought my judgment was correct,
and therefore 1t appeared to me that
the conclusion of the others was
wrong"
Lieut.. Comdr. c. E. RosendahI.
senior surviving ofiicer, took up the
examination.
Had Capt. Lansdowne any expert
ence In avoiding thunderstorms?"
Il can recall Ave flights when Capt
Lansdowne was able to avoid thunder
storms
did Capt. Lansdowne always. pre-
vious to this. follow your advice?"
Capt. Lansdowne always wanted to