WEST TO EAST

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1928, Page 5

WEST TO EAST

ZEPPELIN FARES FORTH TRANS-ATLANTIC EMPRISE, SIXTY PERSONS ABOARD.

(Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. The giant airship Graf Zeppelin LZI27 left Friedrichshafen at 7.52 o 'clock this morning for America. Sixty persons are aboard, of whom 20 are passengers, including Senor Eira, representing the Spanish Government; Commander IRoseudahl, who commanded the American dirigible Los Angeles; Herr Grzensinski, Prussian Minister of the Interior; and Count Braudenstein, son-in-law of the late Count Zeppelin. There are also three members of the German Ministry of Transport, six newspaper representatives, including Lady Drummond Hay of Britain, and two cinema operators. The Graf Zeppelin circled over the hangar and dropper flowers, a band playing “Deutschalnd Tiber Alles" and then sped off at 50 miles an hour. The Berlin correspondent of the “■Times , ■ , says it is estimated that the flight ■will occupy 60 to 70 hours. Dr. Eckener, the designer of the craft, plans to reach New York on Sunday morning. The weather was calm at the time of the hop-off. It Was decided to fix the route in accordance with wireless weather reports received on route. The Graf Zeppelin passed over Basle (Switzerland) at 9.30 a.m., when a report was received of heavy storms in the Atlantic. If necessary, the airship will head for the African coast and then via the Azores to dodge the storms. The passengers are insured at a premium of 6£ per cent and tht air ship itself at 9 per cent

LUXURIOUS LIVING,

AMERICANS PAY £6OO EACH,

(Australian Press Association.) (Received 11.52 a.m.) LONDON, October 11,

A message from Friedrichshafen says that three Americans paid £6OO each to travel on the Graf Zeppelin, on which the 20 passengers will live sumptuously, A Munich brewer presented 2000 bottles of beer, and another admirer 200 bottles of champagne. SUDDEN DECISION LAST-MINUTE EXCITEMENT. (Australian Press Association.) (Received 2.33 p.m.) BERLIN, October 11. Dr. Eckener was awake all night studying charts. At 4 o'clock in the morning he decided to take the risk, and at 5 o’clock the passengers were knocked up from their bedrooms and ■soon the lobbies of the hotels were alive with bustling people. At 7.30 a.m. all were aboard except the only woman, Lady Drummond Hay, who dashed up at the last moment and discovered that she had forgotten her fur coat. A messenger was hurriedly despatched in a motor car to obtain it.

Meantime an excited Russian financier from Paris appeared at the hangar flourishing a bundle of thousand-, dollar notes and shouting out; “Ten thousand dollars if you take me!" Dr. Eckener gave an indulgent smile and shook his head. Only a moment previously he had ordered out a personal friend of Dr. Badt, Secretary of the Prussian Ministry for the Interior, as every pound weight courted in view of the possibility of storms. The only drawback to comfort was strict prohibition of smoking. When notified of the embargo one American was so upset that he tried to sell his ticket, but was -dissuaded. The crow and passengers’ luggage weighs four tons. Perhaps the most remarkable passenger is an American, Mr Frederick Gilfillan, who has been marooned in Europe for 12 years owing to fear of a sea voyage. He was twice shipwrecked while trying to cross the At lantic, and on the second occasion he swore lie would not tread the deck of a ship again.