Evening star., 1933-04-11

three members Of the board, asked
Wiley II he recalled any particular
noises at the time Of the severe gust
Of wind"
"The first noise recall" Wiley re-
piled was the breaking of the rudder
control cables. I had an idea the
sheaves were carried away"
Praises Work Of AL,
When the judge advocate and the
court finished their examination, Wiley
was informed he was privileged to make
any further statement he might de-
sire. II do not believe desire to
make a further statement" he said.
speaking very slowly, "but do want TO
say that think before and during the
flight the captain, the aerology officer
and all of the officers and men did their
duty to the best Of their ability, and
II any errors were made they were be-
yond the skill and experience existing
today. want to repeat that I have
no criticism of any of the officers or
crew, and that am sure each did his
duty to the best Of his ability"
Deal then was called. Both Of Deals
hands were bandaged, and the little
finger of his left hand was in splints.
Deal said that when the gust"
which Wiley had described hit the ak
ron, he saw longitudinal girders and
8 break.
Tells of Going Down.
He said as the airship went down
her inclination by the bow was the
greatest he had ever experienced In a
dirigible
Having made his way forward, up
through the slanting ship, he said he
was standing with other members Of
the crew when she hit the water.
& He told Of going down with the
ship, how his right leg was caught
and how, after he had pulled himself
loose, he came to the surface and saw
the wreck Of the Akron drifting away,
until his rescue by the German tanker
Phoebus.
While telling his story, Deal had
spoken hurriedly, staring at the floor.
As he finished, he raised his glance
and said:
"And that's all I remember"
Says Ship Flew Well.
He said he handled controls of the
ship from 8 to 10 o'clock. 1.-The con-
trolls handled very easily and the ship
flew very WE'LL" he said. t
He told Of q previous accident to the
Akron here year ago last Wash
ington's birthday, when 1t broke loose
In the wind while he was aboard. He
said he experienced no sensation on
that occasion.
Deal was asked why he did not cut
loose fuel tanks to tighten load in the
stern before the Akron crashed IN the
sea.
"The ship had too much incline"
hit by q slipping tank in front of me-"
as 1t possible" the Judge advocate
asked, that this 1urch you speak of
may have been caused by the lower fin
striking the water?"
mo sir. don't think So" Deal re-
Piled, thus expressing disagreement
with Lieut.. Comdr. Wiley.
Keel Intact After Crash.
Under questioning by Admiral Butler,
Deal told again of girders he saw
buckling as he lay in his bunk Just
after the ship reeled under the impact
of the gust. He said they were snort
distance behind the control car, about
half way from the bottom to the top OF
the ship and on the right side.
When the ship crashed, Deal said, the
keel was intact so far as he could see.
He also told of hearing q telegraph
siqnaI to the No. 8 engine. Immediate
ly afterward the engine seem to die"
he said.
Deal was then excused and Moody
Erwin took the stand.
From IL pm. until midnight, Erwin
said, he took over the elevator.
0T,a,rinC that watch the air was very
stable" :" Erwin said, but 1t seemed diff
ficult to hold the Akron,s tail up"
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