AIR DISASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 9

AIR DISASTER

THE HINDENBURG

FATE OF OFFICER

FORMER COMMANDER ti DEATH FROM INJURIES PATHETIC INCIDENTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 9, 7.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, May S Revised official figure's in connection with the disaster to the German airship Hindenburg place those killed and died of injuries at 35 and the survivors at 62, including 24 passengers. All the bodies have been recovered. Thirty 'of the survivors are in hospital and 'six of them are in a critical condition, including the commander of the dirigible, Captain Preuss. i, At noon yesterday the wreckage was still so hot that penetration even by those wearing asbestos suits was difficult. Woman in the Control Room The former commander, Captain Lehinann, died of injuries to-day. In a statement to a doctor shortly before his death he said: " Everything around me was on fire. I intended to stay with the ship /as long as I could and had hoped to stay until 1 could bring her to the landing, but it was impossible. " The windows were open in the control cabin and I jumped from a height of about 100 ft. with my clothing all ablaze." . The chief radio inspector, Mr. Speck, also died in hospital to-day. Of three more victims recovered from the wreckage, one woman, ostensibly a stewardess, was found in the control room. This is considered to be of such importance that an investigation of the matter *was begun. Some of the Prominent Passengers Among the best-known passengers who perished in the disaster were: Mr. John Pannes, passenger traffic manager of the Hamburg-American Line, New York; H£rr Ernest Anders, tea merchant, Dresden; Herr Herman Doehner, general nianager of a large chemical firm in Mexico; and M. Birger Brink, Stockholm, editor. A fellow-passenger revealed that Mr. Pannes refused to jump with him until he could locate Mrs. Pannes. Apparently Mr. Pannes and his wife both perished. Among' the survivors are: Herr George Hirsclifeld, Chamber of Industry, Bremen; Mr. Nelson Morris, a member of the meat packing family of Chicago; and Mr. Ferdinand Belin, son of an American diplomat. Pathetic personal belongings blown from the wreckage included lipsticks, a charred bundle of love letters, a j •large photograph of the Doehner fainilj*, | of whom it is now determined that the \ wife and two children escaped, but the eldest child died from injuries. GERMAN INQUIRY COMMISSION SET UP PARTY FOR NEW YORK £ _ (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) , BERLIN, May 8 .The Air Ministry has appointed a commission of six members, Dr. Eckener being the principal one, to go to the United States by the Europa to-morrow.

Germany is in deep mourning. Herr Hitler received a telegram from King George stating: " I am deeply shocked by the news of the disaster and hasten to express my sincere condolences."

Dr. Eckener, who is one of the recognised authorities on airships, stated in an interview that the theory that lightning had caused the disaster could be ruled out, as the airship was equipped with preventive devices. It was very likely, said Dr. Eckener, that the disaster was caused by sabotage. The company had repeatedly received anonymous and threatening letters warning it against landing the Hindenburg at Lakehurst.

The commander of the Graf Zeppelin added: "The construction of airships will continue. Naturally no passenger will set foot in a hydrogen-filled airship again. Helium will be used regardless of cost."

The Graf Zeppelin has returned to Friedericsljafen from South America. She will not .start on her scheduled flight thither on Tuesday, and may be held up indefinitely to allow of her reconstruction for helium gas. / DIRIGIBLES' FUTURE DISCUSSION IN AMERICA POSSIBLE BAN ON PASSENGERS (Received May 0, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 8 The Secretary of the Navy, Mr. C. A. Swansoil, said to-day that the Navy Department! tvould continue its studies °f the possible use of dirigibles undeterred by the Hindenburg's fate. The chairman of the Military Committee of the Senate, Mr. M. Shepherd, expressed the opinion that the development of. dirigibles would not be materially handicapped by the disaster, although probably in future they would be. limited to carrying freight instead of passengers. FLIGHT TO ENGLAND AIRSHIP CHARTERED » ' ■ NEW YORK. May 7 It ;is stated that the Hindenburg bad been,chartered to make a trip With visitors to the Coronation and subsequently to fly back to America films of that event. BOXER'S CANCELLED TRIP t - - NEW YORK, May 7 The CWmnn heavyweight boxer Max Schineling revealed to-day that he had cancelled his trip on the Hindenburg, owing to / the necessity of arriving a earlier in America.