The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-10
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NAVY FLYERS
READY TO START
Plans Completed fer First Stage
Of Transatlantic Trip
By Americans
ACCIDENT TO PLANES
CAUSES LITTLE DELAY
ACCIDENT TO PLANES
Three Hydro-Planes To Start on
Journey From Newfoundland
: to Azores

: to Azores
e.
New York, May 5.-A score of ma
val aviators-youths in the twentles
and early tl1irties,S yet experts in fly
ing, navigation and motor mechanics
were ready tonight for a start soon
after daybreak tomorrow in their at
tempt to drive three giant hydroal-
planes of the American navy across
the Atlantic.
Favorable weather was officially
predicted, both in the vicinity OF the
home station at Rockaway Point, Long
Island, and along the coast OF New
foundland. terminus Of the Journey
first '1eg.''
The N. c.. 1, whose starboard wings
were destroyed early today in fire
which also slightly damaged the n. c.
4. was nearly fit for fight again when
darkness fell and the n. c. was corn
pletely restored. There was q posi-
bility that the n. C. l might be de-
layed a few hours or even day or
more but the II. c. 8 and n. c. were
scheduled to take the air sometime
between dawn and a. m.
Though saddened by the death OF
two of their conrades-Ensign Hugh
!. J. Adams and Chief Machinists Mate
Harold Corey, in the plunge to earth
OF a naval scout plane, the trans
oceanic crews showed no discourage
ment over the interference with their
plans resulting from the fire. Repair
work on the n. C. was halted for
a few minutes when the H. S. l.
Adams light craft, took its fatal
plunge in full sight of the groups
around the N C. hangers, but the Of
ficers in charge expected to continue
operations through the night with the
hope that the damaged craft could
start with her mates for the New
.foundland base.
Should this prove impossible, Com
mander John H. Towers, chief of the
expedition said the n. C. would fol-
low the other two craft to TrespasSey.
arriving in ample time for the big
Jump to the Azores scheduled for
about the middle Of May. Commander
Towers said the navy and civilian
mechanics had done wonderful work
in preparing the damaged n. C. 1 for
the fight. The fire started at 2.1O
O'Clock this morning when an over
heated electric pump which was en-
plying her hull of biIge water ignlted
a can of oil nearby. The planes fuel
tanks were being filed at the time,
and the flames spread quickly to sew
eral barrels Of gasoline on the ground
floor. Before the workers could get
fire extinguisherS into action the up
per and lower starboard wings Of the
n. C. 1 had been burned off and the
blaze had spread to the tail piece OF
the N C. 4, which was housed in the
same hangar. The latter plane was
restored by substituting the elevator
of the n. C. 2, which is not assigned
to the transatlantic and by recover
ing the tail surface. The n. c. 3, in
a hangar several hundred feet away
was not endangered.
Within 90 minutes Of the accident
the repair crews were at work.
The trans-oceanic crews remained
on the ground today and their craft
were not taken out of the hangers, as
all had passed through satisfactory
tests. Commander Towers and his as
sociates bade farewell to their fami-
lies late in the day. They planned to
rise at .daybreak for the cruise to
Halifax, the overnight halting place
scheduled on the way to Newfound-
land. Nothing but. impossible
weather or an accident. the command
er said, would prevent the Jump
off" !,
The machines will take the air, one
after another using in turn the SIN
gle marine railway at the station
equipped for the huge y. C.'s.
Commander Towers will head one
of the crews-that of the n. c. s..
Lieut.. Comdr A c. Read will direc;
the flight Of the y. G and Lieut..
Comdr. P. \. L. Bellinger. the \. c.
i. In addition to the commanders.
each Of the planes-huge craft Of 126
feet wing spread. with Liberty mo-
tors of 1000 horse power-will car
ry navigator. two pilots and q radio
officer. A reserve pilot will board
each for the cruise to Newfoundland.
in addition, Lieutenant Commander
passenger on the n c. 3 and Chief
Machinist's Mate Roads on the \. G.
f.
Though declining to predict success
for the voyage, Commander Towers
said that "if hard work by every one
connected with the undertaking in the
navy department, on the field and in
the weather bureau cents for any,
thing, we ought to make it.
Trespassey, \. T., May 5.-The ravy
today began laying its chain of de-
stroyers for the intercontinental
fight. At dusk six dcstroycrs which
arrived here yesterday for supplies.
sailed for their stations on the course
to the Azores The destroyer Roper,
the seventh craft. was delayed IN re-
fuelinS and Will leave at daybrcak