Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-05
Souvenir Hunters
Continued from Pace Onel

the possession of one of the thou
sands who carried away mementoes
of the scenes of demolition, soEl
miles apart. The 20 sillen gas cells
of the ship, many Of them uudam-
aged, each costing several thousand
dollars, were ripped from the frame
work and carried away by pillagers
Authorities from the naval air std
ton at Lakehurst spent all day at
the scenes of the wreckage, consult
ing with the five survivors who fe-
manned in Caldwell, endeavo1ing To
determine the cause of the accident
Heading the board Of investigation
was Commander Klein, accompanied
by Commander G. Fulton, Command
err S. NJ. Kraus, Lieutenant Com
mander William Nels IN, and G. P
Burgess, expert technicist on airShil
construction.
Lieutenant Mayer, member of the
crew which survived the drifting OF
the prov, accompanied the bearu to
Sharon Hill where the demolished
nose was examined.
1t was the unofficial opinion Of the
Investigators that the ship buckled
as the result of air rushing into
holes torn in the hull by the wrench
cabins in the gale.
Early tonight eight of the victims
bodies were en- route to silen final
resting places, three of them bound
for the National Cemetery at Airing
ton, Va. Two more bodies were to
be sent to their relatives. Naval
authorities were awaiting further
word as to the disposition of the re-
naming four.
Lieutenant Commander Zachary
Lansdowne, in command of the d.
rigible, will sleep his long sleep in
Arlington among the nations heroes
The bodies of Lieutenant E. w
Sheppard, Washington, and Lieuten-
ant ]. B. Lawrence, st. Paul, were
also on their way to the historic
burial grounds.
The body of Machinist Mate B. b
O'Sullivan will be sent to his widow,
Mrs. Elizabeth OSullivan, Lowell
Mass.
In a Marietta hospital C. j. Nc
Carthy, who was injured in the crash,
is reported as still in serious condi-
ton. His injuries are broken pei
Wis, hip fractures and internal in
juries. Raymond Cole, the other in
jured member Of the crew, is recov-
ering rapidly.
If any salvaging of the wreck is
done it will be done for the purpose
of melting up the duro- aluminium
framework, in the opinion of Com
mander Klein.
No part of the wreckage can be
used In constructing another dirigible
the Investigators agreed.
Hundreds of feet of the duro- alu-
minum has been carted away by
those who came to view the wrecked
monster of the skies. The ships log
and scientific instruments are miss
ing. Whether they fell from the con-
troll cabin during it's drop after this
gondola was twisted from the airship
or were plundered is not known.
Tonight soldiers guarded all sec
tons of the wrecked dirigible and
loting has been stopped, but the relic
hunters already had satisfied their
desire
Commander Klein was very bitter
tonight in his denunciation Of those
who stripped the Shenandoah.
Spectators thronged about the 450
foot section, near Ava, again today,
and the owner of the farm began
charging admission, one dollar for
each automobile and IS cents for
each pedestrian. Ten cents was
charged for drinking water.
Reports that department Of justice
operatives were coming here to in
vestigate looting of personal effects
were denied at Washington, Cincin-
natl and Columbus as well as by
Commander Klein. Effects of some
of the victims as well as some of the
survivors were lost during the wild
flight and crash, but it was denied
that the bodies had been looted.