Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-05-23
SEAPLANES CROSS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
LAME DUCK" OF NAVY filters is
FIRST TO EFFECT SAFE AR.
RIVAL AT HORTA.
ONE HAS BEEN REPORTED LOST
Flagship Last Heard From Saturday
Morning-Officials Are Not Wor-
ried Over Safety-Record of
Flight for Machines.

Washington, May IL One of the
three American naval seaplanes which
set out last evening from Newfound
land in the first attempt at flight
across the Atlantic ocean still was
missing late Saturday night; another is
being towed to an Azores port by de-
stroyers after the crew had been put
aboard the steamer lone, and the
third was safe at Horta, Fayal, after
establishing record flight Tor
heavier-than-a machines.
The missing plane is the NC-3, flag
ship of commander John Henry Tow
ers, commander of the squadron; but
the fact that the last report came
from her at Sis Sunday morning
washington time) did not cause nav
al officials any apprehension for the
safety of Commander Towers and his
crew of four. The last message from
this ship showed her off her course
| in fog some $50 miles from Fayal,
and navy officials believe it was only
the mist bank which enveloped the
sea around the Azores throughout the
day that prevented all three OF the
planes from reaching port on or ahead
of schedule time.
| Lieutenant Commander Patrick n.
L. Bellinger's ship, the NC-1, also lost
her way in the fog and was forced to
descend at 11:40 a. m, Washington
time She sent an S o. S. call, stat
ing that she was landing and asking
for her position. Four destroyers
Immediately were dispatched to her
assistance and message to the navy
department just before midnight said
they were taking her to port, prob
ably to Horta. Commander Bellin-
ger and crew were aboard the steam
ship Iona.
| Average Speed 80 Miles.
The one plane to reach port was
the NC-4, which led her sister ships
practically all the way and descended
into Horta harbor at 800 o'clock,
| Washington time. Her official time
for the flight was Is hours and IA
minutes and the average speed was
approximately 80 miles an hour The
performance of the plane was all the
more satisfactory to officials here be-
cause of the fact that she suffered
a series OF mishaps on her voyage
from Rockaway Beach, l.. l., to Ire
passey bay.
Both of the fog -bound planes were
believed to have sufficient fuel to
undoubtedly prevented them from
continuing the trip in the air. The
S. o. S. call from NC-1 did not mean
an actual distress call. 1t was sent
out in compliance with orders re-
curing the planes to give such sig
nails, If forced to descend before the
actual landing was made. On the
surface the big flying boats can not
flash radio calls beyond a smile
radius.
This probably accounts for the de-
lay in finding them in the fog A
destroyer must pass within miles to
hear their signals The planes them
|
them in 100-mile circle but can not
answer. 1t was pointed out that a
fog heavy enough to drive the air
boats down would also serve to blind
the destroyers completely in their
search.
Towers May Be Lost.
Washington, May 1S.-Apprehenson
as to the safety OF Commander John
who are in the seaplane NC3 have
been lost at sea for more than 4O
hours, had begun tonight to displace
the feeling of confidence among naval
officials that the transatlantic filters
soon would be found by searching YES.
sells.
Lost Is Found.
Washington, May 19.-After wealth
ering 90-mile gale and heavy seas
the missing seaplane NC-3, flagship OF
the American naval transatlantic flight
squadron, entered Ponta Delgada har.
Dor today under her own power nearly
60 hours from the time she was forced
down by fog when almost in sight OF
the Azores on the record-breakine
: flight from Newfoundland for Lisbon
] and Plymouth, England.
Searching battleships and destroyers
were securing the seas and naval of
ficials had all but abandoned hope fol
the safety of the flying ship and hel
crew of five when warships at Ponta
Delgada saw the plane taxing across
| the water headed for the flight OBJ
: iective in the Azores.
Rear Admiral Jackson Immediately
dispatched the news to the navy de
partment by cable.
: Read Continues Trip.
4 Ponta Delgada, Azores, May ~
4 Lieutenant Commander A. c. Read, II
= command of the American seaplan'
NC-4, expects to start FOR LISBON a
. 6 o'clock tomorrow morning.
I He hopes to reach there before
dark.