The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-18
PASSENGERS ON
Yep BELIEVED
DEATH CERTAIN
Officials of Line Speed to
France to Check Motor
Trouble.
U. S. WOMAN BRAVE
Virtually All in AirShip Suf-
fered 'SeaSiCkneSS' in
Storm.

FH THifCd Press
TOULON. May lathe crippled
Graf Zeppelin lay moored In the
hangar of the CuerS-P -Pierrefitte air.
port here today like a chained mon
Ster her fantiStic death minute over,
hel strength completely spent.
The passengers and the members
of the ships crew. for whom an
attempted transatlantic cruise to
the United States was turned into
4 narrowing nightmare. we're recu-
perating from their weird exreri-
enCe.
Some OF them never expected to
1--we through the ordeal
As the tempest-tOSsed colossus Of
the air rode through the skies at
.he mercy OF winds. many of the
passengers thought death was GER
tain, that the ship either would be
dashed to the ground or be carried
out to sea.
OGhcials of the Zeppelin line we're
speeding toward TOulon today to
make a minute examination OF the
motors. failure of which had threat
ened to cause the most terrible Yep
pelin disaster since the war.
Only One Motor Working
DR.. Ludwig Duerr. constructor OF
the giant airShip. was Oh the way
here from Friedrichshafen 10 study
the machinery.
When the Graf Zeppelin finally
vas landed here last night three OF
the five engines were out of COM
mission ana one was nearly 50. The
ship was operating on its single per
feet motor.
Even thai one motor was used
sparinsly by the commander. DR..
Hugo Eckener. because its operation
was such q strain on the metal work
of the huge dirigible that it was
feared the ships back might be
broken.
Hundreds Of troops were rushed
from Toulon to the air port to as
sist in landing the giant
It took a whole hour and the aid
Of 500 persons to get the stricken
ship into its hangar.
Some of the passengers had to
be carried from the airship. they
we're so ILL., All had been i'll from
"sea sickness" throughout the day.
American Woman Brave
The ship. since entering the
storms. was rougher than any
steamship in a storm. It rocked and
swerved almost continually
A German journalist said after
disemberkinC from the Graf Yep
pelin:
I hope I never shall have TO
undergo another experience like this.
We almost were constantly travelling
At an angle of 85 degrees, wobbling,
see-Sawing. quivering. shaken every
moment
On landing here Eckener asked
permission of the French govern
ment TO allow Zeppelin officials to
rush five motors from Germany TO
replace the broken machinery. The
government Immediately agreed.
Mrs. Mary Pierce Of New York, the
only woman passenger. said today
she is ready TO start the adventure
al over again as soon as the
crippled dirigible has been repaired.
Eckener Praises Yep
Other passengers said she had
been remarkably brave during the
hours of trial at the height Of the
storm.
The Zeppelin's envelope practical
u was intact.
Two small tears In one of the
fms. caused by the rough handling
in landing. are the only damage to
the body.
ECkener commented.
This trip should prove the air
worthineSs Of Zeppelins. We rode
through one Of the worst storms I
ever met in the air. If We had all
the motors going We would have
made Friedrichshafen easily, though
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