Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-15

Halifax. \. s., May S.-Two OF the
American navy seaplanes. the NC-1 and
the NC-S. arrived here al eight o'clock to-
| might tseven O'Clock New York time).
Thus finishing successfully he first leg Of
their ans-Atlan,ic flight.
| Commander John II. Towers. who
brought the two giant seaplanes safely to
| port after flight of $40 miles from Rock
away Point, in nine hours. announced that
| lie expected to get away tomorrow on
the second legt of the journey which will
| take the aircraft In Trepassey. y. r.,
distance Of 460 miles.
/ Commander Towers based his eXpec'a-
tons on q report of Prof. Alexander Me-
! Adic. mctcorologist at Harvard who sent
! the word from Halifax this morning
which impelled the avators to take the
air Professor Meade said tonight that
the present favorable atmospheric condi-
! tons were likely TO continue for another
! II hours AT least,
| Meanwhile lestroyers and other craft
are searching for the missing NC-4 COM
manded by Liutenan Commander A. G.
Read. which fell behind the other craft
because of engine trouble. When mid
way between the destroyer McDermut
stationed at Cape cod and the Kimberley
which was No. . in the chain of craft
!
airmen in their flight. Read reported
| that he would be forced to descend be-
| cause Of a defective engine.
! The McDermut was seen to steam off
at full speed TO the assistance of the
) NC-4. but late tonight no word had
been received aboard the L. $. S. Balti-
more, the mother ship stationed here. 10
indicate that she had been picked up. The
airnen reported, however, that at the
point at which the NC-4 was compelled
20 come down, the sea was reasonably
calm and they expected no serious
| difficulty would be encountered in
irescung the men or saving the plane
| All the aviators agree that the first leg
OF the transatlantic journey called fol
the most severe test and all are delighted
with the way in which the two hydro
lairplanes performed. They say the new
meteorological equipment stood up espe-
cially we'll Strong head winds We're en-
countered throwing the planes 20 degrees
off their course according to Lieutenant
Commander r. T.. Byrd. radio operator
in the NC-3, the first to arrive in Halifax
jharbor. and the apparatus recorded per
fectly these Emergencies. enabling the
airships to hold to their course with thu
greatest ease.
Commander Towers said that the Wis
Utility throughout the trip was remark
ably good and as an illustration cited
that fact that the Cape Cod district
was spread out before them like a maj
before they turned last for the Nova
Scotia coast. The two planes flew al
various attitudes during the trip, the
NC-1 ascending al one point to $500 feet
the highest altitude recorded during the
journey.
At times the two planes were out OF
sight of each other, but they adhered
closely to the schedu fixed before the
start and flew up the harbor within tel
minutes Of each other.
An enthusiastic welcome awaited the
American aircraft. Capt. II. X. Hines
senior naval officer OF the port. accom-
panied by United States Consul Young
and many Of the most prominent resi-
dents OF Halifax. were aboard the nava
tug Iroquois stationed near to tho en-
trance of the harbor The official party
cheered wildly as the planes took thu
water. while the whistles of craft an
chored in the harbor added to the din
Later Captain Hines and Consul Younp
went aboard the Baltimore and warmly
congratulated the aviators upon their
achievement. They found the airmen a
dinner tired out from their days work
but enthusiastic over the performance
OF their planes and eagerly discussing
with Professor Meade the possibiltie!
for tomorrow.
Just before the official party left the
Baltimore lookout reported that thu
NCf was in sight, but the searchligh
Of the ship which We're immediatei,
;. flashed over the hsrbor and on the SIX,
above failed to disclose the nissin,
craft.
II the present weather conditions con
tnuc aud start is made tomorrow OF
the second leg of the trip the aviator
, plan 10 hug the Nova Scotia coast unit
, they are off Louisberg and then hea,
directly for Newfoundland. After th'
. experience gained on the rum to Iialifa!
the Americans declare they are abso
, lutely confident of completing the tri
! to TrcpaEsey Oh schedule time.