HINDENBURG CRASH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 96, 10 May 1937, Page 3

HINDENBURG CRASH

Wa« "Death Ray" The ' Cause" NEW TOBK, May 7. The sensational Press gives prominence to the possibility of sabotage in the Hindenburg disaster, citing threatening letters received at various times by Dr. Hugo Eckener and other dirigible co'mmanders. For example, the Chicago Tribuna prints a fantastic article speculating as to whether the Hindenburg thagedy and many recent aeroplane disasters were due to a death ray perfected in secret

oy some scientast, maiang nendish tests. Its possibilities have been mentioned in news dispatches since 1931, relating successful experiments with death rays by British, American, French and German scientists. Captain Lehmann, in a statement to the physician shortly before he died, said: "Everything around me was on fire. I intended to stay with the ship as long as I could. X hoped to stay nntil I could bring hor to the landing, but it was impossible. The windows were open in the control cabin and I jumped from about 100 feet, my clothing all ablaze." A fellow passenger revealed that Mr. Bannes refused to jump with him until he could locate Mrs. Pannes. Apparentfy Pannes and his wife both perished. . Mr. Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce, who flew to the scene, appointed an investigating board of threo to start public hearings on Monday with four technical advisers representing the Army, Navy, Senate and State of New Jersey. He said the Germai' Government had permitted an offieial observer on the board to be appointed by the German Ambassador, Dr. Luther. The coroner has cancelled the inquesl on the ground that it was merely a duplicate of the Federal inquiry.