davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1933-04-05

signed to the Iakehurst Naval Air
Station.
Lieut.. Hammond j. Dugan, Lakehurst,
80, was born in Maryland and entered
the Navy from Oklahoma He spent
nearly four years on sea duty before
training for air service at Lakehurst.
Lieut.. Charles F. Miller, Toms River,
N. j., 80, a native Of New York, more
than four years on Navy boats.
Lieut.. Morgan Redfield, Lakewood,
another native of New York, after three
and half years at sea was assigned
to instruction at Lakehurst. He was 80.
Lieut.. Wilfred Bushnell. Malone, N. Y,
a co-holder of the world balloon dis
tance record. With Lieut.. T. G. w. Set
tie, he foated 952 miles in 43 hours and
~ minutes during the national balloon
race in 1929.
Lieut.. Cyrus Clendenning, Toms River
N. j., was born in Georgia but entered
the Navy in 1923 from New York State.
Chief Machinist George c. Walsh
Lakewood, SO, was born in Pennsyl-
vania and specialized his training on
the mechanics Of heavier -than-air
craft. He was credited with knowing
every bolt and screw" in the Akron.
Enlisted Men-Missins.
William T. Hill enlisted at Savannah.
Ga, and won the rank of pharmacist
mate. Two brothers, one a soldier, the
other a marine, have died in United
States service.
Henry Ballard, a native of Gordo,
Ala. survived the Shenandoah disaster
in 1925. He was % years old and lived
at Philadelphia.
Joseph j. Zimkus, 27, whose boyhood
home was at Stamford, Conn, was
boatswain's mate. He entered the Navy
at Is, was a member of the Akron's
original crew. lived at Whitesville, N. j.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
AKRON IS SECOND
OF NAME WRECKED.
Original Akron, 258 Feet
Long, Exploded Off Jersey
Coast in 1912.
BY the Associated Press.

by Lne Associated fTeSS.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. :, April S.
The Navy dirigible Akron, which
dropped into the Atlantic Ocean early
yesterday, was the second airship Of
that name to meet disaster of the New
Jersey Coast. In 1912 the forerunner
of the modern queen OF the skies was
destroyed short distance out from this
city, carrying to death five men.
Although the 1912 Akron would have
been just pygmy alongside the man.
moth ship which was wrecked today, in
its day 1t was a giant. 1t was 258 feet
long, with an extreme diameter of As
feet. The framework with four engines,
gasoline tank and cabin, weighed about
$4,000 pounds. The fuel tanks carried
engines developed 277 horsepower
With the 1912 edition, Melvin Vani-
man and a crew of four had hopes of
crossing the Atlantic. On. July of that
year the ship left its mooring place here.
A magazine article of what followed
described the tragedy in this fashion:
when at an altitude of 1000 feet
and only short distance out to sea, a
sudden puff of smoke was seen at one
end of the bag. In a minute the bag
exploded; a mass of flames hid the ship
from the view of those watching on the
shore; the car broke away from the en-
velope and plunged downward. In the
descent something which appeared to
be the BODY OF man shot out to the
left Of the wreckage and struck the
water before the rest Of the burning
mass"
The cause Of the accident was never
determined.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
Relatives Travels
Kept Two Officers
From Fatal Trip
Naval Lieutenants Give
Up Flight on Akron
at Last Minute.

A mother and q mother in Jaw saved
two Washington naval officers from
going aboard the U. 8. s. Akron Mon
day-and European, trips were in
volved in each case.
Lieut.. Thomas Hinckley Robbins, the
aide Of Rear Admiral william A. Moi
fett, usually has accompanied the aero
nautics chief on his flights in the Ak
ron and other aircraft. Monday, how
ever, he did not go with Admiral Moi
fett when his chief left the Navy De-
partment about l o'clock for Lakehurst,
n. j. Lieut.. Robbins mother, Mrs. Alice
Ames Robbins, has just spent q year in
Europe and is scheduled to reach New
York this morning.
In order to welcome her, Lieut.. Rob-
bins failed to sail ON the Akron as he
ordinarily would have done. He has
been aide to Admiral Moffett since last
May.
The Navy Departments press rela-
tions officer. Lieut.. George F. NJ. Mentz,
was invited by Admiral Moffett to ac-
company him. The lieutenant,s moth
er-in-law, however, Is scheduled to sail
shortly for Europe for q years stay. A
party at the Swiss legation to-
night kept him In Washington. HlG
00fheesSpelaW q Nh Alfre6 1nchon,
Evening star., 1933-04-05
WIDOWS OF AKRON
GIVE Up AT LAST.
Women Left Behind Cling to
Hope Until They Realize
Tragedy.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LAKEHURST, N. j., April 5.-They
found it hard to believe-those who
are left behind-that the Akron is
gone, that what was no more than an
ordinary occurrence in the lives of
their own people should have ended so
tragically.
And in their sorrow they kept asking
one question over and over: Why was
this flight singled out from all the
others to end in disaster?
The Akron had made numerous voy-
ages, many of them seemingly more
hazardous than Monday nights long
flights to the West Indies and Panama,
to Bermuda and the West Coast and
so many short ones that nobody re-
members them all
Maybe during all those flights the
question was hanging fire in the minos
of those left behind, always ready to
be asked. But if there was ever fear
1t was never publicly known.
"In the Safest Place"
What If an electrical storm hits
you?" Mrs. Noexca Copeland said she
asked her husband, r. w. Copeland,
radio man on the ship, before it de-
parted.
I'VE will be in the safest place-in
the air." he answered, and that was
typical of the men who took the ship
aloft.
The women had hope at first, just
as the wives of fishermen and deep
water sailors have hope, but 1t waned
as the hours passed, and the meager
news that came through was always
the worst news.
Yet few gave way to their grief. The
news was so unbelievable that in the
beginning they were merely stunned.
The wives of the enlisted men waited
In the recreation room at the naval
afr station, where they had hurried
from their homes in Toms River, Lake |
wood, Lakehurst and other commune |
ties-waited for news.
Some of them were nearing middle
age, the wives of petty officers. Some
were very young. One was recent
bride They did not cry. Some smoked
cigarettes, some talked. Most were too
weary with thinking.
Women Are "Soldiers."
Lieut.. Comdr William L. Steiner,
chaplain at the station, looked at them
keenly He had just read them mes !
sage with the latest scrap of news.
"Those men," he remarked, were
hand-picked, among the finest we have.
And these women" he said after a |
pause, "are solGiers"
There was a little commotion on the
other side of the flag -draped room
where many had first met their hus-
bands, where they remembered laugh 4,
ter and gayety and the bright station
dances. A woman had tainted In |
another building the wives of the OFF, |
GERS waited. as stoical as the others. |
Here Lieut.. Comdr. Jesse Kenworthy, |
In charge of the station since his supe-
rior, Comdr. Fred T. Berry, went aboard |
the Akron, read the messages.
And in house at 36 Taranetta drive,
Lakewood, the three children of Lieut.. |
Comdr. Herbert " Wiley, the only off, |
Ger to escape, waited for their daddy to
return. David, 8; Gordon, IL, and !
Marie, 2l2, were thankful. Their
mother died year ago. <I
Evening star., 1933-04-05
college PLANNED
|. TO HONOR MOFFETT.
Admiral Would Have Received,
Degree This Springfield
Hoped to Enter Congress.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHARLESTON, s. c., April 5.-Rear
Admiral william A. Moffett. who went
down with the dirigible Akron, was to
have received the honorary degree OF
doctor of laws from the College of
Charleston this Spring 1t was revealed
here yesterday.
The Charleston-born admiral had
been approved by q number Of the col
lege trustees for the degree for his
able, far-seeing and unremitting efforts
In the development of aviation" and
1t was said today approval OF the re-
mainder had been assured.
Admiral Moffett was a frequent
visitor here, where his, brother. George
H. Moffett, Is an attorney and chair
man of the City Board of School Com
missionerS.
The admiral was understood to have
planned to make his home here fol-
lowing his retirement.
He had also revealed the desire to
enter Congress from South Carolina
after his retirement, with his principal
objective the interests of the Charleston
Navy Yard.
He also revealed Chicago district
had sent representatives to see him, ask
ing that he make his home there and
run for Congress from 1t.
The congressional aspirations were
| revealed here by a newspaper man.
who received them in confidence during
the admiral's last visit here
COMMANDED GREAT LAKES.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
Personnel of Akron
~ States, the Philippines and the District of Colxn
bid Represented in Grew Of W-Fated
Drigible.

29, was born in Georgia and entered
the Naval Academy from there in 1920.
He spent nearly six years at sea before
being assigned to the LakehurSt sta
tion for dirigible study.
Survivors.
Lieut.. Comdr. Herbert v. Wiley. Lake
wood, N. j., formerly commanded the
dirigible, the Los Angeles, and was re-
garded as an authority on ighter-t than
air craft.
Richard Deal, Lakehurst, N. j., who
now will twice rate the nickname used
by many of his friends-"Lucky" Deal
because of his survival of the Shenan-
Gently married, was the widow of Ralph
Joffre, who lost his life when that
dirigible crashed in Ohio several years
ago. Deal is an enlisted man.
Moody E. Erwin, an enlisted member
26, is a native of Hickman County
Tenn. He entered the Navy at 18.
Officers in Charge-Dead or Missing.
Lieut.. Comdr. Frank c. McCord,
Lakehurst 43, married, spent 13 years
aboard Navy boats. Born in Colorado
and later lived in Indiana. Famous for
coolnesS under pressure.
Lieut.. Comdr. Harold E. Mcclellan
was born in Delaware and lived at
Westerly, r. l. His body was found
many hours after the wreck. He was
chief navigator of the Akron. He was
graduated from the Annapolis Naval
Academy in 1917.
Lieut.. George Calman. Toms River,
N. j.. graduate of the Naval Academy
in 1919, famous fencer, participating
in four Olympic games.
Lieut.. Richard Gross. jr., Lakewood,
N. j., "a, a skilled mariner both of the
skies and sea. He completed his naval
training during the World War and
pine area and at San Diego, Calf
Lieut.. Herbert M. Wescoat, Lakehurst,
was born in Ohio, spent three and one
han SeaD an -sea dntg before hang -
Evening star., 1933-04-05
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Twenty-Five States, the Philippines
and the District, of Columbia were
represented in the Akron crew and its
tragic end
Some were from families with rec
ordS Of long Navy service, others from
States far removed from sea water.
Many had one thing in common, said
associates-a fatalistic attitude
Brief sketches of some crew members
and guests included:
Guest Officers.
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett,
Washington. was the first and only
aeronauticS chief and noted champion
of lighter than-air craft. Next Novem-
ber he was to have been retired from
active service after 43 years of duty
He had sailed on wooden ships, later
on modern steel ships, and in recent
years favored aircraft. He was born
in the Spanish and World Wars.
Comdr. Fred T. Berry, Lakehurst,
was born in Iowa in 1887, and entered
the Navy in 1904 He spent exactly
Is years ON duty at sea. He held the
Navy Cross.
Comdr Henry B. Cecil, Washington,
was under orders to 60 to sea in June,
slated to head the Air Department
aboard the aircraft carrier, U. S. S.
Lexington. Cecil was born in Tennes-
see and his permanent residence was
at Knoxville
Lieut.. Joseph Severyns, Lakehurst
was born in California, and later lived
in Washington State. from which he
entered the Navy. After seven years OF
sea duty, he was assigned to Lakehurst
for instruction and his trip on the
Akron's last flight was taken In his
course of study
Lieut.. Robert Sayre, also assigned for
air study at Lakehurst, born in Ohio 80
years ago. later lived in Illinois and was
appointed a naval cadet from that
State. He had more than six years
sea duty.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
$500 TAKEN BY THIEVES
IN CASH AND MATERIALS
Dental Gold, Worth 5000, Stolen
From Office of DIR. Carlton
Vaughan.

More than s7O0 in cash and materials
were obtained in housebreakings and a
pocket picking reported to police last
night.
Welby L. Ashley, Clarendon, Va, had
his pocket picked Of between $45 and
$50 in cash and Government check
for more than $40 while in downtown
theater, he told to police.
Some 5000 worth of dental gold was
reported stolen from the Office Of DR..
Carlton Vaughan, 900 block of F street,
by some one who gained entrance by
iimmying the front door.
Bathing suit samples, valued at SITS,
were reported taken from the automo-
bile of Roy w. Craft of winston Salem,
N. c., while the machine was parked at
Fourteenth and K streets.
George E. Miller of the Miller-Dudley
Co, 100 block of Fourteenth street,
dealers in automobile and electrical sup
plies, reported box containing Sl87 in
cash had been taken from the company's
Offices by some one who entered by
breaking glass in side window.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
GREEN SAYS JOBLESS
TOTAL 13 MILLIONS
March Added $50, 900 to Nations
Unemployed, Declares Labor
Federation Head.
~ the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
william Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, said in
q statement last night that 230, 900 per-
sons had lost their jobs during March,
bringing tie total unemployed to more
than 100000.
The federation estimates that 1891
600 were out of work in January and
12,980,000 in February. In March, 26
per cent of the union membership was
unemployed, as compared with 26.7 in
February, the federation claims.
Increasing unemployment at this
time of year, when industry usually
takes on more workers, means buying
power Is cut still more, defiation is
going still further. larger number still
are dependent on charity" Green an
nounced.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
Admiral Moffett Trained Nearly 40 Per
Cent Of Nays War Personnel.

GREAT LAKES, ILL.,, April S Cp).-
Rear Admiral william A. Moffett, miss
ing in the Akron crash, won acclaim as
wartime commander of the Great
Lakes Naval Training Station.
He built the station up from a minor
peace-time establishment to one of the
greatest Of its kind-encompassing $50
buildings on 1900 acres of land.
During the 18 months of American
participation in the World War, Ad-
miral Mof1ett put some 250,000 sailors
into training, nearly 40 per cent Of the
Navy's wartime personnel.
Moffett, commander of the cruiser
Chester, was detached from his ship
month after European hostilities broke
out in 1914 and sent here. Already
seasoned in the service-he saw his first
fighting under Dewey during the battle
Of Manila Bay-Moffett rapidly cleared
the decks of the training station to
reach peak efficiency.
He possessed the Congressional Medal
Of Honor for heroic service at Vera
Cruz, Mexico, in 1914.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
MASTER OF PHOEBUS
Thanked BY SWANSON
Secretary Of Navy Expresses Ap.
probation for Aid Given in
Akron Rescue Efforts.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 5.-Secretary
Swanson thanked the owners and mas
ter of the German tanker Phoebus for
her rescue efforts in wireless message
made public here tonight. The message
read:
Secretary Of Navy desires to express
to Standard Shipping Co. and master of
steamship Phoebus deep appreciation of
Navy Department for kind and efficient
assistance rendered by Phoebus in con-
nection with disaster to airship Akron"
The Phoebus is due at Tampico April
II and is then to return to Hamburg.
The Navy Department has requested
her skipper to forward confidential re-
ports on the Akron disaster to WASH
ington by airmail as soon as he reaches
Tampico.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
WOMAN ASKS $4,000
Bues as Result of Automobile Ac-
cident in March, 1882.

Suit for damages totaling $4,000 was
nled In District Supreme Court today
by Mrs. Fannie Poms, 400 block of M
street. as the result of an automobile
accident in March, 1882.
The plaintiff says she and her hus-
band were seriously injured when ma
chine in which they were riding COL
nded with an automobile of Alex Cas-
eel, 900 block of Eighth street SOUTH
1ast. Che Is represented by Attorneys
A W1letstn end Inneph u H81mnn.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
DECLARED "LUCKY"

MASON HALL. Tenn, April S (P.-
Moody Eugene Erwin, one of the sur
vivors of the Akron disaster, was al
ways lucky" his mother. Mrs. T. H.
Erwin, said today.
When notified of his escape, Mrs Err
win said she usually worried more about
another son. Herman, at Memphis, and
the possibility of automobile accidents.
Il had worried about Moody SO long,
his being in the air so much, but I was
getting used to 1t. When he first en-
listed in aviation I kept looking for
something bad to happen. But he was
always lucky, and so began to think
h6d made \ the 1aGt q the ttmap
Evening star., 1933-04-05
TRANSFERS SAVE MANY
FROM AKRON DISASTER
Several Former Officers and Men
of Inflated Dirigible Were Re-
Gently Assigned to Macon.

Many of the former officers and men
oil the Akron's crew were saved by their
transfer within the past month to
Akron, Ohio, to take over the u. S. S.
Macon. The last of these transfers
were made less than a month ago.
The Macon's commander. Comdr. Al
ger H. Dresel, a native of Annapolis,
Md, was skipper" of the Akron up to
about six weeks ago, when he left for
Akron. He served In Washington
several years ago.
Lieut.. Anthony L. Danis transferred
to Akron to serve as theological oficer
OF the Macon, is a Washingtonian, his
home being at 1540 Forty-f fourth street
The Macon's executive officer, Lieut.
Com6r. Joseph c. Arnold, is a survivor
OF the Shenandoah crash eight years
ago.
Seventy-five enlisted men, 20 of whom
were members OF the Akrons crew,
were assigned to the Macon. Nine of the
Macon's crew were aboard the ShanAn.
doah -When .Ghe Nag .degtroUa1
Evening star., 1933-04-05
Song Writer Now Clerk.

AKRON. Ohio [P).-Max Friedman
"Ukulele Max"-who wrote many war
songs and who became a radio celebrity
when radio stations were in attics and
cellars, keeps records in the naturaliza-
ton office. A long illness interfered
with his career. .s
Evening star., 1933-04-05
$685. 900 HELIUM LOST
Crash Of Akron Costly in Gov
ernment's Imitation Gas.

When the U. s. S. Akron crashed
the Navy lost about $65, 900 worth of
valuable helium gas, with which the
craft was inflated.
Navy Department authorities asserted
that the nominal gas volume of the
AKRON was 6,500,000 cubic feet. She
mad gross lift of about 180 tons, the
airship herself weighing 90 tons. and
was capable Of carrying a useful load of
82 tons. On her last fateful journey,
naval aviation officials here asserted,
the Akron was not fully inflated. to
compensate for varying temperatures.
Evening star., 1933-04-05

Upper: Lieut.. Comdr. H. ". Wiley, one
of the three survivors shown at the
Brooklyn Navy Yord hospital broadcast
ing the story Of the disaster.
Wide World Photo.
Lower: The J-3 q few seconds after
it crashed into the sea.
Wide World Photo.
Inset: Capt. Dalldorf, master Of the
German oil tanker Phoebus which
picked up the four members Of the
crew, one of whom later died. The
survivors were transferred to the de-
stroyer Tucker. Wide World Photo.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
MILK BILL PASSED
New York Assembly Acts on

New York Assembly Acts on
Measure Providing Price Fixing.
ALBANY, N. Y, April 5 lP).-While
Central New York dairy farmers stood
ready to renew their milk strike unless
aid from the State was sighted at once,
the Assembly yesterday passed the
Pitcher bill for State control of milk
prices and sent it back to the Senate
for concurrence in minor amendments.
A provision permitting the proposed
State Price Control Board to fix mini
mum price for the milk producers, which
the producers call the heart of the
bill" was kept in the measure.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
KING GEORGE EXPRESSES
SYMPATHY OVER AKRON
Sends Message to President Roose-
velt Conveying Condolences to
Families of Victims.

BY the Associated Press
LONDON, April 5.-King George to-
day sent q message of sympathy to
President Roosevelt over the disaster to
the United States Navy dirigible Akron.
The message read: II am greatly
shocked by news Of the disaster which
has overtaken the airship Akron, involv-
ing the loss of so many gallant lives.
and hasten to express to you, Mr..
President, my deepest sympathy with
the families Of the victims Of this tragic
occurrence"
Evening star., 1933-04-05
TWO ANAC0STIA PLANES
JOIN SEARCH FOR AKRON
Amphibians From Naval Air Sta
tion Take Or Early Today
for Scene of Disaster.

Two planes from the Naval Air Sta
ton at Anacostia took OF early today
to join In the air search in an effort to
locate possible survivors from the air.
ship Akron.
The two local ships-Douglas am,
phi5ians-left Anacostia at $50 am.
They were piloted by Lieut.. Ford N.
Taylor, jr, who participated in the
search yesterday, and Lieut.. Thomas s.
Combs.
Evening star., 1933-04-05

The broad plateau on Cadillacs Peak
in the only National Park in the East,
Acadia Park on Mount Desert Island,
is the highest land on the Atlantic Sea-
board from the coast Of Labrador to
South America.
Evening star., 1933-04-05
BELGIAN SYMPATHY

Government Sends Condolences
Over Akron Disaster.
BRUSSELS, April [P.-The gov
ernment today instructed its Ambassa-
dor in Washington to express the Bel
gian governments sincere condolences
over the disaster to the United States
Navy dirigible Akron and to express its
deep sympathy to the families of the
victims.
Evening star., 1933-09-18
FRANCIS H. S|SSON,
BANKER, EXPIRES.
Vice President of Guaranty
Trust Co. Is Victim of
Heart Attack.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. September 18-Francis
H. Sisson, 81. vice president of the
Guaranty Trust Co. and until this
month president Of the American
Bankers Association, died early yester-
day at his home in Yonkers.
Sisson, long prominent In financial
circles, had been Ill only four days
Of heart disease.
Before he entered the banking pro-
fession, he was associated in publishing
and advertising interests. He edited a
newspaper at Galesburg, ILL.,, where he
was born on June IA, 1871, and also
was editor and publisher Of the Peoria,
ILL.,, Transcript.
After turning to banking, he headed
the Committee on Public Relations and
Advertising of the Guaranty Trust Co.
He organized and was chairman of the
Public Relations Committee of the
American Bankers Association and
headed the associations trust division.
He was elected president of the or
ganization on october 6, 1882, relin-
gushing that post this month at the
annual convention in Chicago.
For several years Sisson was indenti-
fed with railroad activities, serving as
assistant chairman of the Advisory
Committee of the Association of Rail
road Executives.
Foreign affairs and international re-
lations constituted his principal outside
interests He was a member OF the
American Economic Association and of
the Academy of Political Science. and
was director of the league for Politi-
cal Education.
For many years he was chairman CT
the Finance and Currency Committee
and the Executive Committee of the
State Chamber Of Commerce. He was
on the board of Advertising Federation
of America and on the court of arbi-
tration of the Arbitration Society Of
America
He served several terms as national
president of the Beta Theta Pi Fra
ternity, which he had joined as stu
dent at Knox College. He also had
attended Harvard and was member
of Phi Beta Kappa, honorary Scholas-
tic fraternity.
Knox College gave him an honorary
doctor of laws degree in 1921. King
Albert of Belgium. recognizing his serv-
ices during the World War. made him
a chevalier of the Order of the Crown.
His widow, Mrs. Grace Lass Sisson,
survives.
Honorary pallbearers were announced
today They include DR.. Francis w.
Shepardson of Granville. Ohio: Charles
w. Royden of Sheffield, ILL.,, and Wilfred
Arnold of Galesburg, Ill.