IWISTED and battered the metal framework of the Hindenburg, the giant German trans-Atlantic dirigible, which broke into flames after an exposition here last night, yielded the charred bodies of several score victitns early this morning.
Although at first it was believed that every one of the 97 persons on board had met death, general representatives of the Zeppelin Ca. issued revised passenger and crew lists at 7 o'clock this morning disclosing that 31 persons were known dead or unaccounted for while 66 others had survived, 'The condition of the victims' bodies, and the fact that some of the dead were removed to hospitals with the injured, made an exact estimate impossible.
It also was impossible to determine immediately the number of deaths which occurred in hospitals. Some of the witnesses reported that some members of the ground crew must also have perished, in addition to members of the dirigible's crew and passengers.
The airship was completing its first crossing of the ocean this season, and was due to arrive at its terminus here at 6 pin. yes~ terday.
The Hindenburg, however, flew over Manzatlan to ride out a thunder-storm, As the airship approached the Lokehurst_mooring-mast, a terrible explosion occurred, after which the entire craft was enveloped in flames before the eyes of several hundred persons who had gathered at the field to greet the arrival of the ship. Many screamed hysterically as the slant craft burst into flames, A minor Dinst followed the rst explosion as the flames licked the dirigible's fabric covering. The fire broke out as the Hindenburg was 200 feet off the Ground, The explosion was so tremendous that it lit up the entire Janding eld, Some of the passengers and crew saved. themselves by jumping from the big silver bag that was filled with inflammable hydrogen, Others we pulled out of the blazing wreckage "by heroic sailors of the Naval Air School who dashed to the rescue while the girders still glowed red with heat.
'AL735 p.m, the frame-work of the ship was lying on the ground a quarter of a mile from the hangar and 400 yards north of is mooring-mast. By & pin, half of the ship was still obscured by thick clouds of smoke, while the remainder was a mass of hot, twisted girders, Motorists mean-ville jam the" highways Te to the alr 'Amember of the dlrgible' crew leved the explosion had Ughtning striking the ship, but the majority of witnesses believed that something inside the craft had exploded.
'A high naval official informed the United Press that a "hydrogen explosion" caused the fire, Capt, Ernst Lehmann, previous commander of the Hindenbur, on board the craft to commander, Capt, Max Prus. Both were reporied to be among the sur vivors, but were said to have been badly burned, 'The ship carried 240 Wb, of freight, 240 1b, of mail and tone ton of passengers' baggage—United Press.
Reich Will Carry On lin, Mey 8.
Col, Gen, Herman Goering, German Alr Minster and Prime Minister of Prussia, to-day issued a manifesto to 'aN German aviators asserting that hig confidence In dirigibles remains unshaken by the Hindenburg disaster.
"Now more than ever," the manifesto stated, "twe shall do everything possible to' definitely establish alr rame between Germany and the United States. Wo are sure that the United States will assist us In achiev-
Ing this rear task."—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.