davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
NOn Wiegand, Purple PajGmas,
YeIIOU Cord Complete Picture

A couple of the German officials
wore overcoats over the night attire,
but the majority paraded dressing
gowns OF distinctive hues. Only
Won Wiegand stalked about in a Won
derful pair OF purple pajamas, with
long cut jacket frogged with golden
yellow cord, which had no resem-
blance to pajamas" as one usually
imagines them, but suggested rather
the gorgeous coloring and dash of
some Oriental potentate's state robes.
I was thankful that had brought
with me a lovely set of pajamas and
long, neck to heel, all covering coat,
which l had bought, In Picking last
year.
The figured black silk, embroid-
cred with fierce, green-eyed Chinese
dragons. the flaring orange borders,
the little slippers to match, seemed to
me appropriately displayed in such
circumstances.
Dettnan dashed off sketch after
sketch in soft chalks, while Matejko
in lowered gown drew pictures of
Won Wiegand bending over his
typewriter, Carving out" to use
his own expression, despatch
which he hoped would reach New
York in time for the morning
papers.
A huddled heap of blanket in the
upper berth represented the sleep.
ing Commander Rosendahl. From
cabin No. s, Matejko went to Nc.
2. insisting that the mercurial
kleffel lie still. unblinking. to give
him a right view OF a passenger
enjoying the amenities of the Yep
pelin passenger service.
Gibraltar, Tangier and Geuta were
visions of the night. Grey dawn
revealed Cape Spartel and Cape
Trafalgar, the sentinels OF Europe,
guardians of the Mediterranean,
watchmen of the Atlantic.
Sunrise came over the mighty
ocean in shades of lemon, pink,
nlauve and blue. Before us, behind
US. under us it stretched the track
Jess immensely of a silver fTecked
ocean. Passengers who had anttcf.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
Some Passengers Thought They
Mi1ht Die of Thirst aboard

Many of them did like 1t. did.
I enjoyed the whole trip, even the
gale, because was not bit afraid
and it whipped up my blood and
made it run fast. Everyone said
looked better and brighter after the
gale than before, and l felt better.
/ felt away from the world of every
day monotony. I smelt adventure.
The primitive instinct to battle
for life, with perhaps a touch
of savage glory in the doing,
colored the efforts of the officers
and the crew. I shared their feel
ings, for I have lived in the lands
where one Lives dangerously"
The drama of this pioneer jour.
ney has still to be told. Last
night-the night Of the 14th-was
another hard fight, the details of
which will be fully revealed later.
Monday morning. Out OF the
mists of distance the low coastline
between Machipongo Lighthouse
and Cape Charles materiaIized in
one long sand bank. Land at last!
In every way such trip must
be so per cent in experiment.
and how to prepare. The two pre-
Zeppelin, one of 81 hours over the
cold North Sea. North Germany.
and England. impressed the made.
quately protected particjps nts that
Zeppelin travelling is chilly propo-
sition, so the dawn of the day of
departure, October IL, found me
struggling "manfully" with a pile
Of garments such as / have never
had reason to own before.
/ forgot that the mighty ocean
resembles a sausage inasmuch as it
has two ends-north and south,
hot and cold-but that comes later.
Capt. Hans Won Shiller, who is in
charge of such matters, gave out
that the baggage allowance was to
be so pounds. It sounded little. It
sounded lot. All depends what
one wants to take along. Very
count in cameras and typewriters.
Looking over my flimsy wearabies,
felt very elated. But shoes-that
heavily beaded dress and coatee
quite new, the second best coat 80
useful for travelling" a reference
book or two, typewriting paper car
bons. shoe tree-no? They had to
come out, wooI-lined boots heavily
made for the Friedrichshafen peas.
antry. had to go in, thick wooden
stockings, sleeping socks in terri
fled remembrance of freezing at
night, high above the earth, a
warm old jumper suit, wooden I'M
dies-and my quota was we'll ex.
ceeded.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
Thrill of Departing UneQuaIed by
Anu Experience, Real or Imagined

Hubert Knickerbocker, of the Phila-
delphla Public Ledger, ran forward
for a last clutch-it was more
than a hand grasp. "Good-by, Bill,
good-by Knick." and we rose just
enough to give a view over the
heads Of the spectators in the shed.
Frau Eckener waved to me; she
was standing with Lotto, her daugh-
Ter, whom she had asked to come
from Berlin to keep her company
during the waiting time; Fran
Katejko, the very elegant and
handsome wife of the Austrian art
list; Frau Brandt and all the others
waved and waved good-by until we
rose over the housetops, over the
trees. out of sight OF Friedrichs-
hafen and all that it meant in love,
family, home affection, friendship
or pleasant memories for each one
OF us on the Zeppelin.
The journey began in earnest.
Those who had Travelled on the
Zeppelin before could not tear them
selves away from the windows. run
ming from one side to the other,
excialming at every new phase of
the scenery. Others were fascinated
by the cabin arrangements, the
charming little sleeping compart-
ments whose walls were no more
than lowered chintz stretched from
floor to ceiling, but which contain
almost every comfort and convent.
ence one could wish.
There is a luxurious siIken-covered
settee which at night is converted
into the two sleeping berths. Two
suede cushion covers disguise the
pillows. Wardrobes ample for the
Journey, rack for hats, table pouches
for shoes. etc.
Ihere are some things lacking
which would contribute greatly to
our comfort, call bells for instance
small looking-glass in the cabin,
and above all, facilities to open at
least one OF the tiny panes in the
cabin windows. small details which
will certainly be arranged later on,
1t is difficult to explain to people
who have not seen the giant air.
ship in construction as have.
every pound counts.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
LndecisiOn As to Getaway Had
Everyone in State of Confusion

Minus a few of the less urgently
necessary belongings it was stin
more. than so pounds. Fifty pounds
seemed so little. Compromising with
a paper-mache grip / eventually got
the weight down.
The start was delayed a day, and
expected TO be delayed another day
or so. That was responsible for a
lot. On Wednesday night the
crowds-real crowds for once in the
little lakeside Notwithstanding in
the hotel lounge, were given to un-
derstand for the morrow would not
see the silver monster ont of its
shed" We were told that a de-
cision would be given at $50 in the
morning.
got up at to write a dispatch
but $50 brought no definite decision
and o'clock even didn't clarity the
situation.
1t did not seem worth while tc
Pack the last" things in such in
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

who is not worthy of highest rec
ognition. They are gallant gentle
men. It had been a great privilege
to be the only woman amongst
such men.
The trip has been dramatic, as
dramatic as one could wish. 1t has
been intensely instructive, all day
in the company Of experts, me.
teorologists, artists, mechanical
technicians, one could not but
learn. and appreciate the new world
opening before ones eyes.
The passengers provided wonder.
full study. Some grumbled because
they did not find the luxuries which
they expected. Although everyone
knew that this must be an expert.
ment. The steward could not serve
SO people for three meals day and
also do" the cabins.
The first day the cabins were left
until midday, but long before that !
had made up my own, and so had
Commander RoSendahI. I'm an old
sailor he said. The other .passen-
gers did not at first prove themselves
so independent.
They waited until they stopped
grumbling, and took a hand at their
own cabins. Since then no one both.
ers any more. The lazy ones leave
the beds all towsled; the more orderly
make their own places tidy.
So it has been with all the little
details. At first there was some
wailing and crashing Of teeth be-
cause this, that or the other was
not as the more finicky thought II
should be, but most of the men
lost no time in settling down to
things are they are. We picnic
for meals entirely. Bread and but.
ter cold meats. coffee.
Everything ran out-even fresh
drinking water. Boiled water was
then the only safe kind to drink.
I noticed with interest that it
requires some time and effort for
the average man to get out Of a
rut-not the ex-navy men, nor the
pressmen, for their lives are inevi-
tably more haphazard than other
peoples.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

And last but not least. those we
were leaving behind. The wives.
mothers and daughters of officers
and crew smiling bravely, and oh,
81 proudly, as their men folk in
the smart Zeppelin uniform made
ready for the great adventure, prob
ably the greatest adventure in their
lives.
Unless one. were "shot to the
moon" passenger to Mars or
climbed unconquered Mt. Everest, l
really cannot conceive Of greater
thrill than this first TRANSATLANTIC
air trip from East to West-and
in such circumstances.
1t is not the daring sportsman
taking his life In his hand, making
a spectacular dash from one port to
another, but the impressive, dign1-
fled progress of new race Of lords
of the air, proceeding at his own
pace, unhurried, If such be his pref
erence, even able to stop dead over
a given spot and yet not to fall
victim to the ethereal element, to
drown in the sea or crash UP on
land.
The airship such as the Graf Yep
pelin is not only a wonder OF the
age, but promises to prove one or
the most useful wonders Of civiliza-
ton. We did not arrive at our destt.
nation-in this instance America
in discomfort. with strained nerves,
overtired or, worn out. The passen-
gers, at least, stepped off as from a
mighty luxury steamer-rested and
prepared for a days work or eve
ing's entertainment. The crew needs
rest. And DR.. Eckener surely re-
quires repose, for he is like Louis
XIV, ''le roi soleil,' whose proud
words, "L'Etat C'est Moi" may well
be rendered in DIR. Eckener's case.
as "I am the Zeppelin"-so closely
and intensely has he identified him.
self with the giant airship.
1 felt sorry for the newspaper
men on the ground. How mucn
would they have given for the glori-
Gus opportunity, and how they en-.
Wed us. Just before the Zeppelin
slid out of the hangar William Hill.
man Of the Universal Service, and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

been President of Germany now had
he accepted a candidature In 1895.
But fewer know him as have
been privileged to see him during
the last Week-the artist. the mu.
stefan, the shrewd psychologist. the
whimsical wit. the sWeet-natured stu.
dent and thoroughly lovable. I'm.
spoiled giant of the century.
The night was short for all Of 10.
It Is hard to 60 to bed on trip
when each moment can mean some.
when you are waiting for the next
For many OF the passengers this
was their first night on board q
Zeppelin, for me, Karl Won Wiegand,
TheO Atejko, Rolf Brandt and Wal
ter K1effel, 1t was the second, and
we all remembered the previous
cruel cold experience on the long
trial over the North sea and Eng
land.
But we need not have feared--one
blanket was ample enough during
the night. 1t was even inclined TO
be stuffy in the small cabins with
the windows which do not open.
At $40 o'clock in the morning
Captain Flemming came round cali
I1EK OUT XII AT1bEdlInIs ~ w AAAG1s 3 tN&4kCA
us all out In greatest haste to see
the famous Rock so curionsly
tunnelIed with passages carved
through the hard stone. 7 have
often been in Gibraltar, but never
imagined to see it from the air and
in such circumstances
On the other side could discern
the twinkling beacon OF old Tangier,
the birthuIace of my late husband,
whose distinguished father, Sir John
Drummond Hay, was British min
lister in Morocco for 40 years.
/ know Tangier so well that in
imagination / could trace the
quaint, picturesque quarters where
wall is not an arms span from wall
the sullen looking Riff Noun
tains in the east. through whose
echoing vastness have heard the
Eeverberations Of Spanish guns.
We were regular pajama party,
jolly, and bright even at that early
hour
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

II there's no wine Cat first the
fact that wine had run out was
regarded as a tragedy there il
water. and when the drinking water
ran out. there is always the bal.
last water which can be boiled.
We cannot die of thirst with some
few gallons of ballast water aboard,
although some of the pessimistic
passengers thought we could.
The trip has made many friends.
AS Colonel Herrera. the very cour.
teous and polished Spaniard. said:
In the whole of our lives we
will never. never forget our com.
panionS on this journey. We will
constantly think of them with affec-
ton and pleasure"
That is true, and the trip has
revealed the weakness or strength
of each one. The heavy smokers,
deprived of their Indulgence have
had the worst time. 1t has been a
struggle, and they are to be honored
for the way in which they fought.
Commander Rosendahl has been a
wonderful asset on the ship, appre-
ciated by all and everyone.
Karl Won Wiegand. serious and
grave as usual, has worked practi-
cally day and night. Certainly he
worked all day, and at night from
my cabin opposite would hear him
and Rosendahl talking. then the
typewriter click. a door open and
stockinged feet pad to the wireless
office. Rosendahl has been up, up
all the time. He has the sailors
trick of sleeping when and where
he can.
Curled up in incredibly small
space, oblivious of Won Wiegand
banging a typewriter over him (and
Won Wiegand does bang it, the
American commander would snatch
an hour here, an hour there and
promenade the bridge during the
night If fancy took him. In fact
there was no night, no day. Any
time one came out Of the cabin it
was quite certain to find some one
or other of the passengers sitting
in the salon gazing into the starlit
night, or one Of the franticaIIy over.
worked wireless operators trying to
sort out messages on the table.
AT 2 o'clock one morning l walked
through TO see the time, and found
the steward setting cup and saucers
for breakfast-that was before the
crockery all got broken.
The only person who openly
grumbled consistently was Frederick
Gilfallen, and, after all, ne had a LOT
OF moral courage to do SO. He did
not like it, and told everyone so
Some Of them did not like it, but
pretended to.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
PRAISES MODEST GENIUS OF
IN. ECKEN|ER, SLEEPLESsN 0NDER

crossed the black North Sea and
fhe security Of their own lines to
honab the enemy. It needs much
cnIIraQe 10 do that, and / have
learned IN these last months OF
CONTACT with Zeppelin officers of
wartime action. with what reluc.
lance they took orders to bomb
civilian towns.
From their wives, too, I have
heard something OF the other side
Of the story--the bitter waiting, the
terrors Of delay, no less because
they were part Of the ''other side"
at that time.
To return. to DR.. Eckener sitting
IN the corner watching the rugged
coast of northern Spain grow
sharper and blacler against the set
ting sun. DIR. Eckener II an artist.
True. it il his brother who ex.
presses himself in color and form.
while he himself finds expression
in music.
But the artist Is the strongest
trait In him. That is why some
people do not understand him, 4
expect, or understand" him in tha
way he least means to be under.
stood. The golden ball Of setting
sun sank lower and lower toward
the horizon until it became a
flaming goblet to hold the crimson
tongues Of fire which stained the
sky, and sublime background for
the clear cut, stern and barren
rocks.
From crude g0rgeousnegs to myss
terious pastel depths, from harsh
jaggedness to the seduction of the
Intangible falling night wove q
spell OF romance over the twilight.
diYnu1ed coast line.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

pated monotony as soon az the
Kaleidoscope land views had gone,
found new amusement in scanning
the horizon for ships-rare visitors
N this part Of the ocean-although
later in the morning as we neared
the waters round the Madeira
Islands, three or four were sighted.
TWo-one German and one Brit
ism ship were so close to ne that
through field glasses we could see
the people on the decks.
Meals promised to- become the
main distraction of the day-that
IS what was anticipated. So far we
had done astonishingly we'll, eggs,
coffee, or tea for early breakfast,
soup, hot meat and stewed fruit for
a dinner, bread and butter, sausage
and tea for supper.
Besides what each one had brought
on his own account and pooled
among friends. 1t was entirely in.
formal OF course, a knife or fork,
more or less. made no difference, a
saucerless cup, plateless bread and
mustardless sausage. Middle-day
dinner is the big meal, all the same,
up in the clear air over the sea one
sort of keeps hungry.
In the afternoon we had little
cabin parties-groups of acouaint.
ances, whose provisions harmonized
get together and picnicked. We had
to. really, for the midday meal was
hot and plentiful, but its effect
seemed to wear off so soon, and by
o'clock everybody was ready to
eat again.
Afternoon tea Is not a German
institution, and even if it were there
is great difficulty about getting hot
water to drink on the airship. In
the Mushroom there is plenty Of
very hot water all the time, but the
most precious asset of the tiny
kitchen is the boiling water supply.
The steward. Hans Haring. always
MANAGED to produce pot of tea for
me about 4:30. Quite solemnly he
said: You are English. Tea is their
national beverage. 1t will be hard
day when deprive YOU of that"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

DR.. Eckener also came there to
enjoy the superb view and sunset.
The only thrill on an airship is in
the navigation room. The passen-
gers quarters are comfortable and
convenient, but offer no intimation
of the wonders of the mechanism.
I love machinery. Most people
do, I imagine, in this mechanical
age when everyone has at least a
nodding acquaintance with the
mysteries that make the wheels
go round" The works" of this
giant airship are as exquisite, as
perfect, as minute in their beauty
as those Of my tiny platinum and
diamond wrist watch.
Yet they look so simple and I'M
complicated. Two men at two small
wheels, turning, turning, letting go,
turning again. DIR. Eckener, ever
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

in weighted bag and thrown over
board. No one puts postage stamps
on them-for one thing very few
people are sufficiently far-seeing to
provide themselves with enough
stamps. and during our trial trips
.in Germany the mail thrown over
board was so courteously5 cared for
that in many cases stamps We're
affixed by the finder, or the postal
authorities.
Passengers settled in groups. at
first to discuss the disappointment
of Mr.. Badt, department chief TO
Prussian Ministry of Interior, who
so very badly wanted to make the
trip.
He had been told that If there
was not room, but, weight ailow-
ance for him, he could come. So
that moment Of departure saw Mr..
Badt optimisticaIly in front Of the
Zeppelin entrance grip in hand. II
ever human disappointment reached
a climax his surely did when it was
told him that he could not come.
To say that we felt sorry is made
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

could become entangled on one or
other Of the propellers.
AS soon as curiosity had been
satisfied inside and outside for the
moment. most of the passengers sat
down to write postcards. 1t is said
OF Americans that they only travel
in order to send postcards from
various countries and cities; I am
sure that even Americans could
not compete with the German
officials who prepared great patches
for each bag thrown off the air
ship.
The steward stamps them with
the Zeppelin rubber stamp--merely
az q souvenir, then they are put
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
Lured in Watching the Sunset
From '7hrOne of DR.. Eckener

BY the time we had travelled as
far as the Rhone- basin and sighted
the Blue Mediterranean, we all felt
that the journey had at last really
begun in good earnest.
About 4;20 in the afternoon we
passed from land to sea over the
curious stretches of flat, flat sand
banks and inland lakes--a SYM
phony in neutral tints.
From until nearly 8 sat in
the navigation room watching the
sunset. DR.. Eckener invited me to
sit in his chair, his throne" as
he calls 1t, which he had specially
installed for himself to watch the
navigators at work, but I was
afraid of being in the way-the
bridge" Is SO limited for space
and sat In the chart room by the
wide.open window.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
Lady HAYS OWN STORY OF DRAMATIC FLIGHT
GJMPSES EARTH IN NEW LIGHT
AS ISLES, TOWNS, PEAKS DANCED
CONTINUED From First Page)

"The responsibility is mine he maintained Il am re-
sponsible.' - - a.
With eess energy he remained hour after hour on the
bridge spending every of strength ne had to give me
fin Darkness No electric light only flash torches One
false step would have meant his death.
His commander his father agonzng need OF Sleep Slept
oo with horror dreaming Knut had made the false
stenhow could he sleep? He did not but lay hour after
hour longing all the intensity OF his fathery heart to
rocsli b;s how from the watch he himself had set him.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
Ounce of Weight Certain to
Make VerU Great Difference

The airship may weigh tons, as
it does, yet eight ounces more or
less can make all the difference, so
exquisitely Is the weight balanced
to a nicely. The callbells haYe
not been installed because there
has been every endeavor to avoid
electricity as much as possible. on
account of danger from a spark or
fuse; there are two looking.g glasses
in each Mushroom, and after all it
is quite easy to bring one along
oneself, and ! think that the reason
why no window is rIade to open.
and shut in the cabin arises from
the fear that people might at night
throw things out, which IN turn
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16
Tiny BrO1On Islands Appear
In the Bay About Lunch Time

So he comes along concealing the
hot pot under his white overalls as
best he can, in order that the other
passengers may not be excited to-
envy. Sometimes q -buttered roll
wrapped in a paper serviette made
its appearance from his pocket.
We were rationed as to food. of
course, for weight plays an almighty
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

role in this aerial life. With base
of tea and roll and all the luxury
of the exquisite basket of daintles-
gift from Herr Alfred Watersplel:
the VeX famous gourmet and cheI
OF Munich-the success of the pa.ty
was assured. Caviar. foie graz uns
Continued on Page FourteerJ
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

richshafen, gently attentive to his
mother, deferential to his father.
I have seen him on this trip in
overalls, working with courage
and complete abandonment of self
thought. His companions in the
task of mending the fin are heroes.
There is not a man of the crew
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-16

DR.. Eckener is hero. 1t Is
not for me to tell the story here.
but revealed, it will move to tears.
and wiring hearts with pain. knut
Il a hero. He is a boyish'look'
ing. sweet-mannered young man.
4 have seen him at home in Fried