AIRSHIP DISASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22726, 12 May 1937, Page 12

AIRSHIP DISASTER

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY SEARCH FOR THE CAUSE BOY'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 11, <> -•"> p.m.) NEW YORK, May 11 The Department of Commerce board of inquiry into the loss of the airship Hindenburg heard two witnesses, inspected the remains of the dirigible, studied cinema newsreels of the disaster, and adjourned until Wednesday, as there will be services to-morrow at the pier for the German victims whose bodies are being returned to Germany. An officer said in evidence that he was convinced that static electricity was not the cause of the disaster. The landing lines were down four minutes prior to the explosion and would have safely ''grounded" all electricity. He said he was mystified as to the causp. Herr von Meister, American representative of the Zeppelin Company, said that there appeared to have been some misunderstanding between the officers aloft and those on the ground over the handling of the starboard guido line. The evidence accidentally revealed during the hearing the miraculous escape of Werner Franz, aged 12, a cabin boy. He leaped from the keel at the moment of the crash, and lay stunned by the drop. A huge ballast tank of water burst and threw water over him, and the wetting prevented him from being burned and partially revived him. In a few seconds the worst of the heat of the fire was over and he ran to safety.