The Washington times., 1929-08-22
5TORMN()N
P]STPONES.
TAKEOFF
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(continusd from First Pag9
long water jump to the California
city. Held In check by q veritable
army of gendarmes, militia and air.
port attaches, the great throns
cheered a. the ground crew slowly
atarted to walk the Zeppelin from
ttB hangar.
There was but 10 Inches 81 head
room between the top Of the
dirigible and the roof Of the hangar
and the task of moving the ship out
was . ticklish proposition from the
start. when the ship was less than
halfway out, Il threatened to bump
against the top Of the doorway, and
the crew eased II toward the
ground.
Meteor Gonaola Bumps
But the ship came down faster
than had bsen expected ana the
rear motor gondola hit with de-
cided thuEnp on the concrete floor.
ing OF the hangar. Two gircers
supporting the motor gondolA were
badly bent. and DR.. Eckener imme.
diately ordered the ship returned
to the hangar.
Immediate investigation OF the
mishAp revealed that the damage
was far from serious, although it
temporarily incapacitated the en-.
gine lodged in. the -gondolA- lt was
pointed out that in all probabilities
the flight to Los Angeles could
have been made with absolute
safety with only four engines in
commission, but DR.. Eckener was
unwilling to subject his passengers
to the slightest risk and he declared
the flight postponed until repairs
could be effected.
Passengers Disappointed
The 1S passengers who are max.
ing the flight to Los Angeles were
bitterly disappointed when informed
OF the postponemen6 bat they re.
turned Immediately to the Imperial
Hotel in Tokyo to make the best
OF the enforced delay DR.. Nckener
summoned the mechanics and en-
gineers jointly, supplied by the
Japanese Government and the
Zeppelin company, ana the work of
repair was begun Immediately.
William b. Leeds, the New York
millionaire who Is one Of the pass
engers making the complete round
the world flight, was more disAp-
pointed by the delay than the re-
xnainder. s
snow. isn't that the dickens" !" he
declared. mot thing happens to
US all the way over Russia and
Siberia. and we have an accident
Just As we are starting home.
just > Tough Break
'But at any rate, It wasn't the
fault OF the people who ara flyins
the ship. We have ell the con-
fidence in the world In them. and I
guess this is just one of those
tough breaks that happen to every
thing and everyone"
The Graf Zeppelin should not be
without company on its long flight
across the waters OF the Pacific.
Seven steamers OF the Dollar Line
will lie along its course, and ar
rangements have been made for
them to keep in almost continual
wireless communication with the
6irigible.
Six carrier pigeons form part
OF the baggage carried aboard the
Zeppelin on this trip. They are the
property OF Doju Shirai, the only
Japanese Journalist to go aboard for
this leg OF the flight, whose assign
Ynent includes entraining for New
York at Los, Angeles to 'see the
country"
The carrier pigeons will be re-
leased by Shfral within the first half
hour Of flight. for he fears the birds
will be unable to return to Tokyo
otherwise. The pigeons are good
for two hours Of sustained flight
NJ about the salne. rate Of speed as
news from aboard the Zeppelin. as
the dirigible's wireless station is not
permitted to work during the first
kwo hours Of flight.