Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19

ladders on a tour Of the entire upper
part of the dirigible
THE ladders were terrible, but it was
great fun. OF course, the wind some
times made the ship sway a little. We
were over the Rhone Valley then. It
was very exciting inside the gas bag,
but when we came down, 1t was more
so. That was when we learned that
the second two engines were dead, and
DR.. Eckener began trying for all
emergency landing.
II asked them if couldn't be on the
ship, and nobody knew. Well, you see.
was crazy to cross the Atlantic in a
Zeppelin, but when my folks heard
about my passage being booked they
were alarmed.
The American consul from Stuff
CART came to see me at FriedrichsEa!en
and said he had received cable from
the State Department asking him u
diSsuade me from sailing. and that my
husband had taken the matter up with
Washington. He wanted me to promsc
that would not sail.
II said, you can say I'm not going,
II you want to-, but he said he couiu
not send an official report which might
not be true. Then said, well / won
go, but, OF course, can change my
mind
SO I cabled home that was not
going.
Then later on I sent another cable
saying. I will see you in New York
Sunday have not had a single reply
from anybody, so l suppose I am dis
owned.
You see my family are coming over
May 20. I thought I'd fly over anu
come back with them.
1.-THE first part of the trip was most
interesting. You could hardly tell when
we left the ground. the Zeppelin sailed
so smoothly. Finally we found phono-
graph and played Going Home" and
I danced little with Count Montgelas.
Until we passed Barcelona, every
thing went beautifully. Then We had
to turn back. and all were so disap-
pointed. Every one regretted that 1t
had not happened over the ocean,
where We would have been carried
along by the wind.
Just Adored Ship"
II just adored that ship, and would
have been more than happy to return
to Friedrichshafen in it.
"One thing that pleased me very much
was the fact that the officers did not
ask me to leave the control room when
we were in the thick of 1t.
About that time Mr.. Nathan re-
ceived a cable by way of Berlin from
New York syndicate asking him to send
information about the passengers, SO l
Just wrote some notes on the back OF
the telegram saying that every one was
being calm. I don't know whether IL
got sent or not. Probably not. because
the radio officers were aWfully ousy
sending official messages.
II must not forget TO tell about Susl,
the gorilla. She paid no attention 10
me the first day. She seemed inter-
estsd only in the men. But we are
quite good friends now.
Il brought her q can of peanuts and
she soon ate them I also gave her
green rubber ball to play with, but
the first night it disappeared. l think
she ate It, for she acted kind OF SICK
the next day.
II also gave her chocolate, and she
liked chocolate cream. She got very
friendly afterward, and I would shake
hands through the bars OF her cage.
Susi had stateroom No. /, and she was
O wonderful sailor.
You ask me if would 60 again.
Would I? wish I could go back TO
with them tomorrow.
II would surely do it, but If they
can 90 within a week will try to per-
suade Mr.. Eckerer to take me along.
One thing 1 think it most important.
I believe our flight ought to prove that
the dirigible is more practical than
other aircraft for air trayc' II should
prove that you can face difficulties and
ride them, That's what we did"
Copyright. 1891