AIRSHIP ADRIFT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 96, 18 January 1924, Page 7

AIRSHIP ADRIFT

BREAKS LOOSE IN HEAVY GALE CREW OF THIRTY ABOARD LITTLE HOPE OF SAFE RETURN There is the likelihood of another airship disaster having to bo recorded. A United States naval dirigible has been broken loose from its moorings and driven away by a fierce wintry gale. It is believed that the vessel and its crew are in grave danger. By Telegraph-»Press Association. Copyright. (Rec. January 17, 7.20 p.m.) New York, January 16. A telegram from Lakehurst, New Jersey, says: The navy airship Shenandoah, which was moored to steel masts for a tenday test, broke away in a 55-mile gale with a crew of thirty aboard. Radiq communication was established with the dirigible late to-night, and it was believed to be over New Brunswick-, Canada. It is said to be able to ride out the storm and to be holding its own. Another telegram from Lakehurst ‘ A tremendous wintry gale tore the Sevan, popularly called the Shenandoah, from tho 300-foot mooring mast where it had been fastened for the last four days as a test preparatory to the coming Polar trip in the spring, and' drove the ship towaids the sea with a crew of twenty men aboard and the motors going. The dirigible has supplies for a 4000-mile cruising trip abroad, but it is unknown what injury it suffered. A crew Jias been maintained aboard for just such an eventuality, but great/ uncertainty is felt regarding the vessel’s fate, since the gale continues. A short radio message from tho dirigible indicates that the crew are confident that they will ride out the storm, but Commander Weyerbach, of the Lakehurst station, said that he had little hope of the ship returning to safety. Experts believe that the metal nose cap, where the entire framework of the vessel converges, was torn out when the airship was wrenched free from tho mast, thus weakening the vessel and endangering its safety.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.