DOWN IN THE SEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21921, 5 April 1933, Page 7

DOWN IN THE SEA

AMERICAN DIRIGIBLE SEVENTY-SEVEN ON BOARD HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE FEARED FEW DETAILS AVAILABLE (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) / NEW YORK, April 4. (Received April 4, at 11.50 p.m.) The dirigible Akron, with 77 people on board, is down in the sea off Barnegat, New Jersey. The damage and the casualties have not yet been determined. The German tanker Phoebus reported early on Tuesday: “ The United States dirigible Akron is afloat off New Jersey coast with 77 men on board. Wo have picked up some of the crew, but cannot get them all.” TANKER STANDING BY FOUR MEN PICKED UP. NEW YORK, April 4, (Received April 4, at 11.45 p.m.) An hour after the Akron was forced down wireless messages received from the German oil tanker. Phoebus, which is standing by, said: “We have saved four men, including Lieutenant Wiley. All are suffering from submersion and shock. We cannot save all those on board.” The Phoebus gave her position as 10 to 15 miles off Barnegat Light, about 45 miles from New York Harbour. The weather is blustery, with rain squalls. The dirigible, which is attached to the mavy, is 785 feet long, has a gas - capacity of over 6,000,000 cubic feet, •and cost 6,000,000 dollars. She started a short cruise in the afternoon, with many naval officials on board, including Rear-admiral William Moffett, chief of the Air Division. A general alarm has been broadcast, and all naval vessels in the vicinity are speeding to the scene. V ENGAGED ON TEST FLIGHT The Akron fell into the sea shortly before 1.30 o’clock on Tuesday morning while on a test flight from Lakehurst, New Jersey. WEATHER UNFAVOURABLE NEW YORK, April 4. (Received April 4, at 11.50 p.m.) Though the air is choked with wireless, details of the Akron disaster were not available two hours after the first word was received. The Akron was equipped with every modern means of communication, but sent no message, so far as is learned, after reporting all well at 8 p.m. The weather prevented the despatch of aeroplanes until daybreak. The dirigible crashed 20 miles east of Barnegat. The list of casualties is not available yet. WRECKAGE DRIFTS SEAWARD : NEW YORK, April 4. (Received April 5, at 0.30 a.m.) The time of the crash was fixed pt 0.30 a.m. during a violent thunderstorm. Four hours later the Phoebus reported that after she had rescued three' men she had lost sight of the wreckage, which drifted seaward into the darkness at the rate of about 12 miles an hour. Flares from the dirigible were visible at Barnegat Lighthouse later. She apparently drifted out of range. i The condition of one of the men who were rescued is considered to be serious. The Navy Department is withholding official information, but the indications are that the craft, which cost 8,000,000 dollars, will probably be a total loss, while the hope of rescuing any more of those who were on board is steadily diminishing. ' The Phoebus reports that when she approached the scene of the crash she found mattresses and wreckage floating in the water. After rescuing three men she saw others sink before they could lie reached. The Phoebus sent the following radio message to the Navy Department at 4 a.m.: “Akron crashed 0.30 a.m. in ; widespread thunderstorm. Wreckage and many men seen on water.” 1 CAUSE OF THE CRASH PROBABLY LIGHTNING. NEW YORK, April 4. (Received April 5, at 0.15 a.m.) At 3.30 a.m. observers at Shipbottom, near Barnegat, reported to the coastguardsmen that they saw flames shooting skyward at sea, but it was not known whether they were flares by boats search- | ing for the Akron or by the tanker stand- j ing by the dirigible. It was exactly 1.30 a.m. when the Cape May station picked up the Akron’s S.O.S. signals. The private opinion of officials at , Lakehurst is that the Akron was struck by lightning. Commander Cunningham, who is in charge of the third naval district, in reply to a question as to whether he thought there had been heavy loss of life, answered: “ Very heavy, I guess, very heavy.” The coastguard boats are expected to reach the Akron at 5 a.m. (