The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-27
READ is CONFIDENT


PONTA DELGADA, May 27.-With
Commander A. C. Read confident that
he would reach the coast of Portugal
before darkness tonight, thus achiev-
ing the coveted honor of making the
first transatlantic fight, U. S. sea-
plane NC-4 started. for Lisbon this
| morning at 1918 o'clock Greenwich
time or 6:18 a. m. New York time.
The crew OF the seaplane which was
the same as that which made the men,
orable flight from New Foundland to
the Azores, boarded the plane an hour
before sunrise, but it was not until
several hours later that the giant ma
chine TAXED outside the breakwater,
headed to wfndward and rose grace
| fully into the air. She circled the
harbor and then headed for her desti-
nation amid cheers from the 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 mp
for several moments, the plane mean
while speeding on her way and slowly
disappearing in the bright eastern
sky.
| OeSefoyerS Guard Route
| The weather was almost perfect this
morning with the warm spring sun
shining brightly on the waters of the
bay. There we're but few clouds in
| the sky and only a slight northwest
able to the fliers. Weather experts
| counter cloudy weather and possibly
4 noI IN, mir NJ q
course, but this was not expected to
interfere with her progress.
Lieut.. Commander Read intends to
remain in Lisbon overnight and start
for Plymouth, England, tomorrow
morning, weather permitting. The
course between here and Portugal is
marked by fourteen American destroy
ers, stretched out along the route to
guide the fliers and il necessary give
them assistance.
The departure Of the NC-4 which
was set for an early hour, was delayed
by trouble with the fourth engine OF
the plane.
is LAST SURVIVOR
| On a successful flight of the q. s.
naval seaplane NC-4 from Ponta Del
gada to Lisbon today depended the
lcompletion of the transatlantic flight
started from Trepassey, N. F. on May
16, this seaplane being the one sur
vivor of the three that essayed the
trip.
The U. S. naval seaplanes NC-1
NC-3 and NC-4 started from Rocka
way Point, N. Y, on May on the pre-
liminary leg Of their flight across the
Atlantic The NC-1 and NC-3 made a
! continuous flight to Halifax, reaching
there in safety. The NC-4 however
encountered engine trouble and was
forced to alight on the sea off Chat
ham, Mass. 1t was towed into the har
Dor and repairs were rushed there
and the machine was put In shape tc
continue its voyage.
On May IA the NC-4 left Chatham
and arrived at Halifax in safety. The
next day it continued its flight to Ire
passey, N. F., where it joined the NC-1
and NC-3 which had reached Trepas
sey May 10.
Left Trepassey May is.
\ The three seaplanes left Trepassey
!, May 16 on their trip to the Azores ant
: the NC-4 arrived at Horta, in thu
r Azores the next day, having been II
I the air 13 hours. The NC-1 lost hel
: way in fog and her crew was picked
t lup by a Greek steamer and taken II
! the Azores. the plane being lost. Tht
NC-3, after losing her bearings, alight
e ed on the sea, from which Commando
Towers in charge of the craft was un
able to arise. After being missing fo
52 hours, the NC-3 entered the harbo
of Ponta Delgada, Azores, under he
! own power She was so badly bat
! tered by the seas she encountered
however, that she was retired from
the contest, leaving the NC-4 the sol
: survivor OF the trio.
= The naval officer in charge of tn
3 NC-4 is Lieut.. Commander Alber
t Cushing Read. who is accompanied b.
p five companions.