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70-15 verman crew, who was serving in the capacity of helmsman, as well as Rudolf Sauter, who held the position of Chief Engineer, had stat- ed at the time of the catastrophe they were gccupying positions in the stern of the ship and they were located nosr the lower rudder. " Accordiag to their testinony, the first evidence that they had that anything was wrong on board the ‘i:indenburg was when they noticed a glow that appesred in the gas shaft that separates gas cells #4 and #5. They testified, further, that immediately after the appearance of this glow, which reminded them of a Japanese lan- tern, the entire section of cells #4 and #5 seemed to burst, and in- mediately flames enveloped the entire stern. This is the first testimony that was given before the Board of Inquiry that had shown a definite origin for the fire, and this, therefore, placed‘the fire as definitely beginning in the gas shaft located between cells # and 35. There are sixteen gas cells in the superstructure of the airship. Each oell is filled with hydrogen gas, and through the uss of this hydrogen gas the airship obtains its lifting powar. For the eirsnip to lose altitude, it is necessary that this hydrogen gar be valvec of f co that the airship may cain weight and lose some of its buoyancy. In order to valve off this gas, there is located in each ges chamber what is called a maneuvering valve, as well as an auto- matic value. The sutomatic valve is a valve that is more or less of a safety device and operates only as a result of pressure within the gas chamber, as, for instance, in the event the gas cell becomes too full of hydrogen, the safety device will then function, end enough gas will be valved off through the automatic vaive so that the gas within the gas cell will again be maintained at its normal pressure. The maneuvering valve is the valve that is operated by the operator of the ship to cause the ship to lose altitude, and the maneuvering valve is controlled by apparatus which is located in the control car. The position of both the maneuvering valve and the automatic value is conveniently located along what is called the axial girder, upon which is placed the axial catwalk. This axial catwalk runs the entire length of the superstructure of the ship. Vnen the gas is valved off through the ges shaft, it pro- ceeds upward into the air through the shaft, which is covered by whet is called the shaft hood. Commander Rosendahl] explained that the shaft is open to the air at the top of the superstructure of the Hin- denburg, and naturally there is air in the shaft itself. He also ex-