The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-12
Tragedy at the
 Akron Landing
(Continued from Page 1l

ped from the same cable on which he dangled, Cowart held himself with one hand while he looped the loose end of the rope around his legs with the other. Fashioning q regular "bosun's seat" in that man. ner, hc saved his life.
 But his adventure had not end- cd. He dangled in midair, 200 feet beneath the dlrigible over 10000 spectators before he was hauled into the Akron.
 once inside and safe. he express cd the desire to examine the great craft. He appeared to have suf- fered none during his perllous ex- perience, and refused to be bun- died up to ward off possible seri- ous effects of exposure and shock.
 When the dirigible landed and was moored, he refused to talk about his experience.
 .es"I hung on because Twas order ed to hang on," ho said. "I'll have to see my manager before I talk. !"
 Cowart is q welterweight fighter, and as such he has his manager
 The manager appeared to take precedence over Lieutenant Com. mander c. b. Rosendahl himself, for although the Akron's comman- der urged Cowart to tell of his ex- perience, he would not utter word.
 Neither would he pose for n pie ture until Lieutenant Commander Rosendahi and Commander c. N. Gray. commandant of the 11th Naval District. posed with him.
 NewSpapermen approached the manager.
 Would he let Cowart talk?
 Well sell our story to the highest bidder" said the manager.
 There were no bidders.
 Four attempts were made to bring the Akron up to the moor. ing mast.
 Three times the ground crew "walked" the dirigible forward. but each time wind whipped the giant ship up, and the sailors let go the mooring cables.
 At the fourth attempt, a cable on the starboard side snapped. The Akron rolled on It's port side. The nose shot upward. The portslde ground crew--all but four men let go the cables.
 As spectators held their breath, one by one three of the men let go. E. q. Walkup fell n short dis tance. Ills arm was broken.
 Fenton and Edsail fell 330 feet and were killed.
 Cowart. lashed wildly about, was carried further upward
 The Akron shot up 1000 feet at Cowart wrapped a loop of the rope about his feet, fashioned, himself n seat and prepared to ride 1t out.
 Swinging. to and fro like tiny pendulum, 1t seemed that he must be snapped loose as the cable whipped in the wind, suspended from the swaying diriglble.
 Bremen were brought to the scene with nets, hoping to catch him should he fall Naval officials conferred on some method of res- cue,
 At first it was thought the Akron might be brought low over the water, where Cowart could drop and be picked up by a boat. Finally d volunteer from tho Akron climb cd hand over hand down the rope to determine how secure Cowart had made himself.
 Officers with glasses were unable to determine whether he was tam gled precarIously in the rope or had made himself secure. Risking his own life, climbing hand over hand like money on q swinging string the volunteer made his way 25 feet below the Akron. Back he went more slowly. and entered the hatch. He reported Cowart probably could remain in his position until pulled within the ship.
 Then began the task of pulling up the rope. As Cowart neared the Akron, the swinging became more vicious. SnapIike jerks threatened either to dislodge him or break the rope. Finally he was hauled in opposite a gangway and pulled into the vessel.
 He refused medical treatment. protested he was unharmed and began q tour Of the Akron.
 The landing deaths were the first recorded by the United States navy. At Lakehurst men have been slightly injured, but their experi- ence with dirigibIes has prevented any serious accident. The men at Camp Kearney never before had moored such a craft.
 An experienced crew of men, sent there from Lakehurst, awaits the Akron at Sunnyvale, near San Francisco, the destination of It's tsTbuient transcontinentai trip. Lieutenant Commander C. V. fg0aendr.it exDectad fO make a IeIe. urely trip up the California const,