You're right GBZ; there was no mention of the metal based dope used on the fabric.
I understand that the airship became massively static charged during the transit through the storm. The metallic dope had the effect of bonding the entire airframe but without the means of dissipating the electrical charge to atmosphere. The mooring ropes would earth the airframe, unfortunately they hit the deck sometime after the rigging cable gave way and punctured the gas bag. Therefore hydrogen was filling the aft compartment as the static electrical charge flowed to earth.....boomshanka.