BLAZING AIRSHIP LIGHTS UP WHOLE COUNTRYSIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16326, 5 September 1916, Page 7

BLAZING AIRSHIP LIGHTS UP WHOLE COUNTRYSIDE.

WATCHING THOUSANDS WITNESS AWE-INSPIRING SIGHT RAIDER STRUCK WHILE HIDDEN AMONG CLOUDS. 'Awt. »nd N.Z. Cable. (Roeeived 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. September 8. The Zeppelin which was brought down at Enfield on Saturday night crashed to the ground within a hundred yards of a peaceful village church. Its destruction caused a glare like sunrise, that was seen from miles away. An awe inspiring spectacle was presented as the airship swept towards the ground afire. Many thousands of people witnessed the sight, having been awakened by the bombs and the guns. Vehicles of all kinds arrived from miles around, the traffic on the Great North Road outrivalling that of Derby Day. The military are guarding the ruins of the Zeppelin. Apart from the engines and parts of the huge propellers, only ashes remain. The envelope was entirely burned. Large, crowds witnessed the attacks by the anti-aircraft guns on the raiders. The Weekly Despatch says an eye-witness was awakened by the sound of bombs and heavy gunfire. Searchlights were playing in all directions. "One of the Zeppelins was visible, being almost stationary for- five minutes," says the account. "It disappeared in a cloud, and then we were all suddenly aware of a bright glow in the cloudy mist. It developed into a long sausage-like flame. The sky was lit up. The flaming mass took two minutes to descend. It seemed before reaching the ground to be completely consumed. The crowd sang a song in honour of the occasion. The people's delight was boundless."