The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-31
NC-4 Swept Into Harbor of
Plymouth, Eng, Today.
Talk of Nonstop Return Trip
to America.
WHOLE FIGHT IN 81 HOURS
Reads Great Ship Covered
$500 Miles Over Water.
Crews of NC-1 and NC-3 Were
There To Greet Winners.

IIyHnOuIn, May SILT mas been
learned here unofficiaIIy that there is
a prospect that the American sea-
plane NC-4 may fly home over the
direct Atlantic route from Ireland to
Newfoundland. 1t is understood
conference will be held here shortly to
discuss the project.
The navy department is without Of
ficial news of Reads next move.
Whether he will fly or travel other
wise to France in answer to President
Wilson's request that the NC-4 crew
go to Paris after landing at Plymouth,
is not known here.
Various suggestions have been
made for disposition of the NC-4. The
one most favored now is to have the
machine taken down" and shipped
back to the United States to preclude
possibility of its loss or destruction,
and have it placed in the Smithsonian
Institution here for posterity to view.
American naval officers say the
NC-4 is in better condition than when
she began her flight. Furthermore,
the experience gained by all of the
Meas navigators and pilots would
prove of inestimable benefit. should
the return flight be attempted.
Plymouth, England, May 31.-Com-
pleting its great flight over the At
lantic. the American seaplane NC-4
swept into the harbor of Plymouth at
2:26 p. m. today (9:26 New York
time).
The American naval flyer came into
view of Plymouth at 2:23 o'clock Qo-
ca time) and three minutes later had
dropped down in the harbor.
Left Spain Early Today.
The huge ship of the skies, under
direction of Lieut.. Commander A. c.
Read, her skipper on the whole his
toric air voyage, left Ferrol Spain, on
tile laat lap G 4theet tfipsslaortly after s
O'Clock this morning. She spent the
night at Ferrol after having been
forced by engine trouble to descend
first in a river 100 miles north of Lis
bon, from which point she started for
Plymouth early Friday.
An eager watch for the triumphant
! Yankee seaplane was maintained here
and crowds rushed to vantage points
when word came that she had been
sighted.
She was given a rousing welcome.
The weather was not auspicious to-
day. 1t was cloudy with drizzle in
the morning.
NC-1 and NC-3 Crews There.
The crews of the seaplanes NC-1
and NC-3 were waiting to greet their
comrades of the NC-4. Smiling and
smart, they arrived aboard the U. S. S.
Rochester looking like men returning
from a pleasure jaunt, instead of sail
narrow escapes from death in trying
to fly across the Atlantic.
Lieut.. Commander NJ A. Mitcher of
Oklahoma City, pilot of the NC-1, de-
clared the transatlantic flying problem
was not one of motor power, but of
navigation owing to uncertain weather
conditions. He said he hoped an air
ship would eventually be built big
enough to alight en- route if necessary
and survive the buffeting of storms.
Every man is eager to try again."
declared Lieut.. D. H. McCullogh of
Newport, Pa.
Lieutenant BARN of Portland, Ore,
said there was nothing sensational
about the NC-1's experiences; that
their adventures seemed no different
from those met with on an ordinary
flight.
Much Excitement.
There was considerable excitement
in Plymouth, at the approach of the
American plane. Crowds were out
yesterday and were disappointed when
word came the machine had been
forced to descend on the Mondego
river, Portugal.
When Read wirelessed for informa-
ton as to the best port within 800
miles in which to spend the night, he
was advised to go to Vigo or Ferrol.
He chose Ferrol on the northern coast
of Spain. While the plane renamed
there the American destroyers Hard
ing anu 1drpeH stooo ny ~ AeHueA as
SiStanCe.
Flies Over BreSt.
Paris, May 31.-The NC-4 flew over
Brest, the great American port in
France at IL a. m, according to
message received here.
Washington, May 31.-American
flyers today completed their journey
from New York to England by air.
The great feat, accomplished by the
NC-4 which arrived at Plymouth this
morning. marked the climax of the
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HrVAI AnARTaHFAT HFnF