LIKE A ROMANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 22 July 1909, Page 4

LIKE A ROMANCE.

AIRSHIP’S LONG FLIGHT.

ZEPPELIN’S EXCITING EXPERIENCE.

Up to the last moment, says a Berlin message of 9th April, it was. doubtful whether the Zeppelin airship could start on its daring trip from Friedflchsbafen to Munich, a distance of 112 miles, which has so often been postponed. As the result of a conference, however, which Count Zeppelin held at 2 o’clock on Thursday morning with the airship’s staff, it was decided to make a start at five minutes past 4 o’clock that morning, when it was still dark. The vessel rose easily. In the cars were Count Zeppelin, Major Sperling, three officers, chief engineer, two engine hands, and a crew from the Army Balloon Corps. Special oriiers had been issued to officials at railway stations along the route that the stations should remain lighted all night, so as to show the aeronauts their way. In towns and villages en route the alarm bell was rung to apprise the inhabitants of the approach of the airship. The weather was dull and windy. At 9 o’clock the bells in Munich began to ring, a roar of cannon was heard, and five minutes later a hum of motors was audible, and the imperial airship approached the Exhibition Hall in a diagonal flight, about 300 ft in the air. It made a deviation to the south-

wards, . AND THEN STQOD STILL above the heads of the enormous multitude, which broke out into frenzied acclamations. The airship dipped her bows thrice before the Prince Regent, and then suddenly, quick as an arrow, rose 300 ft and glided off, passing broadside on the Town Hall and Frauerkirche to the palace, where Princess Marie Theresa and her daughter, standing on the roof of the Georgeenkappel, waved a salutation with their handkerchiefs. The airship then proceeded to the Oberwiesetfeld parade ground, but was driven by a violent south-westerly wind towards Oberfoehring. A military airship detachment was sent by railway to render assistance, and a cavalry detachment rode after, the balloon. Towards 8 o’clock the airship landed safely at Meder Vielbach, near Dingolfiug, Lower Bavaria. Count Zeppelin had previously dropped a note to the cavalry sent after him, requesting them to remain in the neighbourhood until the wind went down and enabled him to return to Munich. No damage was done, and no one was hurt.