AWFUL END.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 236, 6 October 1930, Page 7

AWFUL END.

RAGING INFERNO. SURVIVORS' STORY. Airship Strikes Terrific Storm. EXPLOSIONS AND FIRE. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, October 5. H. J. Leech, one of the se,ven survivors and a member of the crew, told a vivid story two hour's after the disaster. lle said: "There was no warning, not a minute. As the airship lurched to the earth it burst into flames, then crashed into the hilltop. "I do not know how I come to be alive. Everybody aboard was asleep except the watch and the pilot. "The motors were working perfectly. The villagers who thought they were working badly made a mistake. The airship was battling with a storm of rain and wind. She dipped thrice then a violent gust hurled it to the ground. It was at that moment that the explosion occurred." Another survivor, named Church, said: "I was awakened a few minutes before the explosion. I really know nothing beyond seeing a tremendous flash. I managed to get out of the ship's nose, thqn I collapsed." Another said: "I had a miraculous escape. There was a flash and a horrible roar as the structure piled up on the ground. I was stunned but managed to crawl away." Fires Still Smoulder. The airship was now lying on its side in a desolate stretch of country. One portion stands straight to a height of 100 feet. Fires are still smouldering in several places. The identification of the bodies will 'be probably established only by articles in their possession. George Darling, of Leeds, who resides in Beauvais, told the Central News correspondent that he saw the airship rising and falling ominously. He said he realised she was in difficulties and decided to follow her in a motor ,car. He was some distance behind when the airship came down with a terrible crash. Flames instantly appeared at one end, but had not a substantial hold. "When I he said, "I was amazed to see Leech, a member of the airship, who said that nobody was awake when the RlOl was in difficulties till a few minutes before the crash. "He told me he knew the captain was trying to communicate with the engine room when the ship dropped. The wind seemingly dashed her on the hillside. Then there followed an explosion and fire and another explosion five minutes later." Then Bell and Binks, other members of the crew, appeared. Darling said he broke the mica door; and with Leech and others penetrated to the mechanical control room. They tried to reach the cabin but the flames repelled them. They saw. one man terribly burned trying frantically to escape but he collapsed into the raging inferno. Later they found Church, whose hair was burned off. Recovering Bodies. x Firemen able to begin operations at dawn. They quickly discovered four -unrecognisable bodies, then a score of others were extricated from the ruins. By nine o'clock,32 bodies were recovered, of whom 25 were in the main cabin. M. Scourin, commanding the gendarmerie of the Ouise Department, who was quickly on the scene, said it was a terrible sight. He heard groans, but in spite of all efforts he could not get close to the airship, from which the flames were scooting to a great height. The French Air Minister, M. Lauren- 1 teynac, arrived early. He stood bareheaded and emotionally saluted the bodies. He said he was overwhelmed with grief at the deaths of intimate colleagues. No sooner had the terrific storm started than rumours became current in London. One eye-witness said that the airship appeared to be flying unusually low, nose down and tail up. She was at an angle of 75 degrees. Sir Samuel Instone, head of Imperial Airways, who was unable to accept an invitation for the flight, said that though the disaster involved the loss of precious lives it was certain that it would not deter or defer the prominence of aviation. The RlOl had sent out messages at frequent intervals. The last was dispatched at 1.50 a.m. It reported her position, as two kilometres north of Beauvais.

The Air Minister, M. Laurent Eynac, has left for Allonne.