New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-20
ARMY FLIERS, 9
DAYS LOST, FOUND
Continued from page

In San Diego. Neither Of the aviators.
IL was announced officially last Sun
day. had authority to make the fight,
and il is admitted that the War De
partment has every reason for subject
ing them 20 court martial Under the
circumstances il is presumed leniency
will he shown 10 them. however.
The propeller OF their airplane was
broken. Robertson said, in telling Of
their experiences. when he made a
landing about 1890 p. m. Wednesday,
January 10. Enough gasolene for
thirty minutes fight remained in the
tank
Take Water from Radiator
The aviators remained with the air
plane until 4:30 that afternoon and
then abandoned it. starting across the
desert toward the mountains and head
ing north. They drained a gallon oil
can and filled it with water from the
radiator OF their airplane. This they
carried with them.
Lieutenant Robertson gave his story
in detail tonight to a representative
Of The Associated Press. as follows:
I'VE left San Diego at $3.50 a. M.
January 10, intending TO 90 across the
mountains east 10 Calexico. Insult
fcient maps made il necessary to rely
largely on compass readings. For this
reason. 10 keep north Of the Mexican
border. We sailed course % degrees
north of east. ] counted on this course
putting me into the Imperial Valley
we'll north Of the border, and then
having TO sail south for about fifty
miles.
Filters Go Up 1000 Feet
I'm order to cross the high noun
tains il was necessary to travel high.
averaging moro than 1000 feet. From
this altitude il was impossible to de-
tect a very strong north wind which ]
encountered in the mountains.
81 then turned southeast. After
about thirty minutes on this course
could see distinctly through haze a
large body Of water we thought to be
the Salton Sea. The only map Of this
section ! had showed Salton Sea much
TOO far south, so this confirmed my be-
lief that | was right
"As my gas was running low my
only course was TO keep going further
south in order to strike Calexico.
Colonel Bishop thought this body Of
water TO be the SaltOn Sea. so both Of
as were satisfied we were going the
correct course.
Neither Colonel Bishop nor mysel!
could possibly figure on the drift OF
the machine. AS it was hay, it was
impossible 10 pick out objects clearly
The strong north wind also made our
rate of travel much faster than was
figured on.
when about thirty minutes 81
search was made for the Southern Pa
cifc Railway, which | knew 10 be near
Salton Sea, | decided to land and in
vestigste. The landing was almost
completed. when the aircraft struck
soft ground and the plane tipped up.
This was at 1880 p. m, and ! still
thought we were at Salton Sea, and we
were convinced of our error only after
close examination. We then decided on
walking back to the Imperial Valley.
I've took one gallon Of water from
the radiator and with a light lunch
started northwest. That was az 1880
p. m, January 10.
Colonel Bishop Gives In
We kept a northwest course. tray
cling by night and day. Our water
gave ont Sunday. January IA. BY that
time Colonel Bishop was so weak our
progress was slow. We agreed II
would be wise 10 separate when he
could travel no further and take the
only available course, / 70 continue on
and send back aid II possible.
"This | did az daybreak Wednesday
the 18th. | kept 10 the northwest. and
az daybreak on the 18th found a trail
of one of the rescuing parties. Fol-
lowing this trail, / caught the party
about a. m. Thursday. They imme-
diately set out TO find Colonel Bishop,
and. following my directions. they
found him about p. m. January Is.
lie was too weak 70 move. but still
conscious.
at was necessary 70 leave him quiet