AIRSHIP DESTROYED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 422, 11 August 1908, Page 4

AIRSHIP DESTROYED.

Borne Aloft In Flames.

Berlin, August 5. Count Zeppelin’s airship started from Friedrichshaveu (Lake Constance) ;■ yesterday morning, and passed Basle, Strasbiirg, Darmstadt, and Mayeuce. The airship descended into, the Rhine at Oppenheim, after twelve hours travelling, owing to a defect in the gear. When this was remedied, the journey was resumed. At night the airship reached Stuttgart, where another descent was made. The journey to Lake Constance was to have been resumed, but the sudden destruction of the craft terminated it. While the airship, held by mooring ropes, was undergoing repairs at Kchterdiugen, on Wednesday afternoon, a sudden and violent thunderstorm struck the airship, blowing one of its cars into the air. When the car fell to the ground, its motor (driven by benzine) exploded, igniting the rest of the airship. Several soldiers, who were holding the car, were severely injured. The storm blew the blazing airship away, completing its destruction. Fifty thousand people witnessed the incident. When the blazing airship rose in the air, one of the mechanics in the car jumped from a considerable height, and was mortally injured. Others were badly burned. When he was informed of the destruction of his airship, Count Zeppelin burst into tears. Proiound sympathy is felt for the veteran inventor, and a movement is being organised to make him a great national gift. The Federal Government has decided to pay Count Zeppelin £25,000 compensation.