UM AIRSHIP IN STORM

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1932, Page 6

UM AIRSHIP IN STORM

AN AWFUL ORDEAL Two of Crew Killed 1 A a.**',rah an and N.Z. Cable Assn.) VANCOUVER, May 11. A report from Camp Kearney (California) states that two members of the g.ound crew attempting to moor the world's largest dirigible Akron, wore swept into the air to-day by mooring ropes. They lost their grip and fed and were killed. The Akron left Lakehurst (New Jersey) at six a.m. on Sunday, but was delayed Dy a stormy passage. Robert Edfall and a man named Hen. ton were those killed. A third man, Rud Cowart, managed to clamp' his feet against a knot in the rope and held on, while the crew tried to lower the ship, which had been caught by a gust of wind. For two hours, Cowart clung to the rope with a wooden hand used by the ground crew to hold the landing cables, with the Akron flying at an altitude of 2000 feet, in bumpy air. Finally he was hauled into the Akron by members of the crew, who opened the cockpit to hoist him up. hand-over-hand. SAN FRANCISCO, May 11. The story of the Akron’s triumphant fight against storms, is told in a message to-day. from her Commander, C. E. Rosendahl, to the Naval Radio Station here. “After a rough and trying trip, the Akron has reached the Pacific Coast, in spite of the fact, in my opinion that the ship underwent the most severe conditions ever experienced successfully by a rigid airship.” He said: “All one night was spent completely surrounded by severe lightning and in running at top speed to avoid being caught in violent thunderstorms that blocked every available route to El Faso.” ALL “0.K.” NOW. VANCOUVER, May 11. A message from Camp Kearney. California, states the Navy dirigible Akron, has been lashed to a temporary mooring mast there to-night, and everything is now “0.K.”