El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-12-27
To DEAD
PLANE IN OCEAN
Lieut.. Ashton W. Hawkins,
Who Did His Bit In Air,
Reaches FL Paso Home.

Three hours in the cold waters OF
the North sea, and clinging to a small
fragment Of his wrecked seaplane
that was still afloat and was being
tossed about by the high waves, while
waiting for an airplane far over
head TO see them through the dense
fog. was the wartime experience Of
Lieut.. ). &. Ashton ". Hawkins. OF
the American flying corps in Eng
land. son of Judge W. 4. Hawkins,
chief counsel Of the Z. P. & S. W.
railroad, who returned TO his home in
FL PasO Thursday evening The sec
Ond pilot, engineer and wireless op-
orator Of the wrecked machine were
with the lieutenant and all were fl
nally saved BY a trawler under the
direction Of the airplale overhead,
just before the doom OF darkness
overlook them
The seaplane, being piloted by
Lieut. Hawkins, had been disabled in
midair. After a forced landing on
the sea, and three hours OF dihgent
work repairing the machine while
the waves were tossing them about
relentlessly, he attempted to take off.
The machine crashed just as II was
leaving the water and Immediately
burst into flames, leaving the four
occupants in the water until they
discovered one fragment OF the ma
chine floating a short distance from
them The crash was seen by the pi-
lot Of a single seated scout plane fly
ing overhead. who raced back to the
coast TO summon aid.
In Dense Fog.
It was over three hours before the
returning aviator could relocate them
through the dense fog, in order that
the rescuing trawler, which was dis
patched from the coast could pick
them up.
Yale, when he enlisted in the aviation
service in April, 1917. He was COM
miSsioned an ensign in November OF
the same year, and recommended Tor
the junior grade heutenancy in
March. 1918. receiving II the follow
ing october. A commission as fun
lieutenant is awaiting him upon his
return to Washington. D. C, at the
end OF his so days Through
Lieut.. Hawkins is % years old he
evidenced q reluctance at having his
story made public, so lightly did he
regard the thrilling experience.
When questioned further about
other incidents. the Lieutenant said:
Yankees Unbeatable.
There was one young American
aviator who, after being stranded IN
the North sea. on a disabled seaplane,
without water or food for five days.
was still undaunted by evidence OF
the fact that he took part in an ath-
letic contest the day after his rescue.
and won the go yard dash The spirit
OF the American fighter was incom-
parable
In speaking OF the different types
OF aero engines. the lieutenant said
that the English Rolls Royce was no
doubt the best stationary engine pro-
duced TO date The Liberty engine
Of the United States viii no doubt be
rated equal TO any other in Few
months. he said. but II takes months
Of actual service to develop perfec-
ton in any engine.
Some Speed.
The Sopwith Snipe, British land
scout which was Just being delivered
at the front. in its final tryout
climbed 1000 feet in four and half
minutes. reached an altitude of $4,000
feet, and was capable Of travelling al
the rate OF 157 miles an hour
The work Of Lieut- Hawkins. ope-
rating from the North sea coast OF
England. consisted OF submarine and
hostile aircraft patrols and fleet rec
ounaisance work
the North sea His plans for the u
ture are uncertain.