THE AIRSHIP AKRON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21643, 13 May 1932, Page 7

THE AIRSHIP AKRON

TRAGEDY WHILE MOORING TWO OF CREW KILLED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) VANCOUVER, May 11. A report from Camp Kearney (California) states that two members of the ground crew, while attempting to moor the world’s largest dirigible, the Akron, were swept into the air to-day by the mooring ropes, lost their grip, and fell, and were killed. The Akron left Lakehurst (New Jersey) at 6 a.m. on Sunday, and was delayed by a stormy passage. THIRD MAN ESCAPES CLINGS TO ROPE FOR TWO HOURS. VANCOUVER, May 11. Robert Edfall and a man named Henton were those killed. A third man, Bud 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 the 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 a cockpit to hoist him up hand over hand. FIGHT AGAINST STORMS AIRSHIP ENVELOPED BY LIGHTNING. 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 that, in my opinion, the ship underwent the most severe conditions ever experienced successfully by a rigid airship. 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 Paso.” DIRIGIBLE SAFELY MOORED. VANCOUVER, May 11. (Received May 12, at 8 p.m.) A message from Camp Kearney (California) states that navy dirigible Akron was lashed to a temporary mooring mast there to-night. Everything was reported to be well with the machine and its occupants.