Deutsch Daily Gatejuny
_ _ __MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS.__ _ _
VOLUME 20. NUMBER 237 SEWARD, ALASKA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1925 PRICE TEN CENTS
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Shenandoah Wrecked
Commander Lansdowne and Twelve Men Perish
Giant Army Dirigible Encounters Terrific Electrical Storm—Airship Breaks Into Three Pieces, One Section Drifting
for Twelve Miles Before Coming to Ground—Storm, the Kind Most Feared By Airmen Encountered While Trav
eling At An Elevation of Three Thousand Feet—Ship Immediately Rose to Five Thousand Feet Elevation, Where
v She Went to Pieces—Forty Men On Board Giant Dirigible When Accident Occurred.
1 *
BELLE VALLEY, 0., Sept. 3 —Twelve officers and
enlisted men, including Commander Zacehary Lansdowne,
in charge of the flight were killed here early this morning
when the giant dirigible Shenandoah fell to the ground
from a height of 3,000 feet, during a severe wind and elec
trical storm. The Shenandoah, according to reports, part
ed near a village called Ava. One part descended in a corn
field; the other part drifted easterly. The associated
Press death list include
COMMANDER Z. LANSDOWNE.
LIEUTENANT HOUGHTON.
LIEUTENANT LAWRENCE.
RADIO ENGINEER SNITZER.
LIEUT. COM. LOUIS HANCOCK.
MACHINIST MATES JEFFERY and MOORE.
DIRIGIBLE BREAKS IN THREE PIECES
CALDW'ELL, 0., Sept. 3—The Shenandoah fell in
three pieces near here, at 5 o’clock this morning. The air
ship struck an electrical squall, while traveling at an ele
vation of 3000 feet from Lakehurst, N. J., west. There
was no explosion but the vessel apparently collapsed from
• the force of its engines driving the ship against the wind.
The ship headed heavenward when it encountered the
storm and had reached an elevation of 5000 feet when it
suddenly broke asunder and came down in three pieces.
One piece 450 feet long came down in a field a half mile
from Avana. The compartment in which the commander
and crew were riding fell 50 feet away, and the third sec
tion 150 feet long drifted like a free balloon for 12 miles
landing near Sharon.
THIRTEEN REPORTED DEAD
* WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept, 3—Lieut. Commander
Charles E. Rosendahl, navigator and senior surviving offi
cer, reported to the Navy Department that 13 members of
the Shenandoah’s crew were killed, and two injured. Lieut.
E. W. Shepherd of Washington is unaccounted for. He
said the dead were Lieut. Com. Zachary Lansdowne, com
manding officer of Lakehurst, New Jersey, and second in
command Lieut. Com. Louis Hancock, executive officer,
of Austin, Texas, were killed. The other dead included
Lieut. J. B. Lawrence, senior watch officer of St, Paul;
* Lieut. A. R. Houghton, watch officer, of Allstone, Mass.
LANSDOWNE READY FOR DISCHARGE
NEW YORK, Sept. 3—Lieut. Com. Lansdowne told
friends a few days ago that he expected to be relieved of
his command of the Shenandoah after the midwestem
trip, and would return to sea duty September 15. His
transfer order reached him a week ago, and was received
'r with regret at Lakehust, where Lansdowne had taken the
keenest interest in the Shenandoah and had looked for
ward with great pleasure to the midwestern trip.
A list of those safe and unhurt includes Lieut. Roland
G. Mayer, of Seattle.
The enlisted men killed were Everett P. Allen, chief
rigger of Omaha, Neb.; Charles Broom, chief machinist
mate, of Toms River, New Jersey; James Cullihan avia
tion pilot, of Binghampton, New York; Ralph T. Joffrey,
.a rigging slinger of St. Louis; Celestino P. Mazzuco, ma
chinist mate, Savannah, Ga.; Bartholomew O'Sullivan,
machinist mate of Lowell, Mass.; George E. Schnitzer,
chief radio man, of Tuckerton, New Jersey; Wm. H.
Spratley, machinist mate, first class, St. Louis.
The injured were: Chief Gunner Raymond Cole, Ra
dio officer, of Lima, Ohio; John F. McCarthy, chief rigger
of Boston.
i
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BASEBALL
AMERICAN- C
Washington 8, Phila. 5.
New York 4, Boston 2.
NATIONAL
Phila. 6, 9, New York 3, 24.
Pittsburgh 8, Cincinnati 2.
Boston 4, Brooklyn 2.
COAST
Seattle 5, Los Angeles 10.
Vernon 5, Sacramento 4.
Oakland 2, Salt Lake 6.
Portland 3, 8, Frisco 4, 7.
SHENANDOAH STARTS FLIGHT
LAKEHURST, N. J., Sept. 3 (£>)—
The dirigible Shenandoah started its
westward flight last night, nosing its
way westward for a five day trip as
far as Minneapolis.
SHENANDOAH HIT
LIGHTNING BELIEF
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 3 (/P)—
The Moundsville, West Virginia, avi
ation field telegraphed to the Navy
Department, “The Shenandoah was
struck by lightning.
No Fault in Construction
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3 (/P)—No
fault in the construction or manage
ment of the Shenandoah caused the
disaster, Commander Ralph D. Wey
erbach, builder of the craft said.
Total Deaths Fourteen
BELLE VALLEY, O., Sept. 3 (£>)—
Sheppard died today making the total
number of deaths to date fourteen.
FLIGHT BE POSTPONED
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 3 (Jp)—
Secretary Wilbur ordered the flight of
the PB-1 postponed indefinitely.
Forty Men Aboard
LAKEHURST, N. J., Sept. 3 (£>)—
Authorities here report that forty men
constituted the crew of the ill fated
Shenandoah.
RELATIVES MEET
TO RECEIVE NEWS
LAKEHURST, N. J., Sept. 3 (JP)—
Official of the Navy Air service are
gathering the relatives of the Shen
andoah dead at the station to meet
the bodies of the dead crew. It was
planned to communicate the news to
all of them at the same time, but inti
mations were given the families' of the
men aboard the aircraft as to the se
riousness of the damage by the Asso
ciated Press.
No panic or hysterical outbursts
was observed as the families of the
victims gathered at the station to r&
the latest word through the Associa
ted Press.
J. L. Graef is making an addition
al apartment above his hardware es
tablishment which he expects to
have finished shortly.
Subscribe to The Daily Gateway.
NO WORD FROM
CREW OF PLANE
ADRIFT AT SEA
NAVAL VESSELS SEARCH OCEAN
AROUND HONOLULU FOR
TRACE OF PN-9, NO. 1
Hope Is Entertained
Plane May Have Drifted on Beach on
Some Uninhabited Island Naval
Authorities Believe
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 3 UP)—
No word has been heard of the sea
plane PN-9, No. 1, which radiod night
before last that it was descending into
a storm swept sea about 300 miles
from Honolulu, out of gas.
The theory has been advanced that
the seaplane PN-8, No. 1, lit in the
sea less than 300 miles off the Hono
lulu coast and that it has drifted on
some uninhabited beach at some iso
lated point.
Naval Planes Join in Search
LAHAINA, Island of Maui, T. H.,
Sept. 3 (/P)—Three naval seaplanes
took off at break of dawn on an all
day search for the missing seaplane, !
PN-9, No. 1. The first message from
the rescuing planes reported clearing j
weather and a calm sea. Six subma- j
rines, three destroyers and other craft
are steaming out in fan formation to
help search for the endangered avia
tors. Throughout the night destroyers
steamed in gradually widening circles,
but without avail.
A scout plane was launched off the
mother ship Aroostook at sea at 4
o’clock this morning.
- 1
Damaged Plane Returns Port
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3 (£>)—PN.
9, No. 3, in tow of the destroyer Jones
arrived off Crissy Field at 8 o’clock
this morning after being forced down
Monday 300 miles out at sea. Lieut.
Allan Snody, commander, and crew of
four were unhurt. They remained in
the plane during the tow home, and
expect to complete repair by tomor
row. Snody announced:
“We are ready to make another start
tomorrow if ordered.”
Mechanics are devoting their efforts
to remedy the breaking oil feed lines
which downed No. 1 on its flight here
from San Diego, PB 1, on its test
flight from Seattle, and No. 3 at sea.
Last Message from Missing Crew
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2 (£>)—'The
last message interpreted from miss
ing seaplane No. 1 last night said:
“We will crack up if we have to land
in this rough sea without motive pow
er.” The plane was asked by the S.
S. Tanager, “Are you in this hellish
rain too?” When an hour had passed
aftar the receipt of this message the
Aroostook ordered the nearest ships
to leave their fixed stations and go to
the rescue.
HONOLULU, T. H., Sept. 3 (^P)—
Confidence of naval officers is unshak
en over the discovery of seaplane PN
9, No. 1, and they will continue the
search until every drop of water in
the area prescribed has been search
ed over. All available ships are en
gaged in the search, and throughout
the night a patrol will be established.
One of the patrol planes was forced
down near Maui and towed to port.
Wilbur Orders Flight Postponed
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3 (£»)—'The
trans-pacific flight of PB-1 has been
indefinitely postponed due to weather
and orders received from Secretary
Wilbur.
RAILWAYPROBLEM
HOLD ATTENTION
NEXT CONGRESS
ADMINISTRATION DETERMINED
TO FORCE CONSOLIDATION
OF RAILWAY INTERESTS
SWAMPSCOTT. Mass., Sept. 3 (£>)—
Railroad legislation will be placed on
the administration calendar at the
next session of Congress, it was stat
ed by President Coolidge, after a con
ference with Chairman Watson of Indi
ana, head of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Coolidge believes that
consolidation of the railroad lines of
the nation will solve the problems of
industry, and hopes that consolidation
will be accomplished voluntarily, but
is determined to force the issue of
compulsory consolidation in any event.
UNITED STATES WILL CARRY
OUT IS OBLIGATIONS CHINA
DETROIT. Sept. 3, (/P)—’The United
States will carry out scrupulously its
obligations and promises to China,
made at the Washington Armament
conference Frank Kellogg, Secretary
of State, told the American Bar Asso
ciation. At the same time China will
be required to protect foreigners and
their property, Kellogg asserted.
NEW HALIBUT
BANKS FOUND
SEATTLE, Sept. 3 (vP)—American
Consul W’akefield of Prince Rupert
reported to the Seattle office today
that a schooner had arrived in port
July 21 with 8,000 pounds of halibut,,
and reported new banks discovered
off Sanak Island. These banks are
declared to be equidistant between
Seattle and Prince Rupert.
• \
The steamer Starr left port this ’
morning at 11:15 o'clock on a special
trip to Anchorage and Seldovia.
Upon her return from Knights Isl- .
and she will depart on the regular,*
Westward run, her present sailing i
time out of Seward being Septem
ber* 14.
The Seaplane Seward is reported to.
be harboring at Kodiak, making -
flights for the localers in that thrive
ing Island town. While there, the .'
intrepid men are gathing informations
relative to making regular calls at
that place.