Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-06-19

London, June IS (By the Associated
Press).-The final goal OF all the ambi-
tons which flying men have ventured to
dream since the Wright brothers first rose
from the earth in a heavier-t than air ma
chine was realized tn:s morning. when
two young British officers. Captain John
Alcock and Lieut.. Arthur w. Brown,
landed on the Irish coast after the first
nonstop flight across the Atlantic ocean
Their voyage was without accident and
without unforeseen incident. so far as can
be learned. 1t was n straightaway clean
tut flight achieved in l6 hours and II min
utes-from Newfoundland to Clifden, Ire
land, distance of more than 800 miles
But the brief and modest description
which comes from the airmen at Cliff
den tells of an adventurous and
amazingly hazardous enterprise. Fog
and mists hung over the north At
lantic and the Vckers-Nimy biplane
climbed and dived, struggling to cX-
tricate herself from the folds of the
airplanes worst enemies She rose to
1900 feet. swooped down almost to
the surface of the sea, and at times
the two navigators found themselves
flying upside down only ten feet
above the water
Before coming to earth the Cliff
den wireless station Alcock circled the
wireless aerials seeking the best spot to
reach the earth But no suitable ground
was found. so he CHANGED it in bog.
The wireless staff rushed to the aid
of the aviators. They found Brown
dazed and Alcock temporarily deafened
by the force of the impact AS soon
as they were able to be escorted to the
wireless station they telegraphed the
news to their friends; then had break
fast.
THAT is the best way to cross the
Atlantic" said Lieutenant Brown after
he had eaten.
London, June 15.-Captain John Alcoclt
and Lieut.. Arthur w. Brown in their Wick
er-Vimy bplane landed at Clifden, Ire
land this morning, completing the first
nonstop aEplane flight across the At
lantc. Their trip from st. Johns, n. F.,
was made In 16 hours, u minutes.
The landing was made at $40 O'Clock,
British summer time. In taking the
ground the machine struck heavily and
the fusilage poughed itself into the sand
Neither of the occupants was injured.
Much of the flight was made through
fog. with an occasional drizzle. This
hampered the airmen considerably during
their journey.
The Aero club received message from
Clifden not long after the transatlantic
fliers landed signed by them, which
merely stated that they had completed
the flight in IS hours and 70 minutes
They requested instructions from the
club
In reply the club telegraphed Captain
Alcock.
Keep machine intact until observer
arrives"
The air ministry stated that certain
marks were put on the airplane at New
foundand which must be officially iden-
titled by member of the royal air force
before the flight is declared to have
been officially completed 1t was said
at the ministry that it was proba BILE
one of its officials would leave Dublin
in an airplane to relieve Alcock and
Brown. 1t was hardly believed there
that the machine could be repaired be-
fore several days had passed and it was
thought both the aviators would proceed
to England by train.
Captain Alcock explained the sill
ence of his radio instrument during
the trip by saying that the wireless
propeller blow off soon after the air
plane left Newfoundland.
I'VE were much damned by strong
wireless signals not intended for u.s.
he added.
When word was received here of
the accident to the machine in land
ing. arrangements were made for me
chanics to leave London Immediately
to make repairs.
Word came from Clifden this aft
ernoon that the pilot and the naviga-
tor Of the biplane were leaving for
Galway whence Lieut.. Brown planned
to travel by train to London, arrlv-
ing there on Tuesday morning. Cap
tain Alcock, however, hoped to be
able to fly to London in the machine
which made the record flight as soor
as it could be repaired. 1t was plan
ned to have him give an exhibition
over London in the machine If pos.
sible.
London, June Is (By the Associated
Press)--Plans for receiving Alcock anC
Brown are being hurriedly formulated
by the Aero Club and the air ministry
1t had not been believed that the avi'
ators would be able to leave New
Foundland for another week. Theil
start was complete surprise and the
quick success of the trip found the
officials unprepared to welcome them
Entries for the aerial Derby were
supposed to close to-day, but they viii
be held open in the hope of inducing
Alcock to compete. The Derby com
prises competition fights around Lon
don.
Manchester Alcock's home town, de
sires to have the honor of first well
coming the aviator, but the air min.
istry officials said to-day that 1t was
likely he would come to London be-
fore going to Manchester. It was add
ed that at any rate two generous re-
ceptions awaited Alcock and Brown.
Although intensely intereRted In thu