The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-09
81 PASSENGERS
DELIGHTED AT
OCEAN TRIP
Eckener Declares Yep
Can Weather Any Gale
Liner Survives
CONTINUED from Page II

Some 200 soldiers from Camp Dix,
who were to assist with the land
ing, were three-fourthS Of q mile
away, near the hangar.
The 80 sailors and Marines
did their best, but they were not
enough. The ship bumped down
on the wheels Of the gondola.
She lurched up and the tail
struck the ground couple Of
times. A naval officer frantically
shouted for volunteers.
About 100 newspapermen were
there, including German, English
and French correspondents, and in
q flash they were tugging at the
thick ropes. The ship steadied.
She was brought in hand by the
time the racing soldiers had reach
ed her.
Once the ship touched earth,
DIR. Eckener'S son, Knute Eek
ener, took charge. A blond. mod
est individual, he had little to
say and lowered close to the
$3,20O,0OO ship.
It will require only 10 hours
to complete preparations for the
return journey. The Hindenburg,
however, will not take off for
Germany until Monday night.
The Hindenburg'S arrival had
a most picturesque and impressive
sitting. The sun was just over the
horizon, an orange ball Of flame.
On the other side of the sky was a
full, waning moon.
Planes Circle AirShip
A score Of Navy and newspaper
planes circled in a huge whirring
oval.
Packed behind q mesh fence were
from four to five thousand spec
tatorS, most Of whom had waited
up all night for the sight. :,
The ship, which earlier had given
New York city a show, was first
sighted from the northeast. A
cheer went up, but the crowd
seemed too impressed to make
much noise.
DR.. Eckener finally got off the
ship about q. m. and was rushed
to the improviSed press room.
Eckener Pleased
Wedged in among the 200 re-
porters and photographers who
were sending news Of his achieve
ment out to the world in half q
dozen different languages, the
gray-haired, 68-year-old COM
mander said: ....
at was q wonderful trip. We
had q wonderful voyage.
"Our trip proved that lighter
than-air ships are practicable
for transatlantic travel.
I'VE could have made it in
even faster time with more
favorable weather. Though in
less favorable weather we would
have been slower"
He was asked:
care you convinced that the
dirigibIe can 60 through any
weather that an ocean liner
cant"
Eckener replied:
absolutely. The weather af-
fects only the speed. It does
not affect the safety. The
dirigible is as safe as an ocean
liner today. This was proved
under all circumstances"
May Sell Ship
Asked If he planned to turn this
dirigible over to an American
firm to alternate on ocean flights
with the Hindenburg sharing ter
minalS, he said:
"That / cannot say. We
would be glad to sell it to an
American firm and have them
start tranSOceanic service If we
can get q terminal here"
The commander denied that
there was any danger at any
time of a smash during the land
ing this morning. In this he
was upheld by Capt. Ernest Leh-
mann. lehman said:
"The ground crew was Suffi-
cient and satisfactory. We ex.
pected a larger ground crew
but weather conditions were
better than we had antici-
pated."
The Hindenburg bore two huge
SwastikaS in red, white and black,
on both sides Of her enormous
fins.
On her side in huge red letters
was her name. AmidShipS she
wore the interlocking circles which
form the official symbol Of the
Olympic games.
Uses Hydrogen Gas
The power which sent her on
her record trip came from four
Mercedes-Benz engines which
burn crude oil. Her top speed
Is 84.37 miles per hour. Her cruis-
ing range-which, with favorable
weather could include a round
trip from Germany to the United
States-is $3.50 miles.
Besides her 81 passengers and
Sc crew members, she carried
both mail and freight on this
trip.
She was guarded carefully from
fire by marines and sailors. The
reason for the excessive caution
was the fact she uses hydrogen
gas. which is highly explosive.
American lighter-than-air era + t
uses the non-inflammable helium
gas.
Captain lehman told Interna-
tional News Service that the
vic. $50 ,y1eyG will Tarnhahlv IISe