“NEVER AGAIN!”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10721, 19 October 1928, Page 5

“NEVER AGAIN!”

NOT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

PASSENGER’S EXPERIENCE ON GRAP ZEPPELIN '

WILL TRAVEL ON LINERS HENCEFORTH.

A N UNCOMFORTA BL'E VOYAGE

United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (United Service.) NEW YORK, Oct. 17. “Never again for a million dollars”. said Mr Frederick Gilfillan, an American resident of Lucerne, and a passenger on the Zeppelin, when relating his experience. He was worn and drawn. As he stepped from the airship he called first for water.

“We ran out of mineral water on tho first day, and on tho next were .told to go easy with the drinking water. By Saturday this was all gone, so we drank washing watef during the week-end from rubber containers, and by noon on Monday had not even that. I have been through two shipwrecks, but was never so shaken as when the stabiliser was ripped away by’ violent winds in a miniature hurricane. We were all breakfasting when the ship bumped, and the nose vent dangerously near the. water. The helmsmen, put the peak up so sharply that passengers, crockery, and chairs were upset, “We spent most anxious hours until wo sighted the American shore. It tvas necsesary to reduce speed because of the damaged fin. The crew attempted to repair it, but the fabric ripped off again. This, with lack of sleep, and frequent descents close to the water, made the remainder of the journey most unpleasant. “The airship is a long way from practical transportation over long distances. It is no use saying we were not afraid when the airship dipped close to the water. I never saw my native land noth more joy. Hereafter I shall travel on ocean liners. 1 have made the longest flight man has ever made in the air to date, but from the passengers’ viewpoints the chief trouble with the airship is that it is too uncomfortable at the present stage to commend it to the average traveller.”