The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-13
MACON PLUNGES
INTO SEA; NAVY
ORDERS INQUIRY
81 Are Saved in Crash Of
Air Queen Off Coast
of California.
2 CREW MEMBERS LOST
WarShipS Rush to Rescue
After Stern of Craft
CrumbIeS.
Bvruifed Press

81 Hifed Prose-
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. Is,
A mystery casualty" which
caused the rear rudder Of the
giant dirigible Macon to
"Ourst like a paper sack" was
blamed this afternoon for the
crash and sinking of the air
ship Oft the California coast.
Two men we're lost and 81 rescued
BY the quick action Of nearby war
ships.
The s2450.0OO sirship sent out an
SOS at tbs Indianapolis Time last
night while cruising of the land act
ing as an eye" for the feet
msneuvers. A few hours later the
twisted steel OF the craft sank 10
miles of point Sur and the crew
showing great calmness. had taken
to rubber life boats.
IN one of the most mastery
maneuyers in naval annals, the war
ships searchlights Sitting through
the dusk-gathered in the lifeboats
without loss Of a man save one who
died on the dirigible and one who
leaped to his death as it crashed.
Cause Of Crash Uncertain
The Macon had been fighting
strong winds and the exact cause of
the crash remained uncertain pend
ing arrival of Commander Herbert
V. Wiley and other survivors on war
Ships steaming to San Francisco
harbor. It was known only that
there was trouble in two gas cells
and that the stern 'crumbled.'
But from H. R. Miller. assistant
lighthouse keeper at Point Sur, came
a clue to what happened.
He said the rudder burst like a
sack.
The Macon gave a lurch and
started nosing down. They started to
throw ballast overheard and she
rode upwards. I could see she was
IN trouble Mr.. Miller said. His
testimony may explain the cas-
ualtv~ which struck the sirShip.
Navy Probes Started
Naval OfTicials-hearing that the
crash OF Americas last big dirigible
in active service might mean the
end Of the nations sirship program
gathered here and in Washington
for an investigation Of the crash.
Commander Wiley said the ac-
cident occurred in the stern" the
same part Of the sirShip as that
m which Mr.. Miller saw the rudder
bursting.
L thought an elevator control
had been carried away" Com
msnder Wiley reported TO naval
headquarters here.
We received prompt word that
No gas cell under a fin was
gone. the stern was crumbling. and
finally that No. cell was gone.
The ship landed sStern first with
no wsy tnO forward notion.
Falls Backward Into Sea
His report made no mention of
any explosions aboard. Mr.. Miller
said he saw explosions on the water
while the airShip still was in the
air. He thought they were caused
BY bombs dropped overheard.
Apparently the Macon fell back
wards to her grave in $50 fathomS
OF water. Commander Wiley and 50
Of his officers and men were picked
up. Chief Radio Operator E. z
Daley and Florantino Edquiba
Filipino mess boy. we're lost.
Commander Wiley's story was the
only description OF the disaster
available at naval headquarters
The survivors are en- route 10 San
Francisco on the cruisers which
rescued them. Buses waited at the
pier 10 take them 10 the Sunnyvale
naval air station where their wives.
Sweethearts and relatives are gath
cred
Admiral Joseph NJ. Reeves. COM
mander in-chief OF the United
States feet. is expected 70 appoint
an Official inquiry board today 70
investigate the disaster which
struck the last and finest Of the
Navy's Lehter-than-air ships.
Leaps Into Sea. Killed
The airship was falling when the
commander ordered general quar-
ters" sounded Il meant the men
were 10 abandon ship. Each strapped
on = life belt and took his station.
Rubber RATS we're thrown into the
water. Due 10 2 special gas they
contain. the rsftS-sbout six feet
long and three feet wide-infisteo 10
become buOyant.
The men climbed aboard the
doughnut shaped boats which held
them I'D Until the rescue ships
arrived. Mr.. Daley had not waited
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