The border vidette., 1929-08-31
GRAF Yep FLYs OVER ARIZONA

Phoenix, Ariz., Aug. 81
Matching his skill as navigator
against the elements, DIR. Hugo
kEckener, commander of the Graf
Zeppelin, this morning appeared
to have successfully evaded the
severe. electrical storm which
swept over parts of Arizona dur.
ing the night.
Taking q zigzag course over
desert and mountains, the big
ship appeared to be heading di-
rectly toward Phoenix. One
range Of mountains were to be
surmounted however, and there
was possibility that the ship
would pass to the south and
head directly toward Tucson.
Floating lazily along, the big
ship appeared to be making q
speed between so and 60 miles
an hour. It passed directly over
Gila Bend, 60 miles southwest OF
here at 8 p. m.
Although radio fans had listen
ed eagerly the wireless of the
big craft remained silent. Radio
men advanced the theory that
the antenna which drags under
the diriRible. had been drawn
during the night for fear that it
might attract lightning.
! Crossing the Colorado river,
the dirigible headed slightly
southwest from Yuma almost
directly into heavy electrical
storm. The conrse was changed
again and the giant craft q short
time later passed over Wellton,
so miles east of Yuma, and head
ed north. Shortly after passing
Wellton the Graf veered to the
right, having passed the south
ern MOST tip of the storm, and
started ON The course toward the
| Arizona capital city.
When the big craft passed
over Yuma it was fying at a
height estimated to be 5000 feet,
but at Aztec, less than 125 miles
away, DR.. Eckener had dropped
the ship down to approximately
1900 feet from the earth.
Concern was felt at Camp Har
/ ~ j. Jones, near Bisbee, over
the slow progress of the ship
and q detachment was rushed to
the international airport at Doug
las to be on hand there as a
ground crew ia case an emer
gency landing there was neces
sary.
Thousands of persons on the
streets of Phoenix were disap
pointed when the Zeppelin, after
heading toward Phoenix, sud
denly changed it's course at
Buckeye, 30 miles west of here
and headed toward Tucson.
| Tucson, Ariz., Aug. 27-Fly.
fling slowly and heading south.
west, the globe girdling Graf
Zeppelin passed directly over
Tucson at 1929 this morning.
| Spectators equipped with field
glasses and telescopes on top of
the city's tallest buildings were
| first to see the air visitor and
their animated interest brought
hundreds of other persons to the
streets and tops of other build
| ings. Store aud Office buildings
were deserted as clerks and pa
irons alike swarmed to the
| streets.
| The shimmering silver sausage
shaped ship cruised slowly over
the town ata 1000 feet eleva
ton but appeared to be gaining
altitude.
| .Airplanes from local flying
fields accompanied the dirigible,
circling about it for q consider
1 able distance.
The, following weather report
4 was radioed to the ship AS it
passed over the government
meteorological station at the
municipal airport: Flying con.
ditions excellent as far as San
Antonio" Observes at the field
say the Zeppelin turned it's nose
directly to the antennae as the
report was sent. indicating that
it had received the message.
The Zeppelin dipped its noes
as it passed the U. S. Veterans
Bureau hospital here, and again
, just as it left the city. A tele
graphic request bad been sent to
, Dr.. Hugo Eckener in Los An
, geles asking him to salute the
war veterans and be replied that
be would do so if possible.