VIVID STORY OF CRASH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20540, 15 February 1935, Page 1

VIVID STORY OF CRASH.

Macon’s Commander Tells of Disaster. M ASHINGTON, February 13. \\ ith the landing of the survivors of the United States navy dirigible Macon ( u 1 Francisc o. vivid stories were told • disaster, Commander Herbert , lle >* s account being the most vivid despite its terseness. He said that a short jar was felt and inquiry revealed that the wheel had tL PP u- ° Ut of the elevator man’s hand. e ship took a bow-up inclination and rose despite every effort, such as drop- £ allast an d emergency fuel from a r fte^? art ‘ , The continued to rise rapidly and then made a rightfrom iSSVr T , he VeSSCI be * a " to d™p from 4000 ft, descending at a rate of 300 ft a minute. Despite dropping all ballast and endeavouring to drop aeroplanes from the aeroplane hangar, the descent continued. The order to abandon ship was given at 1000 ft and. when the stern hit the water with a jar everyone was ordered out of the control car. Before it was submerged everyone had jumped and made for the rubber lifeboats. SOS signals had been given some time before and flares had also been thrown out. A momentary danger arose when the I flares set afire floating petrol, but this burnt out quickly. The rescue was i quick and efficient. . |