Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-19
HAWKER, IN DARING FLIGHT
FROMST,J ,JOHNSISSIGHTED
OFF OF COAST OF IRELAND
Sopwith Plane, in Famous
Nonstop Trip, Has
$50 Miles to Go.

! LOn0Ons May ne mhnaR-
er Of the SOpwith Airplane cOm-
pany received report al .
| O'Clock this afternoon that
! Aviator HaWker was IjO miles
OFF Ireland at p. m. today.
| Harry &. HaWker in his air
plane has been sighted oil Ire
land, according to an unofficial
report received by the American
navy here.
The SOpWith Airplane COM
pany has received a report that
Hawker was $40 miles OF the
Irish coast AT 3 p. III.
Naval and military lookouts on
the western coast Of Ireland report
ed at 2 o'clock this afternoon that
they had seen no sign OF Hawker.
London anXiously awaited news OF
the aviator but up to 4 o'clock there
was no official confirmation Of the
report that he had been sighted of
Ireland.
The air ministry announced
shortly after 5 o'clock that it had
no confirmation OF the report that
Hawker was Off Ireland at 4
o'clock this afternoon.
st. Johns, y. f., May ia re-
port was received here at noon
N0:30 a. m. New York timel that
Harry G. Hawker's SOpwith biplane
had been sighted of the Irish
coast. There was great rejoicing by
his associates here and Frederick r.
Raynham, his rival, whose trans
Atlantic start came to grief here
yesterday, Immediately Cabled CON
gratulations.
Hoped on Yesterday Noon.
Hawker and Commander Grieve
"hOpped or" in their SOpwith
plane at 5:55 p. N. yesterday.
Greenwich time ti2.55, Rock Is
land tine1 and left with the ex-
pectation of reaching the Irish
coast in 20 hours. IL their flight
was successful and no mishap oc-
CURED.
When the Sopwith biplane pass
ed from view beyond the hills 20
the northeast, headed for the open
sea, it left behind with shattered
hopes. Hawker's English rival,
Frederick =. Rayuham, who had
hoped TO be first across in a Mar
tinsyde plane, aud win glory and
the $50 600 prize of the London
Daily Mail.
Raynham's Machine Wrecked.
Raynham, the English aviator,
was tuning up the engine of his
machine when HaWker flashed
over the Englishmau's airdrome.
dropping as he went the uuderCaF-
riage of his Sopwi 10 tighten
tie load he must carry. Raynham
and his navigator, Charles W. T.
Morgan, realized then the Austria
lIan was on his way Instantly
they determined 10 follow him. for
all their preparations had been
made weeks ago. but misfortune
interviewed
As the Martinsyde TAXED" along
the uneven surface of the runway
preparatory to the take-oh q rear
axle broke under its heavy load
and the machine plowed into the
ground Pilot and navigator were
jammed in the wreckage, but ap-
parently neither was seriously
hurt.
Start Amazcs ~. Johns,
While Raynham's injuries were
being treated Hawker was well on
his way. Sunday sightseers, list
lcssly watching what they supp0s-
ed was to be a trial fight with the
Sopwith, were amazed when they
saw the undorcarriaso drop like
piummet near the Martinsyde air
drome, They knew 1t meant Hawk
er had determined to tarry no
longer, for II left him without land
ing equipment, but ligh'ened his
craft for its hazardous voyage.
If the daring Australian wins his
gamble with death It will bring him
fist honors in the nonstop trans
Atlantic race, undyiug fame and q
rich prize He decided 10 risk ev-
e:y hing when he heard of the ar
rival Of the United States navy's
seaplane y. c. at Horta and re-
iterated his statement that be
would beat the Yankees across
although the venture of the navy
aircraft has no bearing on the
Daily Mail contest, nor did they at
tempt a nonstop flight
Leave With Doubtful Chances.
The intrepid youths who drove
their planes out over the eastern
horizon yesterday In an attempt TO
win for themselves the glory Of the
fist transatlantic air flight leN
the ground with doubtful chances
Of survival should their venture
meet with mishap in mid-ocean.
Harry G.. Hawkcr and Lieuten-
ant Commander Mackenzie Grieve,
Lis skipper. who we're encased in
full length. uon-sinkable suits, had
further degree OF assurance in an
ingeniously built boat, shaped so
as to form the rear hood Of their
fusilage and proved an experiment
tn possess considerable seaworthi-
ness and outhtted with provision
and signalling devices.
Unlike the huge craft with which
American naval crews hope TO nv
10 Europe the plane which scared
out over the Atlantic today was
overland cTaft-nothing more. They