Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-27
Weather j. Almost Perfect
When Seaplane Leaves he
Azores; Crew Expects =
Run Into Squall. During
Day; Fourteen De.hoyers
Guiding Flier..
WASTIINGTON-THE
NC-4 HAS LANDED AT
LISBON. i

Ponta Delgada. May 27.-(By The
Associated Press. with Command
er A. c. Read, confident he would
reach the coast of Portugal before
darkness tonight, thus achieving the
coveted honor of making the first
transatlantic fight, the u. s. sea-
plane NC-4 started for Lisbon this
morning at 1918 o'clock Greenwich
time, or at 6:1S a. m. New York
time.
The crew Of the seaplane which was
the same as that which made the
memorable fight from Newfound-
land to the Azores, boarded the plane
an hour before sunrise. but it was not
until several hours later that the
giant machine TAXED outside the
breakwater, headed to windward and
rose gracefully into the air. She cir
cled the harbor and then headed for
sailors and soldiers who lined the
decks of the ships in the harbor and
the crowds on the piers. together
with the shrieks of whistles from all
the steam craft within sight.
The din of the salute was kept up
for several minutes, the plane mean-
while disappearing in the eastern sky.
Weather Excellent.
The weather was almost perfect.
There were but few clouds in the sky
and only slight northwest wind was
blowing. Weather experts predicted
that the planes might encounter
cloudy weather and possibly OCCASION
al rain squalls midway on the course
but this was not expected to interfere
with her progress.
Lieutenant Commander Read In
tends to remain in Lisbon overnight
and start for Plymouth, England to-
morrow morning, weather permitting.
The course between here and
Portugal is marked by II American
destroyers, stretched out along the
route to guide the fliers and II neces-
sary give them assistance.
| The departure of the NC-4, which
was set for an early hour was delayed
: by trouble with the fourth engine pf
! the plane. y -s lt9N.- Y
The first report from. the NC-4 was
received as she was passing station
No. at 11:13 o'clock. Twenty-Five
minutes later, at :3s a. M, she re-
ported that she had passed at that
| moment station No. 2.
The seaplane sent a wireless mes.
sage to Admiral Jackson after start.
ing, which read:
I'VE seem to be on our way. Many
thanks for your hospitality"
On successful fight of the Unit
SA oIdtcS HdVdl ScdplAu0 INC.k from
Ponta Delgada to Lisbon today de.
pended the completion Of the trans.
Atlantic flight started. from Trepassey,
N. F., on May 16, this seaplans be-
ing the one survivor of the three that
essayed the trip.
The U. S. naval seaplanes NC-1,
NC-S and NC-4 started from Rock
away Point, N. Y, on May on the
preliminary leg of their fight across
the Atlantic. The NC-1 and NC-s
made, a continuous fight to Halifax.
reaching there in safety. The NC-4.
however, encountered engine trouble
and was forced to alight on the sea
off Chatham, Mass. 1t was towed in
to the harbor and repairs were rush
ed there and the machine was put in
shape to continue it's voyage.
| On May IA the NC-4 left Chatham
and arrived at Halifax in safety. The
next day it continued its fight to Ire
passey, N. F., where it joined the
NC-1 and NC-3 which had reached
Trepassey, May 10.
The three seaplanes left Trepassey,
May Is On their trip to the Azores
and the NC-4 arrived at Horta, in
the tn a Azores the next day; having been
her way in fog and her crew was
picked up by Greek steamer and
! taken to the Azores, the plane being
lost. The NC-3, after losing her bear
/ ings. alighted on the sea, from which
Commander Towers, in charge Of the
craft, was unable to rise. After be-
ing missing for So hours, the NC-S
| entered the harbor Of Ponta Deigada,
Azores, under her. own power. She
was so badly battered by the sea she
encountered, however, that she was
retired from the contest, leaving the
NC-4 the sole survivor Of the trio
The naval officer in charge Of the
NC-4 is Lieutenant Commander ALI
| Der Cushing Read, who is accom-
panied by five companions. sf
From Ponta Delgada to Lisbon II
approximately 7S5 miles.
The navy department computed the
| time of the NC-4's start at 6:1Stqa.
M, Washington time, and the plane
passed the Thompson at 7:13 q. M.
W ashington time. showing that Lieu.
tenant Commander Read made the.
first lap Of his voyage in less than an
hour, his speed being in excess OF IS
knots. At that rate, which viii Be
accelerated as the consumption OF
gasoline by the motor reduces, the
load of the plane. the NC-4 should
reach Lisbon around o'clock wash.
tngton time this afternoon.
The NC-4 passed station csfip NO. 4,
the destroyer Thompson, between 60
Continued on paxe . 9