The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-29
Iould make P6nta DslsaAa w1EA~

should make Punte OOA8A04 W1kD
ltainty.
ton which we found rather u11pA1a1-
able and rather salty, though De chocs
olate cakes were fino. We Also tried
once more to use the radio bat With
out success, though we were Ahao@4o
hear the Columbia at Hort1-
Shortly after dawn We had Put '0vor
two canvas buckets a. . drag to keep
us from making too much stern way
and from yawtng. The plan worried
well and reduced greatly b frequency
of the tail dip. We also tried Oh On
much leeway for that to be effective
The lower elevator finally brooks
clear Of the taily hanging By on wire.
would charge around violently, 0oYto-
times in the air, sometimes in tse warp
ter, delivering violent blows TO the ele-
vator control and sometimes to tho
rudders At other times It would
| charge through the water tow1Ed the
stern, threatening to knock holes IN
the hull, but just missing. Finally it
broke loose and the menace was over.
! We tried a sea anchor, but It was car
ried away in about three minutes.
About 1900, Greenwich (Noon New
York time) on Monday. 1t was appar-
emit we would make Ponta Delgada In
about two hours. We were mating
about six knots al the time. Shortly
after we a into another heavy rain
squall and sharp shift Of wind. Our
bucket drag was carried away letting
the plane yaw badly and the LETT lowA
er wing went under. &
Finally It cleared up again ana rs
land meanwhile was getting steadily
palmer. Tho light house. SUGAR fac
tory. radio station. houses and trees
were clearly visible Farms, vineyards
and roads took on form and color
and 1t was manifest that we should
soon be sighte0 We had to keep we'll
OF shore however a. 1t was likely that
a sea breexe would be encountered,
close to tn island which might drive
us ashore on the rugged . to thu,
west Of Ponta Delgada- Yet We ala
not want to get too far out when tho
time came to taxi into the harbof.
About 1890 Greenwich (1:3o p. ri
New York time) VIE sighted the q.
s. destroyer Harding standing out
from the harbor, shooting spray Clear
over her bridge as she raced toward
US. We signalled her to stand BY -
we a under u own power.
Except for a merchant ship At ne
breakwater ard tho shipping visible
over h ~breakfater which We he'd
sighted about an hour beforA she
was h 1rst vessel sighted since W
had made u landing. The $50 was
too rough for an attempt 1t towing
us, but as we arrived four miles west
of he port we found II increasingly
difficult to maintain a d clear ~,
the shore and had to work strongly
across the wind which could be done
only at considerable risk.
That this risk was real was PROVED !
shortly, for ~ we arrived OF the
hreakwater. the right wing tip float
let go and. dragging by two wires.
ripped the deck open knd nearly
made us capsize in full sight Of the
harbor.
We cut the loaf adrift and also
started the center rear engine. BY
sharp use OF h controls we were1
able to keep right side up. We sig
nailed the Harding TO be ready to'
send a boat and asked the Melviile
to provide boats to go under the
wings as we came to u moorings.
Fortunately tn wind was strongi
n the ale-ons were effective. with
a man on the weather wing we were1
able to make our mooring. taking 4
tow OF short distance from the moor
ing and putting a man on each wing
to aid in balancing. Even with thi3
precaution the plane waved badly al
the tow took charge n nearly rolled
over on the right wing.
Thus we finished q voynge of mor@
than 1900 nautical miles and a VA
ter run OF more that EOS nauticA
miles.
The harbor was q perfect bedlam
with whistles blowing on all th@
steamers, crews wildly cheering and
the shores lined with cheering
crowds. Ships. boats and shore boata
were chasing madly about the harbo1
trying TO render assistance or to se{
us and greet us n get our pictures
II was 4 wonderful sight.
The sui was still high. the Ship
were dressed with flags and tho color
stood out brilliantly as the nag
whipped in the breeze. The seed
was one never to be forgotten "a
with our relief from the long tension
our feelings cannot be described.
AS soon a. we had secured tn
plans at the moorings. got our thinn
together and made our way to shore
Admiral Jackson and his staff. Cap
tain Workman. the governor OF th(
islands, the United States consul, th<
president of the town council me
others were on hand to welcime ~
We were tired and dirty but hap
py. for all HANDS OF the three plane
were accounted for. Wa HAD u m
legs on n for want OF tho usual ~
ercise we reeled on tho way up tn
steps to the admiraTs quarters
AS o o as the reception was ~
n We had been very much photo
graphed. we had to appear on ri
balcony while the local hand ronl
dered The star Spangled Banner
The crowd then formed an
promptu parade and cheered us aSAl
and again.
As o AZ we cAbisd home h ~
u families know va were safe, ~
took hot baths and made ourselvo
more p~resentabie. We then had din
ner and were glad to get a chance 4
sleep in real beds once more. We an
joyed a good nights rest. konwfn
that those at home also would slee1
well. knowing we were safe.