Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
By ALEXANDER r. Won KRYHA
Passenger on the Graf Zeppelin.
written for the Associated Press.

Written for the Associated Press.
CUERS. France, May 18.-Dr
Eckener. commander of the Graf Yep.
pelin en- route to the United States
walked into the salon of the ship
Thursday afternoon as the passengers
were dancing merrily to the tunes Of
monograph and, striking seriou:
attitude, said
Ladies and gentlemen. I have bac
news to impart to you. We must re-
turn to Friedrichshafen. There IL
some trouble with the motors, but there
is no danger. Remain calm; we shall
reach home safely Friday evening OF
Saturday morning"
The announcement came as q
thunderstroke out Of the clearest sky
to the passengers who were not aware
of any difficulty to the motors. The
dancing stopped Immediately as the
ship swung about to return to BARGE
Iona.
Such was the dramatic manner ir
which the passengers of the Graf Yep
pelih were made aware that their flight
to the United States had failed. Then
after long hard pull over the Gulf
of Lion and over the Southern part
Of France. the Zeppelin fought for
headway past Mines, Montelmar and
Valence.
Warns Of Danger.
Just as the sun was setting in the
troubled Western hazy horizon Friday
German passenger, entered the salon
as the ship was lacking about above
Valence.
Ladies and gentlemen, there is
danger. Remove your bags and re-
main calm. We are forced to land"
General silence greeted the an
nouncement. All, or almost all, of
the passengers made for the cabins
to get their baggage when one of the
men passengers in a high-pitched voice
exclaimed:
What the hell are you talking
about?"
In spite of the tension of the mo-
ment. the other passengers who had
understood the grim warning which
had been spoken in German, broke
out into a general roar of laughter.
It was then explained to the passen-
ger who understood no German that
there was trouble ahead and that the
ship. unable to proceed, must land.
That's all right with me-" he re-
piled. Now I understand, 1t is quite
all right"
With parachutes wrapped around
their shoulders, instead OF the usual
lifebelts Of steamships, the passengers
watched as the Zeppelin Unanswered
above Valence and Montelimar from
$3.50 pm. until $50 pm. in the most
unusual life boat" drill ever held in
the air.
Last Motor Dies.
The Graf Zeppelin by this time had
completely lost all control of steering
and was turned into q mere balloon,
buffeted by the wind continually, and
drifting toward the Mediterranean in
spite Of the one motor that was still
motor stopped after several coughing
spells, sputtered and died.
The dreaded mistral. blowing from
the northwest, was pushing the help
less Zeppelin toward the sea at a speed
of 40 miles an hour. The passengers
then thoroughly alarmed, delegated one
OF their number to go to the navigation
cabin where DR.. Eckener with his off,
GERS were sitting quietly In their seats
The doctors son, Knud Eckener, was
at the steering wheel. DR.. Eckener, in
response to a question, said that 1t was
imperative to find a landing field.
Flying before the wind and headed
straight for the Mediterranean with
only one motor to aid in the steering
the Graf Zeppelin went through the
most momentous hour OF the entire
flight. DR.. Eckener himself directed
his son at the steering wheel and the
mechanics at the various levers, seeking
to find favorable air currents.
The last thrill for the passengers
came as the airship flying before the
wind and with all her motors silent.
averaged so miles an hour en- route to
the landing field at Cuers. The passen-
gers thought the ship was certain to be
blown over the Mediterranean. but by
skillful maneuvering she came down and
was quickly tethered by the strong
hands of hundreds Of men on the field