The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-04
An Up-TO-The Minut,
OF The City's Wants

L eesS SeSSvJ OAASASN 0sAA AAAA4ASONASeSVS as
vestigation Of the disaster and Presi-
dent Roosevelt sent his newly ap-
pointed assistant secretary Of the
navy, Henry Latrobe Roosevelt, to
New Jersey to take charge Of coordin-
ated rescue efforts.
Representative McClintic recalled In
Washington that the Akron was a.
600 pounds over the weight called for
IN the original specifications, but that
Admiral Moffett had written an ar.
ticle saying this would not affect the
ships general -worthiness.
Late Tuesday morning the cutter
Champlain reported receiving q wire
less from Commander Wiley saying
advisable not to request statement
until later" His previous messages
had given no reason for the crash and
such information as was cleaned came
from rescue boats.
About the same time as this mess
age came from Wiley, coast guard
headquarters received q wireless re-
porting that the Phoebus had resumed
Its voyage after turning the men
found over to the Tucker.
In connection with the crash It was
learned that no word was heard from
the Akron at 1880 last night, when
she was due to make q regular four
hour report. At the time this caused
no anxiety as 1t was believed merely
that static had prevented reception
Of the report.
Weather observers on the Jersey
coast said the storm came suddenly
but that it had not been unexpected,
unsettled conditions for the region
having been predicted.
Although families Of the missing
men refused to give up hope there was
a greater tendency In official circles
to acknowledge that little hope re-
NAMED.
Wind Driving Wreckage
Earlier reports from the Phoebus
had said 45-mile wind was driving
the hulk Of the dirigible offshore 1t
an estimated rate Of about II miles
an hour.
The Phoebus, bound from New
York for Tampico. was within . few
miles Of the Akron when her wire
less spluttered an 8. o. 8. through
static-choked skies at $50 o'clock.
There was no further word from the
aircraft, which apparently descended
rapidly, either falling or crippled to
the point Of forced descent.
Captain Dalldorf Of the PhoebuS
flashed word Of the tragedy to shore
as he turned his slow-moving tank
ship from It's course to the spot
where the Akron had dropped.
A severe thunder and lightning
storm ragged.
II saw aircraft lights flashing" the
captain wirelessed the Associated
Press shortly afterward. Then I saw
lights flashing on the water. chang
ed my course to approach the lights,
and soon heard men mailing me from
the water"
Rescued Four Men
| He picked up Lieut.. Com. Wiley and
three enlisted men-Moody E. Erwin,
metalsmith, second class; Richard +.
Deal, boatSwainS mate, second class:
and Robert w. Copeland. chief radio
man. The condition Of Copeland was
given In wireless reports from the
Phoebus as serious" Shortly after
ward he died.
None Of the reports either to the
navy department or coast guard made
any mention Of the airship'S COM
/, mander, +. G. McCord.
In addition to Admiral Moffett.
Commander McCord and Lieutenant
Commander Wiley. there were aboard
the Akron when she took off from her
Lakehurst hangar at 7:30 o'clock
Monday night. Commanders H. B.
Cecil and +. T. Berry and Col. A. r.
Masbury, United States army.
The Akron was on test flight
which was to have taken her along
the New England coast. She was to
have returned Wednesday. Such test
flights are frequent. The Akron re-
turned two weeks ago from an ex-
tended cruise to Panama.
There was no definite information
as to what happened aboard the ship.
The intensity Of the storm was not
ed In wireless reports from craft that
fought to reach the scene Of the Ak
ron's fall. Lightning whipped across
the black skies and rain poured down,
while strong winds tore at ships whose
powerful motors challenged them.
Had Beaten Worse Storms
A bolt Of lightning was believed to
have sundered the ship, though de-
tails were lacking to confirm it. The
Akron has ridden out many q worse
storm and It was doubted thzt It
would have bowed to the gale alone.
The last word from the Akron to
reach the station ct Lakehurst was
at 8 p. m. last night at which time the
airship reported AL well" aboard.
An 8. o. g. was picked up ct $50
O'Clock this morning, and the craft
must already have been disabled. No
further word was received until the
Phoebus wirelessed ct l:5O q. N.
"Airship Akron with n men aboard
went down near Barnegat Lightship.
Keep sharp lookout. We are 20 miles
from Barnegat light now. Chief of
ficer and three men saved"
Copeland. the radio man who was
one Of the three members Of the Ak
ron's crew picked up by the Phoehus,
died from his injuries shortly after
ward. The others were reported SUI
fertng from "submersion and expos
ure."
The coast guard craft Tucker was
the second rescue craft to arrive,
reaching the side Of the Phebus at
dawn. It reported finding some
wreckage. Tho cruiser Portland
reaching the scene shortly afterward.
found no Weckage.
Aircraft from several naval stations
along tho coast Joined the search Of
the sec ct dawn.
The airship. largest In the world.
was commanded By =. 9. NcCord. He
is among those missing.
This was the second major disaster
in American history Of Nghter-than-
air craft, the dirigible Shenandoah
having fallen before . line STORM In
Ohio In 1o26.
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