Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-15
NC-4 AT HALIFAX
Continued from Page One)


ma jority of the cictizens knew that
the plane was SO near she was rest
ing on the surface of the harbor. The
whirrirg of her engines as she came
down drew crowds to hills, roof tops
and wharves.
Like a great bird, the plane SEEM
ed from one second to the next to
increase in size as it scared up over
the harbor, keeping close to the
western shore. There was not a
cloud in the sky, and flying above
the whitecaps whipped up on the
blue waves by a fresh breeze. the
seaplane was ablaze with flaming
rays struck from her white wings
and cleaning propellers by the bril-
liant sunlight.
1t SKINNED above the buildings on
the lower streets of the city. Half
way up the harbor. nearly opposite
the ordnance wharf, it wheeled to
the eastward, turned and dipped,
planning swiftly and gracefully to the
water. Tugs and other small craft
scurried away. A huge black sill
houette Of the seaplane darkened
the green Dartmouth shore.
Striking the water with a splash
of spray, the NC-4 slackened her
end of Georges Island it was barely
moving. - launch from the Balti-
more took the plane in tow and in
a few minutes it was made fast to
the stern of the supply ship.
The tired but happy aviators
clambered aboard, the Baltimore and
were congratulated by Captain Gu
verius and his staff. While they
were being made comfortable in the
quarters Of the officers mess, me-
chanics in charge of Ensign O'Con-
nor jumped to the NC-4 and pro-
ceeded to look it over carefully. They
found that the engines had stood
the trip well and needed but slight
repairs. The propellers were remov-
ed and placed on the deck of the
Baltimore, where they were taken
apart, inspected, oiled and reassem-
bled.
Lieut.. Commander Read gave a
modest account of his exploit.
Il took the time at Chatham bar"
he said. "You know it is a sort of
jumping Off place. 1t was 9.46 o'clock,
eastern time, when we left the bar
We rose from the water nine min
utes before, but circled around for
nine minutes testing our engines.
Our official time Of arrival in Hall
fax was 5.07, Greenwich mean time.
in passing the Baltimore. and Sill
when we landed upon the water,
which would be seven and eleven
minutes past two respectively, Hall
fax time. So the elapsed time from
Chatham to the u. s. S. Baltimore
in Halifax was just htree hours and
81 minutes.
Il have not worked our exact mile
miles.
LAS yet 1 have not had a chance to
figure out our exact Speed, but 1
took it twice during the trip and once
it was 81 miles an hour and another
time IS. l have flown at a much
higher rate Of speed. but this is the
best l have done in the NC-4 type
of hydroairplane.
Most Of the way we had q wind
that was slightly off the port quarter
at a height averaging between 500
and 1000 feet. We kept this low at
dtude because the winds above would
not have helped us along so much,
The wind was almost astern, just a
bit to the west Of southwest, and it
was Of great assistance.
1.-The trip was made absolutely
without assistance. We picked up
each destroyer on time, although, be-
cause Of the strong wind astern
which / rad not calculated on, we
passed the first one little before we
had expected. However. I remedial
this with respect to the others. There
were five OF them.
zone noteworthy event of t-c
Journey was that we received "aa'o
deapatch from Actirg Secrc-a ,.y
Roosevelt at Washington. The mes
sage was one Of congratu,ation and
good wishes. The point is that we
replied to the message and received
an answer in return within three
minutes after the sending of the in
itial radio communication. This oc-
CURED just off Cape Sable, about 20
miles to the south think.
1T had been intended to make only
a brief stop at Halifax and continue
our flight. reaching Trepassey this
evening, by taking advantage Of the