The sun., 1919-05-21
TOWERS SAYS
HE LOST HOPE
Placed Log Of Trip in Water
proof Bag, Prepared
to Die.
DID NOT TELL HIS MEN
Thinks Larger Machines Will
Make Atlantic Flight
Safely.
DID NOT TELL HIS MEN
By he Associated Press.

By he associated Press
PoNTA DELGApA, May 20.-"E,xcep-
tionally bad weather, which was to-
tally unexpected, was the sole reason
for the failure Of all three Of the Amer
lean Nays seaplanes to fly from
Trepassey. Newfoundland, to Ponta
Delgada on schedule time" said Com
mander John H. Towers to the cores
pendent OF the Associated Press to-
night
The man who commanded the over
seas flight in his flagship NC-3 and
the members Of his crew who had
received a severe buffeting both from
the storm overhead and the turbulent
sea when the plane was damaged
Saturday in alightfng on the water
were much refreshed tonight after
having regained sleep lost while buck
ing the storm for sixteen hours and
being adrift fifty-three hours more,
entirely out OF communication with
the world
Individually" said Commander
| Towers. the members OF the crew Of
the NC-3 virtually gave up hope of
being rescued Saturday night but COL
lectively they showed no signs of fear
and carried on until they arrived in
port here Monday and heard the Forts
firing salvos in welcome and witnessed
M i,,hi
their escape from the sea.
Having run short CT fuel and en-
countered heavy fog, the NC-3 came
down at I o'clock Saturday afternoon
! In order that We might obtain our
bearings. The plane was damaged as
1t reached the water and was unable
to again rise. While we were drifting
the EOS miles in the heavy storm
| the high seas washed over or pounded
the plane. and the boat began to leak.
| So fast did the water enter the boat
that the members OF the crew took
| turns in bailing the hull with a small
hand pump. while others stood on the
wings in order to keep the plane in
balance. Meanwhile we were steering
! landward.
That our radio was out OF commits
sion was not known to the crew until
our arrival here. Communication had
been cut off since o'clock Monday
owing to our having lost our ground
| wire.
Drank Radiator Water.
I'VE ate chocolate and drank water
from our radiator. This was our only
means OF subsistence. The crew
smoked heavily in order to keep awake
while we were drifting. No one OF
us obtained more than four hours
sleep after leaving Trepassey until
Ponta Delgada was reached
THE hands OF all the members of
the crew of the NC-S were badly
swollen as a result OF their heroic
work at the pump; otherwise they did
not undergo much suffering. The
men have now fully recovered from
their trying experience.
| The NC-S encountered heavy clouds
at / o'clock Saturday morning, The
light instruments on board failed and we
sailed the plane above the clouds in order
TO get the benefit OF a moonlight reading
OF the instruments.
"o hcpN III SibHl Ot tHe M UNI
nearly daylight Saturday and with the
NC-1 until shortly after daylight All
the planes were flying in formation, but
the NC-1 and NC-4 were underneath the
clouds part OF the time because their
light instruments were good.
THE NC-3 had no difficulty in being
guided by star Shells searchlights and
smoke from the station ships until we
reached Station II, which was not seen
II assumed that we were Off oui
course, but did not know on which side
and began flying a parallel course in
what / thought was the direction OF
Corvo. Shortly after daylight we en-
countered heavy fog. rain squalls and
high winds. all Of which continued until
the NC-3 went down upon the water.
Il Before alighting on the surface OF
NContinusd on Second PaQS