The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-16
Yep sails ON
SECOND TRIP
ACROSS OCEAN
0irigibIe Flies Over France;
Due to Reach New York
Early Sunday.
MRS. PIERCE ABOARD
Seventeen Men Also Pas
SengerS; Weather Report
ed Good on Route.


FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany,
May 16--Germany's giant dirigible,
the Graf Zeppelin, sailed along the
Mediterranean coast of Spain today
and the northern tip of Africa
headed for the Atlantic on its sec
ond trip to the United States.
Eighteen passengers and a crew
of forty-One are aboard.
The giant of the air took off from
here 5:54 a. m. Q:54 p. m.
Wednesday, Indianapolis time.
Under favorable weather condi-
tions it was expected to reach its
destination, Lakehurst, N. J., at 9
a. m. Sunday.
Weather reports we're favorable
for journey along the southern
route and it was expected that the
same weather conditions would pre-
vail for another twenty eight hours
at least.
DR.. Hugo Eckener, commander of
the flight. expressed satisfaction
with conditions.
Seen at Barcelona
Reports from Barcelona. Spain.
said the ship passed over there at
2,30 p. m. c7:3O a. m, Indianapolis
tImeJ
The Zeppelin flew over Mines,
France, at 11:40 a. m. and turned
southWestward towards Montpelier
and Perpignan, near the Spanish
border.
The Zeppelin was following the
same course she took on her last
flight to America.
Mrs. Pierce Makes Trip
There are seventeen male pasSen-
gers aboard the ship and one
woman, Mrs. Mary Pierce OF New
York Mrs. Pierce said Wednesday
that she had Cancelled her passage
and would not make the flight. This
morning, however. she was with the
rest Of the passengers. The crew
numbered forty-one.
The departure of the Zeppelin was
like clockwork. 1t resembled the
departure of a transatlantic liner
DR.. Eckener gave but few commands
to the ground crew, whose members
worked as if they had been accuS-
toned to their task for years.
There were no bands as on previ-
Gus hop-offs. The proceedings re-
Sembled an ordinary flight.
Perhaps the most unconcerned
passenger was Susy. the female
gorilla which is destined for the
Chicago geological gardens in Lin
coin park. SuSy retired rather early
to her cabin and looked on COM
placently from her cage while the
members of the crew hustled about
the ship before the hop-off.
Passengers Get Up at 4
The passengers, including Mrs.
Pierce, we're awakened at their no.
tel at a. m. and transported to
the flying field after haSty break
fast. They arrived at the hangar at
a. m. and boarded the ship at $50
a m
Although there we're many cele-
brities aboard. Mrs. Pierce was the
passenger most popular with the
populace of FriedrichShafen.
DR.. Eckener received her at the
gangplank and escorted her person.
ally to her cabin. the only person to
whom he extended such an honor.
A careful guard had been placed
over the dirigible to keep Stowaways
from boarding. Four would-be
stowaways had been caught before
the start.
The guards also spotted another
would-be stowaway 1T the network
of eirders in the hangar after the
ship was taken out. The police said
he intended to jump onto the ship
lust as she was pulling out. They
arrested the man, who gave his
name as Adolf Lenk. 90 He said
he was from Bavaria, tailor by
trade.
Fuel for $50 Hours
There was sufficient fuel aboard
the Graf Zeppelin for 13o hours, 80
per cent more than was needed for
the trip. according to Captain
lehman.
There was half a ton of mail
aboard.
Knud Eckener. DR.. Eckener's boy,
whom his father described as "an
elevator man." will return to the
United States to work after he
makes the round trip on the Graf.