THE AIRSHIP L1.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9, 11 September 1913, Page 6

THE AIRSHIP Ll.

PAETICULAES OF THE DISASTEE

Dll OWNED LIKE EATS IX TEAP

[By Electric velkgraph—[United Fbias Association.] (Eeceived 11.45 a.m.) Berlin, September 10.

Details of the disaster to the airship LI show that she was manoemring with two aeroplanes when the •storm was sighted. The two aeroplanes fell and the airship made a | great effort to avoid the hurricane, j but her gear was unequal to the task |of coping with the whirlwind. When the storm struck, the envelope was largely deflated and therefore lacked its ordinary resisting power. Ballast was thrown out, and this destroyed her equilibrium. Wireless messages for help were sent off. When the airship was beaten down to the waves eighteen gas cells burst. Most of the crew were with the commander in the front car, which sank rapidly. The men in the after-car were all able to done salving suits, but all who were in the cabins were drowned like rats in a trap. The survivors sprang overboard and swam until picked up by torpedo boats, which had received the wireless message and had proceeded at full speed to the rescue. The airship will be salved to regain valuable apparatus.