The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-16
CRAFT HUDDLES
IN HANGAR WITH
US. DIRIGIBLES
Millions Thrilled as Gigantic
Airship Noses Over At
lantic Seaboard
CROWDS RUSH GREAT BAG
Passengers and Crew Forbid
den to Describe Trip by
News Contracts
CROWDS RUSH GREAT BAG

Lakehurst, N. J., Oct. 16.-(R-
The largest airship ever built, its
silver envelope containing inflam-
mable hydrogen, was berthed today
at the United States naval air sta
tion after completing the longest
commercial flight from Europe.
Three other dirigibles, inflated with
noninflammable helium. huddled in
the hangar close beside the Graf
Zeppelin.
Smoking was sternly prohibited,
and in certain places no one was al
lowed except with rubber-soled
shoes, lest so small = thing ~ .
spark from . nailed heel cause
disaster.
The mighty Graf Zeppelin. which
hoated up from the Zeppelin works
at Friedrichshafen last Thursday
morning with crew Of 40 men and
q passenger list of 20. landed here
at 5:38 p. m. yesterday, after play
ing tag with the elements over q
zig-zag course estimated at $500
miles, requiring Ill hours 80 min
utes. It was berthed at 4. m. this
morning, after spending most Of the
night attached to . mooring mast.
The Graf Zeppelin arrived - day
was dropping away into the dusk,
just four years to = day after the
arrival Of the navy Los Angeles
from the same starting point.
Small Crowd-5,000
Yesterday, however, there were
not many more than 5000 on hand
when 4 gray smudge appeared on
the darkening north~horizon and ex-
panded to the proportions Of q gi-
gantic fish that swan the skies with
q stupendous majesty. It had al
ready thrilled millions in Washing
ton, Philadelphia, New York, and
other seaboard cities.
As the great dirigible, now the
greatest in the world, and yet soon
to be eclipye6 by thrcc other greater
ships, crossed the boundary of the
air station and dipped 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 position al
most above the towering mooring
mast.
Then with a roar like the tram
ping Of celestial cavalry, and the
strength Of 2,700 horses represented
in the five engines swung in gon-
dolas beneath the silver bag, the
motors were cut wide open and the
ship was driven downward toward
the earth.
500 Sailors Labor
Lines were dropped and caught by
the waiting hands Of more than 500
sailors. The ship was drawn deftly
down and the gumpy bumper under
the control cabin rested on solid
ground.
AS the dirigible settled on Ameri-
can soil the enthusiasm Of the crowd
broke all bounds and police lines
went down with q rush as the erst-
while patient walters threw patience
to the winds and surged close about
the dirigible.
Customs inspection and difficulty
in handling the crowds resulted in
the passengers being 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 1t
night was the last piece Of baggage
passed and the health Of the last
passenger certified. Then they strag-
Rled away, some to homes and others
to New York nearby points.
They were eagerly questioned by
reporters, but their replies were
necessarily limited by m agreement
they had been forced to sign that
they would not talk about the flight
for publication for eight days after
landing. This agreement was called
for in . contract between the Zep-
pelin company and m American
news syndicate which purchased
the story rights Of the flight.
Rosendahl Muzxled?
Even Lieut.. Commander Charles
E. Rosendahl, U. s. NJ. commander
Of the Los Angeles and official OBJ
server" for the American govern
ment Of the flight Of the Graf Yep
pelin, was muzxled by this contract.
He met reporters with DIR. Hugo
Eckener, the Graf Zeppelin's pilot.
after landing, but prefaced his
rather perfunctory remarks with the
statement that what he could say
,y>e li,,as$Ad hSp thA a0vAnvraank IL