{"id":82,"date":"2023-11-28T20:53:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T20:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/?p=82"},"modified":"2023-12-07T20:47:25","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T20:47:25","slug":"hail-the-hindenburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/hail-the-hindenburg\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hydrogenous Hindenburg"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Written by Aiden Mably<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Long before my leave, I traveled all throughout Europe seeing the true wonders of the world. Yet, the time had come when the world felt too small, and I direly needed to spread my wings if I was to truly fly. Aviation had been quite wonderous sounding as I looked to explore even more of the world. Leaving behind so much of what I knew at a young age, I felt as though I was leaving even more behind as I left for the United States. It was a rather pleasant Monday with few clouds in the sky and a cool spring breeze that lightly swept up and down the streets. The sun wasn\u2019t to set for three or so hours, leaving the port in a dazzling light rather than the unsightly appearance it normally held. I had taken a cab about midday with a very pleasant fellow who struck up a conversation about my travels. I could reveal little truth, yet it was a pleasant little interaction nonetheless. In no time at all, we arrived, I bid my farewell, and I entered the line before me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cSir? Excuse me, sir, but can you please step forward?\u201d I was hardly awake as this robustly loud man beckoned me toward the beginning of the steps. I lost track of the time while waiting in line for what felt like ages, yet it was really only a short while. Contradictory to the awareness I held with the cab driver, taking leave from being busy allowed me to fall into a more dormant state of mind. It had been a very lengthy and cumbersome night previously that I truly had not yet recovered from. With frighteningly little sleep and forgetting to pack any Earl Grey for my expenditure, I merely fancied at this point to get on and subsequently fall into a deep slumber. My morning consisted of me omitting elevenses from my routine, which put me in a bit of a mood at the time of my boarding, As I approached the gondola, the vehement man asked to see my passport and ticket hurriedly, as the time was quickly approaching two o\u2019clock in the afternoon. The passport had been a possession of mine for quite some time as I traveled frequently, but the ticket was rather difficult to obtain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         First hearing of the North American transatlantic flight from the boisterous posters and propaganda claiming freedom from seasickness, I gave the idea some consideration before seeking a ticket for myself. I was traveling to the U.S. for business and since the Hindenburg had previous flights crossing the Atlantic in just 43 hours, the idea had become more and more enticing as I looked at different means of transport. While Zeppelins were known much more by the mail they carried, passenger flights seemed alright and I eventually reached my decision to purchase a ticket. I rang the airline back in early April, but figuring out the details and actually receiving the ticket was a bit of a mess. The ticket cost 72 Reichsmarks, which is by no means inexpensive. I did finally get my hands on it though, and set forward my plans for arriving at Frankfurt. Thankfully I was only a few miles away, so I only required a cab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Even though I was dozing off a bit in line, I took note of the bustling Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei G.m.b.H. and the sheer number of people present. Much busier than I anticipated, people had flocked from all over just to watch the ship depart, even though the port itself appeared rather unsophisticated. The ship itself, however, was nothing short of a marvel and was the peak of luxury at the time. Spanning two hundred and forty-five meters long and over 40 meters tall, this massive ship had two decks for passengers such as myself to use. The upper A deck was filled with twenty-five, two-passenger cabins, a large dining room, a lounge, and more. The lower B deck was used more so by the crew, but it contained the washrooms with the toilets and a smoking lounge beyond the bar. The majority of the ship was filled with gas cells containing hydrogen, which were used as a means of fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         After the brief interaction I held with the man checking the tickets, I entered the gondola of the ship and was in a state of awe as the entirety of the event struck me. Washed with the realization that this ship would fly with me in it, the grandiose interior left me utterly gobsmacked. The ornate furnishings were very clean and held a picturesque ensemble of furniture nicely paired with maps and paintings along the walls. I partook in a short tour of the ship so I could locate where everything was, then promptly traveled to my room for some leisure time. Although we were recommended to spend time in the public areas as opposed to the cramped cabins, I needed some time to recuperate. Not long after I arrived in the quaint room, I curled up in the lower bed of the two and began to read. I woke up with my face against the wall and the book lying beside me. Not as uncomfortable as expected, my lengthy slumber lasted for a good ten hours or so. I stretched a bit thereafter and rose to leave the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         When I left the room, I could hear the light banter coming from the dining hall and social lounge. Although it was one in the morning, time was not exactly the same on the Hindenburg. While long slanted windows ran along the upper and lower decks, the lighting inside the ship resolved any quarrel with the time of day. Although many of us passengers were well awake at this hour, the dining room was not open for food. Thankfully, I was not very hungry and I decided to acquaint myself with others at the bar. The bar was separated from the rest of the ship with a double-door airlock. Since the smoking room was attached to the bar with a pressurized entrance, the risks of any Hydrogen leaks or flammability for the ship were minimized. So, I walked down the stairs to the lower deck from my room and walked to the bar from there. Only a couple of people were present at the time, so I decided to approach the bartender. \u201cWhat can I do you for\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cJust a Maybach 12 for now kind sir\u201d I replied. \u201cPardon my inquiry, but I have been asleep for a while and was wondering how things have been going over the past few hours. Anything notable?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cNothing of too much importance, I did have a fellow who started a fight with a man named Fritz Erdmann. I only knew of his name as he was a Colonel in the German Air Ministry whom I had spoken previously.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         I responded, \u201cOh my, sounds like skirmishes can\u2019t be evaded, even up in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \u201cNo sir, they cannot. That\u2019s for certain\u201d he chuckled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         I then asked, \u201cDo you recall the man who started the fight?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         He paused for a moment, then said \u201cHe was a young man by the name of Erich I believe, he works on the ship, but I am not sure what he does.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cPeculiar\u201d I replied, as I had never heard of either participant in the quarrel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cAnyways, how\u2019s your flight been so far, sir?\u201d the bartender asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cPlease don\u2019t call me sir, the name\u2019s George Grant, and you are?\u201d I interjected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cOh, of course, that\u2019s where I recognized you from. I\u2019ve heard all about your casework in the news. You are certainly an exceptional agent from what I\u2019ve read.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cThank you, I\u2019m glad that some still perceive me as a man aiming to help others and not a monster.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         As soon as I finished expressing my gratitude, he answered my question with \u201cMy name\u2019s Max Schulze, glad to make your acquaintance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         I said, \u201csame here.\u201d At this point, he slid me my drink and returned to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         I got up to talk to some others in the bar and approached an awfully nervous-looking woman. \u201cExcuse me ma\u2019am but I can\u2019t help noticing your apparent freight. Is something troubling you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cYes, there absolutely is. I just received news from my husband that this flight is cursed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          She was talking awfully fast and I let her continue. \u201cMy husband, Hermann, was talking with some other Merchants and one of them heard that there was extra security on this flight. When he inquired further as to why, he was told that the captain was warned of a saboteur! The plane could come down at any moment and there\u2019s nothing we can do. We\u2019re all going to die!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         At this point she began sobbing and I did my best to console her. A good two minutes later, she was a bit more calm, and I told her, \u201cDo not fret, if the captain was worried about this threat being real, we would never have set off in the first place. Even as it is, there is so much security on here in ratio to us passengers that anything suspicious will be caught in an instant.\u201d I only partially believed myself, but now I was much more alert as to my surroundings and made a note to not let my guard down. I have been in many more dire situations than this and not once have I been bested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cThank you for your kind words sir\u201d replied the woman.<\/ins>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cPlease, call me George\u201d I insisted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cMy pleasure, and my name\u2019s Matilda. Please George, if you see anything at all, promise you\u2019ll let me know.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cOf course\u201d I said, and took my leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         I spent the next day wandering around the ship, taking notice of the people I had met. All the while, I was on the lookout for any signs of sabotage. I had met with a man named Anton Wittemann who was one of the six captains on board. He explained how the German Embassy in the US had received a threatening letter that warned of sabotage, but Captain Ernst Lehmann had found actionable evidence lacking in the vague threat and thought it was more a way to cause paranoia.  Even though he thought the risk minimal, he still made sure that additional security was on board for the safety of the guests. The ship had been inspected by some of the top engineers including chief officer Rudolf Sauter as well as officer Wilhelm Dimmler. I spoke later in the day to a group of engine mechanics including Walter Bahnholzer and some others I don\u2019t remember the names of. They said everything so far has been quite sound and smooth, with nothing of any alarm. Besides officers and crewmen, I also conversed with the merchants who alarmed Matilda, a man named Ernst Rudolf Anders and a man named Hermann Doehner, Matilda\u2019s husband. I warned them of the state I left Matilda in and advised that they try to calm her down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Besides the conversations I held, I ate plenty of delicious food including some clam soup and a nice hearty salad with many toppings and a creamy dressing. I finished the book I was reading and played some solitaire. While many do not know of my secret obsession with sweaters, I spent most of the day knitting for those I have met amongst my travels as I try to help those with the traumas they have faced. Although many consider me a monster due to sensationalism, I genuinely do everything in my power to aid those in the mysterious and catastrophic events that they face. The days flew by with many lovely conversations and a hole in my stomach that I wished some Earl Grey would have filled. I slept an oddly large amount, likely out of boredom and simply the exhaustion I had. Before I knew it, the sun was high in the sky and it was Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cWe\u2019ll be landing in an hour. Please begin gathering your belongings,\u201d announced Captain Wittemann. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         I was already finished packing the few belongings I had and packaging the sweaters so as to not draw attention to my knitting. I found myself in the lounge doing some light reading and struck up some conversation with Matilda about her flight. \u201cI take it there\u2019s been no sign of issue since the last I spoke with you.\u201d It had only been an hour since we spoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cI don\u2019t know, someone on the upper deck looked at me all peculiar and I swear they seemed awfully malicious.\u201d She had not left the room in the past hour. I responded by asking, \u201cyou haven\u2019t been using your call button too much today though, have you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cNo, no, of course not, only six times or so.\u201d I found this very humorous. As I was turning back to one of the books I left unpacked, a gunshot-like sound pierced through the room as the door slammed open and smacked against the wall with little Werner falling through the doorway. As Werner Doehner was Matilda\u2019s eight-year-old son, she let out a shrill shriek as soon as she realized what was happening. Barely conscious, the boy was in a delirious state and trembling like an earthquake. Everyone was struck with a paralyzing fear from what was happening, but immediately I stirred from my seat and sent someone in the room for the ship\u2019s doctor. I turned the boy onto his side as he began vomiting all across the floor as it spewed from his mouth. Chunks from the luncheon were quite visible as they pooled on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The doctor, Kurt Rudiger, arrived in a flash and knelt down in front of the boy to examine his situation. I too was puzzled as to why the boy was suffering from such severe symptoms. The boy began settling down as Dr. Rudiger worked his magic and began questioning the boy to determine the cause. \u201cHave you eaten anything unusual today or done anything strenuous?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cNo\u201d replied Werner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The doctor then asked, \u201ccan you describe how you\u2019ve been feeling throughout the day and what you\u2019ve done the past few hours?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cI\u2019ve been sleeping for a while and felt fine, but I was going to look for my mommy and got lost. I felt good all day. I walked a while and went into a room with all sorts of machines and smoke. It was all icky and smelled like toots, so I left real fast. I started feeling bad and looked for mommy more and more. I felt worse and worse and badder than I did earlier, before I fell through that door. I sure is lucky.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The doctor then went deep into thought as to what this could be. Talking out loud, he said, \u201cThis illness is so sudden, the reasons are certainly limited.\u201d I too was thinking of any reasons and remembered a case I worked on back in London where a young girl had been in an equally perilous state after she was poisoned from the air near an engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cI believe I know what this is. Hydrogen Sulfide poisoning. I\u2019ve seen this once before.\u201d While I couldn\u2019t be certain yet, it was my best bet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cI think you\u2019re right\u201d the doctor replied. \u201cWe must search the ship and nearby gas cells for a leak. But where could the sulfur be coming from?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The doctor continued to tend to Werner while a few of the ship\u2019s staff and I looked for the cause of this terrible incident. I had experience in the matter and they knew of my past work, so they allowed me to follow along. Although they were wary of the accusations I faced due to poor timing and allegations from those who had lost someone, this crew had enough trust due to my interactions in the previous days and learned a bit about who I actually am. Many do not understand some of my cases, with the biggest scandal being Herbert Rowse Armstrong\u2019s murders back in December of 1921. A very polar subject, many considered me a monster as lines were blurred between his actions and mine. With that on top of other disruptive cases, my name has been tarnished with blood in the public eye. Not everyone associates me to the terrible deeds that others do, as there is still much evidence as well as the truth of what happened that justifies my cause. With the emergency of the time requiring prompt alertness and quick action, there was little choice but for me to follow along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Shortly after the start of the search, Wilhelm Dimmler called out to the rest of us that he found the leak. We entered the compartment and sure enough, gas was spewing all over the room and encompassing the tight space. Immediately, Captain Wittemann took charge and began giving orders for the plan of action. \u201cSweep through the bottom deck and then knock on the doors to the upper deck to warn everyone we will be touching down early. Do not forget the smoke room and the washrooms as this is an emergency. I will go up to warn the captains and staff and take emergency action so that we can safely land. Now go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Everyone dispersed and began carrying out these orders as fast as they could. I stayed behind however to discover the source of the Sulfur. While the Hydrogen Sulfide poisoning could sweep through the body of an eight-year-old frighteningly fast, it would take a bit longer for the effects to run their course on me. I tied the handkerchief that I carried with me around my mouth and began my search. I did not have long to search, so I started from top to bottom, looking for anything out of place. While there were many machines and pipes running through the room, I found some thick and slick black goo in just a few minutes. Upon further inspection, this was definitely some petroleum. This was quite peculiar as this ship did not use petroleum as the fuel needed to be quite light to achieve flight, and it definitely should not have been spread along the wall of this room. Smeared in an X shape, the tar-like substance almost blended into the wall, but could just be made out. In the distance, I heard screaming from those on board as they panicked, likely much of which came from Matilda. Before I exited, I took one last glance at the leak and took note of the way the tear was formed. Mostly in a straight, long line, it was hard to tell what caused the tear, but after close examination, I had my answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         As the case was very heavily time-sensitive, I ran down to the Gondola where the captains were hurriedly trying to smooth things over. On the way down, I passed by a horrendous sight of people running through the hallways, tightly clutching their belongings and panicking all the while. When I did reach the captains, I tried to figure out where we stood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cWe\u2019ve made contact with residents of Silverton New Jersey. Although not far from Lakehurst, where we would have landed, it is the soonest we can land safely. They are organizing a ground crew to help us bring the ship down there. We should be able to touch down as soon as 5 minutes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         \u201cSounds like a solid plan, let me know if I can be of any more help,\u201d I said. I departed the room and helped others gather their things as I gathered my own. Everyone made their way down to the gondola where the exit was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The groundcrew was a mix of the original groundcrew who would\u2019ve helped in Lakehurst and the townspeople of Silverton. As soon as they got word, some of those in Lakehurst drove over as fast as they could. The thrashing wind was whipping through the crew, nearly knocking a few of them over. Those on board aided in lowering the ropes which those on the ground then picked up as they went into position. The raging storm was relentless, practically drowning out the issue at hand with the sound of hail and thunder. One of the passengers must have prematurely opened the door to exit, and we all felt the full force of the storm outside. As the ship began its descent, a blinding light flashed from all around, followed by a deafening boom. The ship jolted harshly as it took the full impact from the strike of lightning. Even over the howling wind and rain, we could hear the screaming from below. Picking up on them saying \u201cfire,\u201d those on board were sent into a desperate panic. With screaming cries all around me, I looked at how close we were to the ground and waited. Only a few moments passed before people began jumping. At this point, we were close enough that jumping and running was likely our best bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         A second explosion happened as people were jumping, this one much larger than the first. I recall feeling the heat as the entire ship was enveloped by flames. It was a strange sight looking back on it, with the rain hitting the flames. Yet, this was no ordinary explosion, and no ordinary fire. The ship eventually made contact quite roughly with the ground. Sliding into the mud, the majority of the ship was disintegrated in just moments. As people found each other in the field of people, the last people to depart the ship were the captains. Going for a quick headcount, everyone was accounted for and all had made it off the ship safely. Relieved as I was, I took note of just how quickly the very fabric of the Zeppelin melted away, leaving the barren metal bars behind. With not much to look back on, people cried in the rain for what could have been and what they had just been through. A few were injured from hitting others as they jumped and the impact with the ground, but for the most part everyone was okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         As far as the cause of the hydrogen gas slit in the gas cell, I had already pieced together who did it. I surveyed the ground to make sure no one was leaving, but found young Erich Spehl slowly slipping away. I lifted up my leg so as to trip him and he faceplanted directly into the mud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         The authorities were already on the scene, as I had notified them previously of the situation. Before Captain Wittemann left the scene of the crime, the leaking gas slit, I quickly told him to make sure the police are waiting on the ground for a man with the description of Spehl. When the captains contacted those in New Jersey, he complied. Thankfully, he did as I asked and did not waste time asking questions. I called for the police after I helped Spehl make contact with the ground, and they came running over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         They asked me, \u201cwhy is this man the cause of what we just witnessed?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Then, I explained. \u201cI have been keeping my eye on any and all suspicious behavior on the ship as I acquainted myself with those on board. I first heard of Spehl because of his quarrel with Colonel Fritz Erdmann. Their argument piqued my interest as I did not expect any fights to occur on this trip. Wanting to meet both of these men in person, I sought them out on Tuesday and discovered the reason for their fighting. Colonel Erdmann explained that Spehl was enraged by his Nazi background, thus Spehl started screaming at him and began the fight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Later, when I met the young rigger, Spehl was very disapproving of the Nazis. While I, myself do not love the power they hold, I removed myself from what was happening and listened to Spehl discuss his hatred. Spehl was very drunk at the time and explained his plans to mess with the ship\u2019s fuel. Because his ramblings were very outrageous, I did not think he would be dumb enough to go through with it. Yet, Spehl mentioned his fianc\u00e9, Marta Brandstiftung whom I had run into in a previous case. She was known for the damage she left in her campaign against the Nazis. I realized this a bit too late, and pieced it together when I found the petroleum in a faint X on the wall. Marta had played this move before, but always evaded capture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         While Spehl did not know this, Marta always worked solo and likely placed the petroleum on the ship long before it took off. She had told Spehl exactly where to make the slit and hoped that it would be discovered. As Spehl had used a knife and was stupid enough to explain his intentions when he was drunk\u2014as he oftentimes was, it could easily have been traced to him, sending him to his demise once he was discovered. Why Marta wanted Spehl imprisoned is a mystery, but so is every other man she has framed. The police took all of this in and found probable cause to hold Spehl in prison until he could be properly convicted. Although Marta has justifications for fighting the nazis and what they stand for, I never understood why she would go as far as killing civilians and framing innocent men. While I did not always find those she framed innocent, many of them were, and that is where Marta and I had our differences. Despite the public eye seeing me as a criminal, I have never brought the innocent into the atrocities I have seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Although everyone walked away from the incident relatively unscathed, except Spehl who was imprisoned, the Nazis still deemed the aircraft as more dangerous than it was useful and discontinued their use in the war. It has been many years since that day, and I am now happily invested in my work here in the States. With the Second World War behind us, everyone seems to have finally taken even the slightest sigh of relief. While Marta was never captured, she quit her crimes after the fall of the Nazi regime and was not heard from again. As I now lay back recounting this tale while sipping my absolutely delectable Earl Grey, I do have slight remorse for what happened to Spehl as to how inequitably unaware he was of how he was played. To this day, Marta\u2019s course of action remains somewhat of a mystery to me, but I have found peace nonetheless.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Aiden Mably          Long before my leave, I traveled all throughout Europe seeing the true wonders of the world. Yet, the time had come when the world felt too small, and I direly needed to spread my wings if I was to truly fly. Aviation had been quite wonderous sounding as I looked to explore even more of the world. Leaving behind so much of what I knew at a young age, I felt as though I was leaving even more behind as I left for the United States. It was a rather pleasant Monday with few clouds in the sky and a cool spring breeze that lightly swept up and down the streets. The sun wasn\u2019t to set for three or so hours, leaving the port in a dazzling light rather than the unsightly appearance it normally held. I had taken a cab about midday with a very pleasant fellow who struck up a conversation about my travels. I could reveal little truth, yet it was a pleasant little interaction nonetheless. In no time at all, we arrived, I bid my farewell, and I entered the line before me.          \u201cSir? Excuse me, sir, but can you please step forward?\u201d I was hardly awake as this robustly loud man beckoned me toward the beginning of the steps. I lost track of the time while waiting in line for what felt like ages, yet it was really only a short while. Contradictory to the awareness I held with the cab driver, taking leave from being busy allowed me to fall into a more dormant state of mind. It had been a very lengthy and cumbersome night previously that I truly had not yet recovered from. With frighteningly little sleep and forgetting to pack any Earl Grey for my expenditure, I merely fancied at this point to get on and subsequently fall into a deep slumber. My morning consisted of me omitting elevenses from my routine, which put me in a bit of a mood at the time of my boarding, As I approached the gondola, the vehement man asked to see my passport and ticket hurriedly, as the time was quickly approaching two o\u2019clock in the afternoon. The passport had been a possession of mine for quite some time as I traveled frequently, but the ticket was rather difficult to obtain.          First hearing of the North American transatlantic flight from the boisterous posters and propaganda claiming freedom from seasickness, I gave the idea some consideration before seeking a ticket for myself. I was traveling to the U.S. for business and since the Hindenburg had previous flights crossing the Atlantic in just 43 hours, the idea had become more and more enticing as I looked at different means of transport. While Zeppelins were known much more by the mail they carried, passenger flights seemed alright and I eventually reached my decision to purchase a ticket. I rang the airline back in early April, but figuring out the details and actually receiving the ticket was a bit of a mess. The ticket cost 72 Reichsmarks, which is by no means inexpensive. I did finally get my hands on it though, and set forward my plans for arriving at Frankfurt. Thankfully I was only a few miles away, so I only required a cab.          Even though I was dozing off a bit in line, I took note of the bustling Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei G.m.b.H. and the sheer number of people present. Much busier than I anticipated, people had flocked from all over just to watch the ship depart, even though the port itself appeared rather unsophisticated. The ship itself, however, was nothing short of a marvel and was the peak of luxury at the time. Spanning two hundred and forty-five meters long and over 40 meters tall, this massive ship had two decks for passengers such as myself to use. The upper A deck was filled with twenty-five, two-passenger cabins, a large dining room, a lounge, and more. The lower B deck was used more so by the crew, but it contained the washrooms with the toilets and a smoking lounge beyond the bar. The majority of the ship was filled with gas cells containing hydrogen, which were used as a means of fuel.          After the brief interaction I held with the man checking the tickets, I entered the gondola of the ship and was in a state of awe as the entirety of the event struck me. Washed with the realization that this ship would fly with me in it, the grandiose interior left me utterly gobsmacked. The ornate furnishings were very clean and held a picturesque ensemble of furniture nicely paired with maps and paintings along the walls. I partook in a short tour of the ship so I could locate where everything was, then promptly traveled to my room for some leisure time. Although we were recommended to spend time in the public areas as opposed to the cramped cabins, I needed some time to recuperate. Not long after I arrived in the quaint room, I curled up in the lower bed of the two and began to read. I woke up with my face against the wall and the book lying beside me. Not as uncomfortable as expected, my lengthy slumber lasted for a good ten hours or so. I stretched a bit thereafter and rose to leave the room.          When I left the room, I could hear the light banter coming from the dining hall and social lounge. Although it was one in the morning, time was not exactly the same on the Hindenburg. While long slanted windows ran along the upper and lower decks, the lighting inside the ship resolved any quarrel with the time of day. Although many of us passengers were well awake at this hour, the dining room was not open for food. Thankfully, I was not very hungry and I decided to acquaint myself with others at the bar. The bar was separated from the rest of the ship with a double-door airlock. Since the smoking room was attached to the bar with a pressurized entrance, the risks of any Hydrogen leaks or flammability for the ship were minimized. So, I walked down the stairs to the lower deck from my room and walked to the bar from there. Only a couple of people were present at the time, so I decided to approach the bartender. \u201cWhat can I do you for\u201d he said.          \u201cJust a Maybach 12 for now kind sir\u201d I replied. \u201cPardon my inquiry, but I have been asleep for a while and was wondering how things have been going over the past few hours. Anything notable?\u201d          \u201cNothing of too much importance, I did have a fellow who started a fight with a man named Fritz Erdmann. I only knew of his name as he was a Colonel in the German Air Ministry whom I had spoken previously.\u201d          I responded, \u201cOh my, sounds like skirmishes can\u2019t be evaded, even up in the air.\u201d           \u201cNo sir, they cannot. That\u2019s for certain\u201d he chuckled.          I then asked, \u201cDo you recall the man who started the fight?\u201d          He paused for a moment, then said \u201cHe was a young man by the name of Erich I believe, he works on the ship, but I am not sure what he does.\u201d          \u201cPeculiar\u201d I replied, as I had never heard of either participant in the quarrel.          \u201cAnyways, how\u2019s your flight been so far, sir?\u201d the bartender asked.          \u201cPlease don\u2019t call me sir, the name\u2019s George Grant, and you are?\u201d I interjected.          \u201cOh, of course, that\u2019s where I recognized you from. I\u2019ve heard all about your casework in the news. You are certainly an exceptional agent from what I\u2019ve read.\u201d          \u201cThank you, I\u2019m glad that some still perceive me as a man aiming to help others and not a monster.\u201d          As soon as I finished expressing my gratitude, he answered my question with \u201cMy name\u2019s Max Schulze, glad to make your acquaintance.\u201d          I said, \u201csame here.\u201d At this point, he slid me my drink and returned to work.          I got up to talk to some others in the bar and approached an awfully nervous-looking woman. \u201cExcuse me ma\u2019am but I can\u2019t help noticing your apparent freight. Is something troubling you?\u201d          \u201cYes, there absolutely is. I just received news from my husband that this flight is cursed!\u201d           She was talking awfully fast and I let her continue. \u201cMy husband, Hermann, was talking with some other Merchants and one of them heard that there was extra security on this flight. When he inquired further as to why, he was told that the captain was warned of a saboteur! The plane could come down at any moment and there\u2019s nothing we can do. We\u2019re all going to die!\u201d          At this point she began sobbing and I did my best to console her. A good two minutes later, she was a bit more calm, and I told her, \u201cDo not fret, if the captain was worried about this threat being real, we would never have set off in the first place. Even as it is, there is so much security on here in ratio to us passengers that anything suspicious will be caught in an instant.\u201d I only partially believed myself, but now I was much more alert as to my surroundings and made a note to not let my guard down. I have been in many more dire situations than this and not once have I been bested.          \u201cThank you for your kind words sir\u201d replied the woman.\u201d          \u201cPlease, call me George\u201d I insisted.          \u201cMy pleasure, and my name\u2019s Matilda. Please George, if you see anything at all, promise you\u2019ll let me know.\u201d          \u201cOf course\u201d I said, and took my leave.          I spent the next day wandering around the ship, taking notice of the people I had met. All the while, I was on the lookout for any signs of sabotage. I had met with a man named Anton Wittemann who was one of the six captains on board. He explained how the German Embassy in the US had received a threatening letter that warned of sabotage, but Captain Ernst Lehmann had found actionable evidence lacking in the vague threat and thought it was more a way to cause paranoia.  Even though he thought the risk minimal, he still made sure that additional security was on board for the safety of the guests. The ship had been inspected by some of the top engineers including chief officer Rudolf Sauter as well as officer Wilhelm Dimmler. I spoke later in the day to a group of engine mechanics including Walter Bahnholzer and some others I don\u2019t remember the names of. They said everything so far has been quite sound and smooth, with nothing of any alarm. Besides officers and crewmen, I also conversed with the merchants who alarmed Matilda, a man named Ernst Rudolf Anders and a man named Hermann Doehner, Matilda\u2019s husband. I warned them of the state I left Matilda in and advised that they try to calm her down a bit.          Besides the conversations I held, I ate plenty of delicious food including some clam soup and a nice hearty salad with many toppings and a creamy dressing. I finished the book I was reading and played some solitaire. While many do not know of my secret obsession with sweaters, I spent most of the day knitting for those I have met amongst my travels as I try to help those with the traumas they have faced. Although many consider me a monster due to sensationalism, I genuinely do everything in my power to aid those in the mysterious and catastrophic events that they face. The days flew by with many lovely conversations and a hole in my stomach that I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":549,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/549"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":313,"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82\/revisions\/313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iris.siue.edu\/rhetoric\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}