Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-03
FOUR SAILORS
CARRIED into
AIR ON ROPES
Land Crew Feared Re-
n peat of Shenandoah
Disaster; Ship Re-
lrns at Daylight


battling strong winds and q
~ snowstorm over her home
night, the dirigible Los An
was walked safely into hei
at z q. m. today, completing
O-mile round trip flight tc
sailors who were carried into
clinging 20 the handrails OF
liant ship when the snowstorm
( across the field forcing a sud-
ascent after an attempted land
we're pulled TO safety inside the
cabin. Another member of the
ground crew who hung an until the
dirigible was 20 feet off the ground
was only slightly injured in the
The big airship quickly disappear
ed In the storm and fear that she
might meet the same fate as the
Shenandoah were expressed by mem
bers of the ground crew which had
almost succeeded in walking her into
the hangar when the storm swept
down. Forty-three men were aboard
her, the largest crew she had carried
since her flight to this country from
Germany.
Shortly before $50 a. m, however
when the snow had ceased and the
wind had died down her silvery hulk
appeared against the Frightening
eastern horizon and half an hour
later she had nosed down to the
field and been slowed safely away
In her hangar.
Commander c. Z. Rosendahl first
brought the Los Angeles over her
home field at 11:40 last night after a
3T-hour flight from Cuacanavabo
Bay. Cuba, where she had stopped on
her return trip from Panama.
She nosed slowly down to the
field. but the 30-mile wind that was
blowing was too much for her main
.uMooring line which carried away and
she was forced to take to .he air
again.
The dirigible crrised slowly over
TIE field for some time waiting a
lnll in the wind. 0minous clouds
piling up in the southwest decided
the commander 20 attempt a landing
before the storm broke.
Working frantically, the ground
crew, which included every available
man at the station, had her nearly
to the doors Of the big hangar wnen
the snow. riding hard on q 30-miie
an hour wind. swept down.
The big ship was tossing IN the
grasp of the hundred or mere men
fighting to pull her ahead and the
order was given to cast off. The
five men who were carried up wisE
her evidently did not hear the COM
mands and before they knew what
was happening she was several feet
off the ground and making altitude
swiftly. They were on the opposite
side from the cabin door and il was
feared those on board might no. be
able to pull them TO safety. All but
the sailor who dropped were taken
into the cabin through the windows
Just above them and the giant air.
liner climbed to safety in the clouds.
The sudden storm and the decision
70 make the ascent left four Of the
dirigible's officers who had made
the trip TO the Caribbean on the
ground where they had been direct
ing the work Of the men attempting
to put her in the hangar.
The big airship left her hangar
here Sunday, Feb. 26, and 10 hours
mast at France Field, Panama Canal
l Zone. 2,2o0 mile away. After stay
~ 12 hours there she took off for
kacanayabo Bay, Cuba, where she
II to anchor to the naval a;rship
er Patoka Battling strong head
s across the Caribbean. she sock
Azurs for the 77i-mile flight and
ask 0f anchoring TO the ships
mast.
led By adverse weather on her
re for home, she did not east
n the Patoka until 10:S0
MA N morning for her leisurely
Ito buck strong headwinds
ston. 5. c.. which slowed
pd made the flying time
pile trip 81 hours. The
5;s her homeward flight,
the 7 1-2 hours con-
Z. was 63, or 20 more
to Panama.
completion ns her
Al of over 1000 miles
bnd achievement Of
within two m-7ths.
she landed OF the
Saratoga at sea, a
accomplished ~ a
was to prove the
4: ! | | !. /: !. !. ! !.
refueling airshiYs
sent flight IN all
proves her Gura-
ndah1 has a dis
4 ~ aviation. He was
&g officer Of the
ell ia a sto-m
4 is a native Of