FELL LIKE A STOKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 41, 18 October 1913, Page 5

FELL LIKE A STOKE

MID-AIR EXPLOSION. AIRSHIP L2 BLOWN TO PIECES. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 9.5 a.m.) Berlin, October 17. The airship L2 exploded in the air at Johannisthal at a height of JOU metres.. All aboard, numbering thirty, were killed, including Commanders Behhische and Freyer, Captain Gluth, and several members of the Admiralty Commission. A SUDDEN CALL. The L2, which was the newest and finest Zeppelin, was a quarter of a mile from the shed at a height of 540 feet. The spectators saw a tongue of flame shoot from the middle fuel, due to an electric spark lighting some benzine and the flames leapt along the row. The balloonists’ shouts’ were heard, immediately followed by an explosion, which blew the envelope to threads. The flimsy aluminium shell, weighted down by three cars and the occupants and motors, fell like a stone. Six of the occupants amidships were blown out and fell clear of the debris. The others were incinerated or snf-' focated. It All Happened in a Few Seconds. No trace of the cars was visible in the crumpled mass. Tiie death roll is twenty-seven, and the victims include Newmann and Reitzor (advisors in naval construction). Chief engineer Busch, of the Trial Board, with a view to showing his unabated confidence in the airship, Hansa, ordered it to fly over the scene of the disaster. ho people loudly cheered. TWO BIPLANERS KILLED. (Received 9.5 a.m.) Lieutenant Koch and Sergeant Mante were killed while biplaning at 1 Neundorff.