The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-03-24

HydropIane Went Wrong and Dropped
to Water With w. e. Doherty, an
American, and a Companion While
They Were Searching For subma-
rines Of ltaly's Foe.
Milan, Italy.-Willlam Ellwood DO
herty. "a young American whose ca
perilous adventure, has just added to
his list u fight for life lasting more
than twenty-nine hours I'm the wintry
waters of the Adriatic. Once before
ne had been stranded In the same sen
in midsummer and collapsed from
thirst and heat. This time he had the
other extreme OF weather, battling
with a northern gale, and was rescued
when on the verge Of exhaustion.
Austrian submarines were p~atrolling
the Adriatic while the Italians were
sending troop ships across to Albania.
Doherty set out In a Curtiss hydro
plane TO patrol the passage and give
warning of danger. lie left laramie
at 2 o'clock In the afternoon with an
Italian helper. As daylight was fall
ing the motor broke down, and the
h%ydroplane dropped To the water.
Italian vessels were In sight, but did
not see Doherty's signals for help.
With darkness the wind rose and
wave broke over the tiny craft. Do
herty tore away the drip pan of the
machine. The two cold, hungry, wa
tersoaked men used II to bail with. BY
working one at a time without stop
ping they were able to keep aloat, al
though every high wave gave them a
fresh drenching.
They had lost their scant provisions
I'm the descent TO the water, and in
the tossing of the hydroplane their
cigarettes and matches went over
board.
The weather became intensely cold.
I'm the respite from bailing the afr
man who vas free kept lookout for a
ship. One came I'm sight several hours
after dark, but passed on, not seeing
the smoke bombs with which the avia-
tors tried TO hail It. Throughout the
night and all the next morning the
men relieved each other with the DRIP
pan bailer.
Finally, too tired to work longer and
despairing Of rescue, Doherty curled
up I'm the end OF the craft. Sleep over.
came him, but he had nightmare and
was reused when n lurch OF the plane
nearly spilled him into the sea. Again
he took his turn ut bailing.
The specter of death was before the
eyes OF both men when night fell once
more. Then n torpedo boat headed to
ward them appeared on the horizon
They exploded more smoke bombs anG
wildly waved their signal flags. This
time they were seen. The torpedo
boat approached, lowered Il small boa
and rescued men and wreck twenty
miles from shore.
Italian craft had been looking FOL
Doherty and his companion ever since
the machine failed them. ALLOWANCE,
had not been made for the wind. which
blew the unfortunates seaward, and
the search was confined to an area
comparatively near shore until the tor
pedo boat struck out into the open.
Naval commanders who had engaged
In the early search reported the frs
night that Doherty and his companion
probably were lost Their return Il
shore was hailed as little short of mi
raculous.
Doherty recovered within n day from
the effects of his exposure. Substi
tutes had taken over his patrol duty II
the Adriatic, however, and he decided
to shift his field OF activity. lie ha'
gone 10 Paris and London In search O
further adventure.