219. Wreck of the Shenandoah

19
Wreck of the Shenandoah

En route from Lakehurst, New Jersey, to St. Louis, on September
3, 1925, the United States Navy dirigible airship Shenandoah, com-
manded by Lieutenant Commander Zachary Lansdowne, of Green-
ville, Ohio, was wrecked in a storm, near Caldwell, Ohio. Fourteen
of the crew were killed and two injured (New York Times, Septem-
ber 4, 1925, pp. 1-4). The wife of Captain Lansdowne is reported
to have said : "The mother of Lieutenant Lansdowne lives in Green-
ville, Ohio, not many miles from where he fell, and I feel sure he
had intended to circle her home." A dispatch from Dayton stated :
"Betty Ross Lansdowne arose early this morning, happy in the
thought that she would see her boy today. There came the news
that there had been an accident. . . . Mrs. Lansdowne collapsed.
Tonight her life hangs by a thread" (ibid). The following ballad
treats the disaster with journalistic precision.

'Wreck of the Shenandoah.' Contributed by Miss Mary Canada. Dur-
ham, March 1941.

 

I At four o'clock one evening
On a warm September's day

 

NATIVE AMERICAN

A great and mighty airship
From Lakehurst flew away.

2 The mighty Shenandoah,
The pride of all this land,
Her crew was of the bravest,
Captain Lansdowne in command.

3 At four o'clock next morning
The earth was far below
When a storm in all its fury
Gave her a fatal blow.

4 Her side was torn asunder,
Her cabin was torn down.

The captain and his brave men
Went crashing to the ground.

5 And fourteen lives were taken.
But they've not died in vain.
Their names will live forever
Within the hall of fame.

6 In the little town of Greenville
A mother's watchful eye
Was waiting for the airship,
To see her son go by.

7 Alas ! Her son lay sleeping ;
His last great flight was o'er.
He's gone to meet his Maker;
His ship will fly no more.