New-York tribune., 1919-10-22
Western Aviator Receives
Ovation in San Francisco:
Lands at the Presidio
After Many Difficulties
Donaldson Sets Records
Noted Ace Tells of Thrills
of Long Flight; Saw
Remarkable Aerial Feat

Captain Lowell n. Smith, leader Of
the Western entries in the transconti-
mental air race. landed at tho Preside
flying grounds, San Francisco, at e:44
a. m. yesterday. According to the Of
fetal figures Of the American Flying
Club he is the third contestant in the
great race to complete the 5,400- mile
course.
Captain Smith finished the flight un-
der extreme difficulties. His own De
haviiand biplane was accidentally de-
stroyed when mechanics set it on fire
at Buffalo. He was enabled to com
plete the flight after Major Carl Spatz,
one Of his rivals, withdrew from the
race and turned his machine over to
Captain Smith at Buffalo
At Rawlins, Wyo., Monday Captain
Smith was almost eliminated from the
race by engine trouble. Fortunately
the machine wrecked by Captain
Steinle in landing there contained
serv1cable motor. and Captain Smith
was able to make the necessary trans
fer At San Francisco yesterday he
was given q public reception by Mayor
James Rolph, Lieutenant General Hunt
er Liggett and other dignitaries In the
Donaldson Breaks Records
Examination by officials Of the
American Flying club into the records
of Captain j. O. Donaldson, the ia
nous ace, who finished second, reveals
the fact that he established two worlds
records during this 5,400-nile fight
Both records were for the single scatter
scout atype Of airplane that Captain
Donaldson few. They were:
Enr rOyariro & A00 r,t1ea ~
age speed Of 1903 miles an hour in 49
hours, 56 minutes and II seconds. This
Is the best flying time yet recorded in
the race
By Aylng s2s miles in one day. This
vas accomplished Saturday when he
few from Rock Island, H., to Bing-
hamton. N. Y.
In addition to establishing these
records, Captain Donaldson has the re-
contestant. to finish the 5,4oo mile
flight with the same engine still In
perfect working condition. Throughout
the long flight his engine functioned
perfectly at all times. and he did not
have to change spark plug.
Captain Donaldson, who Is officially
credited with bringing down eight
Germn airplanes before he was cap
tured In the war. told Of his flight yes
terday.
Those who have never flown little
realize," he said, what it means to
travel in q scout airplane through
storm There were many transforms
between Buffalo and Cleveland. With
the high compression engine, such as
| had the propeller revolves so swiftly
that the tips travel at g speed of 800
miles an hour.
you can imagine then with what
force the propeller blade strikes the
raindrops. The rain, before had
gone great way out of Buffalo, had
worn off the tips Of the propeller for
the side to a depth of one inch. This
made flying extremely difficult, Yet,
bad as the rain was, feared the fog
most and was compelled to fly within
25O feet Of the ground to note land
marks.
"At Des Moines unintentionally
demonstrated how it was possible to
land in a backyard. Running out OF
gas, I was forced to make a landing
IN the heart Of the city in what ap~
peared to be an amateur ball park. cut
across by small stream. There were
trees, and houses on three sides and
OF the fourth q twenty-foot fence
cleared this fence. rolled gently over
the diamond, through the stream and
stopped within ten feet of a telegraph
pole. When l got off three men had
TO hold on TO each wing until the motor
literally espsd' d' rom Saa the" the sro1nd 1oo al
cleared the tops Of the trees by no
more than two feet.
at was q: Green R!veY that ! saw
one Of the most remarkable things
In flying. Tho Aeld lies on a plateau,
at an elevation OF 5000 feet Willis I
was there Lieut. Webster took of In a
De Haviland. The air at this altitude
is 30 thin that 1t takes a long time
for heavy airplane to get sufficient
power to fy. Lieut.. Wcbster'e machine
did not get the required speed, and
rolled off the table land into the can
yon Of the Green River, at the bed Of
which 1877 feet below lies the stream
I'VE ell ran TO the edge of the cliff,
expecting TO see the DH-4 lying at the
bottom q wreck, but much to our
astonlshment, 1t appeared that strong
wind was blowing through the canyon.
The uprush Of air caught the wings
Of the DH-4 and enabled Webster to
gain control of his ship. 80 that almost
Immediately he began to climb and
circling about, was soon on his way
THE control stop commander told