THEORY AS CAUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 9

THEORY AS CAUSE

STATIC AND USE OF INFLAMMABLE GAS

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

NEW YORK, May 6.

The German Zeppelin Hindenburg, which exploded when landing at Lakehourst, New Jersey, yesterday, fell in a blazing mass of wreckage which it was impossible immediately to penetrate. Nurses and doctors summoned from many New York hospitals stood by helplessly while the hot debris was being searched: _ _ Only a few moments before the ship had ■triumphantly circled the city, escorted by a great fleet of aeroplanes, in honour of the first of the season's transatlantic flights. ' The dirigible was 13 hours late, her arrival having been delayed by adverse weather at sea. ' The ship was only 200 feet from the ground, and passengers could be seen at the windows waving and laughing. When the explosion occurred many of the occupants were blown' through the windows. ■ THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED. The flames were extinguished at midnight last night, but the embers were so hot that it was impossible to complete the search for bodies. ■''..'"■'

United States Army experts attribute the disaster to static ana the use of inflammable gas. A heavy electrical storm coincided with the arrival of the ship.

An inquiry as to why helium was not used was answered with the information that the limited quantity of this [gas had resulted in its prohibition for other than American Arni)| uses. •