Evening star., 1928-10-16
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LAKEHURST, N. j., october 16.~-The
largest airship ever built. its silver
envelope containing infiammable hydro
gen, was berthed today at the United
States Naval Air Station after COM
pleting the longest commercial flight
from Europe. Three other dirigibles,
inflated with non-inflammable helium,
huddled in the hangar close beside
the Graf Zeppelin.
Smoking was sternly prohibited, and
in certain places no one was allowed
except with rubber-soled shoes. So small
thing asa spark from nailed heel
might cause disaster.
Berthed at 3 AM.
The mighty Graf Zeppelin, which
doated UP from the Zeppelin works at
Freidrichshafen last Thursday morn
ing with a crew of 40 men and a
passenger list Of 30, landed here at
5:3S pm. yesterday after playing tag
with the elements over zizzag course
estimated at $500 miles, requiring Ill
hours SO minutes. It was berthed
at 8 o'clock this morning after spending
most Of the night attached to moor
ing mast.
The other dirigibles in the hangar
were the Los Angeles. and two COM
paratively tiny non-rigid blimps.
The Graf Zeppelin arrived as day
four years to q day after the arrival of
the Navy dirigible Los Angeles from
the same starting point.
Crowds had gathered for three days
In hopes Of witnessing the arrival.
Yesterday, however, there were not
many more than 5000 on hand when q
gray Smudge appeared on the darken-
ing north horizon and expanded to the
proportions of gigantic fish that swan
the skies with stupendous majesty.
It had already thrilled millions in
Washington, Philadelphia, New York
and other seaboard cities.
Dips Toward Landing.
AS the great dirigible-now the great
est in the world and yet soon to be
crossed the boundary Of the air station
and dippd toward the flying field the
crowd broke into a spontaneous cheer.
With no lights showing except from
the yellow pane Of one cabin window,
from. which the only woman passenger
waved q greeting to the groundlings
below, the sky ship moved slowly and
almost silently with muted motors to a
position almost above the towering
mooring mast.
: Then with roar like the trampling
OF celestial cavalry and the strength Of
2,7O0 horses represented in the five
engines swung in gondolaS beneath the
silver bag, the motors were cut wide
open and the ship was driven downward
toward the earth.
Lines were dropped and caught by the
waiting hands OF more than 500 sailors.
The ship was drawn deity down and
the gumpy bumper under the control
cabin rested on solid ground.
AS the dirigible settled on American
soil the enthusiasm Of the crowd broke
all bounds and police lines went down
with rush as the erstwhile patient
walters threw patience to the winds and
surged close about the dirigible.
Difficult to Restrain Crowd.
State police were momentarily help
less but they struggled hard to restore
order, and many a blow was struck be-
lore the crowd was at last pushed back
Sarely from the explosive wanderer OF
the unchartered highways of the sky.
When the ship touched earth pas
sengers and crew grinned excitedly from
the windows as they thought of res
taurant dinners and the pleasant foot
Ing OF solid ground. But they were
due Tor disappointment. Customs in
spection and difhculty in handling the
crowds resulted In the passengers be-
Ing held practically incommunicado for
hours, first In their cabins and later in
that part Of the hangar turned over to
their customs service. Not until late
at night was the last piece of baggage
passed and the health of the last pas
senger certified. Then they struggled
away. some to homes and others to
New York nearby points.
They were eagerly questioned by re-
porters, but their replies were neces-