Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-19
AUSTRALIAN WITHIN
$50 MILES OF LAND

gu mIlE0 UT eHNO
Continued from First Paee.)
Hawker's English rival. Frederick T.
Raynham. who hoped to be first across
in a Martinsyie plane and win glory
and the $4,000 prize of the London
Daily Mail.
Raynham was tuning up the engine
of his machine when HaWker hashed
over the Englishman's airdrome'
dropping as he went the undercaf-
riage of his Sopwith to tighten the
load he must carry. Raynham ana ms
navigator. Charles w. F. Nor gam re-
allied then that the Australian was
on his way. Instantly they determined
to follow him, for all their prepare :
lions had been made weeks ago, out
misfortune interviewed.
AS the Martinique TAXED aiohs
the uneven surfaces Of the runway.
preparatory to the take-off. rear
axle broke under it's heavy load and
the machine paowed into the ground
Pilot and navigator were damned In
the wreckase, but apparently neltner
was seriously hurt.
Sunday Sghtseers Amazed
While Raynham's injuries were
being treated Hawker was we'll on
his way. Sunday sightseers. listlessly
watching what they supposed was to
be a trial fight of the Sopwith. were
amazed when they saw the under
carriage drop like a plummet near
the Martinsyde airdrome. They knew
it meant Hawker had detertnined to
larry no longer. for it left him with
out landing equipment. but hEhtened
his craft, for his Hazardous. voya &C..
If the daring Australian wins his
gamble with death it will bring him
first hoRors in the nea,stopf trans
atlantic race. undy1ng fame and a
rich prize. He decided to risk every
thing when he heard of the arrival
of the United States Nays seaplane
NC-4 at Horta and reiterated his
statement that he would beat the
Yankees across" although the VEN
ture of the Navy aircraft has no
hearing on the Daily Nail contest,
nor did they attempt nonstop
fight.
The twenty-hour journey planned
by Hawker would land him on the
Irish coast at about 1856 p.m.. Green
witch time. tomorrow 1855 AM New
York time). He is flying straight for
Ireland. winEing his, way regardless
of shipping lanes
Hawker got away in a lurching 500
yard run. humping hazardously over
the uneven field. The little plane
careened and rocked recklessly until
a hummoek lifted it and it's wings
took the air" for a low, swinging
start Hawker was at the control.
Wave Quick Farewell.
The Sopwith began to speed up as
soon as il fioated into the air and
Hawker headed straight into the
northeast. When he dropped his I'M
dercarriage he and Grieve waved a
quick farewell.
Flying straight. without swerving a
hair from the chosen course. the little
plane faded rapidly from view. In
five minutes it had dwindled to a
speck in the sky and in six minutes 1t
was out of sight beyond the hills.
Hawker's start was made in the
face Of weather conditions which he
characterized as mot yet favorable
but possible" He and his navigator
srayely considered the hazards of the
attempt, an: decided to stake every
thing on az effort to beat the Amer
leans"
Overnight reports to the meteorolog-
ical station had shown increased at
mospheric pressures, smoother seas
and fair barometer conditions. Al
though winds and preSsures were not
all they hoped for. Hawker and Grisve
ordered their hand satchefs packed
and made ready for the start.
Hawker considered weight as Of ut
most importance. Lifting Mackenzie
Grieve's bag. he found it heavy and
inquired solicitously if he couldn't dis
pense with "pajamas on the trip.
when asked II he thought he would
have chance TO sleep during the
voyage. Hawker replied:
Wen have q long sleep coming ~
the. end Of it,"
1t was 5. o'clock in the afternoon.
Greenwich time, when Hawker Or
dered his Sopwith plane out of It's
hangar for a ground and wind test.
over in the Quidividi field. at the
other end of the city. Raynham had
found cross winds sweeping over his
Martinsyde take Off grounds.
Hawker tried out the Sopwith for
a minute or two and called conditions
for a start good enough" Grieve
agreed. The plane was then given a
nnal inspection.
At 5:51 Greenwich time. the Sop
with was ready. At 5:5o sharp,
Hawker gave the word and the
ground crew let CO." The little plane
jerked forward. then moved steadily
over the uneven ground.
Rapidly Gathers Speed.
Hawker gathered speed rapidly az
ne bowled over the turf. rocking
heavily. At 200 yards he was going
fairly well. but swaying badly. A
hummock lifted" him at 500 yards
and with a last urch the Sopwith
took the air"
From that instant it set sair' d.
rectly northeast. winging higher and
higher. When the undercarriage was
dropped. the little group of spectators
cried out:
she's off,
Raynham at Quidividi heard this
roar of the Sopwith engine as the
plane rose wen into the air. He
ordered the Martinsyde made ready a,
once and went into hasty consultation
with his navigator Morgan.
Within an hour the Martinsyde was
taxing for start, with Raynhan
at the control. humping heavily anc
rocking from side to side over the
rough Sru1rd. Suddenly rear axle
buckled and the machine crashed or
its side. blowing into the earth. Rayn-
ham and Morgan were lifted out Of
the wreckage streaming with blood.
Too heavy . carriage was said 4
have caused the collapse Of the Mar.
tinsyde's undercarriage, 1t was try.