AN AIR DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1921, Page 3

AN AIR DISASTER.

NEW SHIP BREAKS IN HALF. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug 24. A new airship intended for America on its trial trip, broke injo halves over Hull. There were about 50 people aboard and it is feared there will be a heavy loss of life. Tihree parachutes were seen (>o leave the airship. One report is to the effect tliaft only two were saved. LONDON, Aug. 2 . Thousands watched R3B cruising over the city at 5.30 in the afternoon. A few minutes later the airship broke and fell into the Humber, belching dense clouds of blue smoke and flame. The effect of the explosion wrecked shop fronts on the centre of the city. Two dead bodies wefe landed and a number of injured sent to the hospital. FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Received This Dav at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, August 24 . Lieutenant Wann was commanding R3B flight and Lieut. Little was second in command with Flight-Lieut. Montague as navigator. Thorp Were als<aboard Commodore Maitland who i officer commanding all British air ships. Major Thomas and Maxwell and twentyone -Americans including commander Lieutenant Col. Coil, who was second in command of the American crew, in the Atlantic flight. 'Hie loss fulls <>>• Britain. It is reported there are six survivors: Bateman. one of the survivors, states the ship took a sharp turn right from the centre of the Hull. Another survivor says one of lie main girders failed to take th<> strain. Bateman hung on the rear portion and alighted in the water safely. Commander Wann was saved uninjured. x ONLY FD'F SAVED. (Received This Day at 1.5 p.m.) LONDON. Aim. 1M Out of forty-nine persons in R3B, five wore saved, namely. Wann and Bateman, and three Americans.