The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-27

Ponta Delgada, May II tBy the AS
sociated Press With Commander A. c.
Read confident that he would reach the
coast of Portugal before darkness to-
night, thus achieving the coveted honor
of making the first trans Atlantic fight,
United States seaplane NC-4 started for
Lisbon at lois this morning.
The crew Of the seaplane, which was
the same rs that which made the memor
able fight from Newfoundland to the
Azores, boarded the plane an hour be-
fore sunrise, but it was not until sew
eral hours later that the giant machine
TAXED outside the breakwaters, headed
to windward and rose gracefully into the
air. She circled the harbor and then
head for her destination 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 in sight.
Ehe din of the salute was kept up for
several moments, the plane meanwhile
speeding on her way and slowly disap-
pearing in the bright eastern sky.
The weather was almost perfect this
morning, with the warm spring sun shin
ing brightly on the waters of the bay.
There were but few clouds in the sky and
only slight northwest wind was blow
ing, which was favorable 20 the flyers.
Weather experts predicted that the plane
might encounter cloudy weather and pos
sbly occasional rain squalls midway OF
the course, but this was not expected to
interfere with her progress.
Y \ D. j.
to remain in Lisbon over night and start
for Plymouth, England, tomorrow morn
ing weather permitting.
The course between here and PortU.
gal is marked by IA American destroyers,
stretched out along the route to guilds
the flyers and if necessary give them as
sistance.
The getaway of the NC.4, which was
set for an early hour, was delayed by
trouble with the fourth engine of the
plane.
On successful fight Of the United
States naval seaplane NC-4 from Ponta
Delgada to Lisbon to-day depended the
completion Of the Atlantic fight
started from Trepassey, N. F., on May
l6, this seaplane being the one survivor
of the three that essayed the trip.
The United States naval seaplanes
NC-l and NC-3 and NC4 started from
Rockaway Point, N. Y. on May on
the preliminary leg of their flight across
the Atlantic. The NCl and NC-3 made
a continuous fight to Halifax, reaching
there in safety The NC4, however,
encountered engine trouble and was
forced to alight in the sea off Chatham.
Mass. It was towed into the harbor and
repairs were rushed there and the ma
chine was put in shape to 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-l
and NC-3, which had reached Trepassey
on May 10.
The three seaplanes left Trepassey on
May l6 on their trip to the Azores, and
the NC-4 arrived at Horta, in the Azores,
the next day, having been in the air
10 hours. The NC-l lost her way in >
fog and her crew was picked up by q
Greek steamer and taken to the Azores,
the plane being lost The NC-3, after
losing her bearings, alighted on the sea
from which Commander Towers, in
charge of the craft, was unable to rise.
After being missing for 50 hours, the
NC-3 entered the harbor of Ponta Del
gada, Azores, under her own power. She
was so battered by the seas she encoun-
tered, however, that she was retired from
the contest, leaving the NC-4 the sole
survivor OF the trip.
The naval officer in charge Of the NC4
is Lieutenant Commander Albert Cush
ing Read, who is accompanied by five
companions.
From Ponta Delgada to Lisbon is ap-
proximately 7S6 miles.