Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-20
NC-4 Reaches Goal
in Crossing Azores
Continued From Page One

4 tOntinueu FROM rage tne
the message said. and ono of the engine
struts was badly damaged.
After weathering n sixty mile gale
and heavy seas. the missing NC-3
flagship of the American naval trans
atlantic flight squadron, entered POnta
Delgada harbor yesterday under her own
she was forced down by fog when
almost in sight Of the Azores on the
record breaking fight from Ncwfound-
land for Lisbon and Plymouth, England.
Searching bnttleships and dostrovers
were securing the seas and naval off
cials had all but abandoned hope for
the safety of the flying ship ana her
crew of five, when warships at pOnta
Delgada saw a plane taxing across the
water headed for the flight objective
in the Azores. Rear Admiral Jackson
Immediately dispatched the tidings to
the Navy Department by cable. rclicv-
ing the anxiety of officials and ending
the long vigil Mrs. Towers had kept
since first news came last Saturday
morning that her husbands plane had
been lost in the fog 300 miles from the
Azores.
Towers's Official Report
In a detailed report received at the
Navy Department from Commander
Towers, the officer said the NC-3 had
.tsuffered severely The hull was
slightly damaged and the forward center
engine struts were seriously damaged
in making the landing, while later when
riding out the gale the port wing pOn
toon was carried away. Just before
reaching harbor the other pOntoOn was
lost. The report indicates the plane
was thrown off her course by high
Winds and rain squalls while between
station ships 13 and "A. 1t is coucheC
in the tersc phraseOlogy of an oficia
review and does not give in words th'
thrilling experiences and dangers the
voyage entailed. The report follows:
''Arrived at Porta Delgada. 1850 G
NJ. L. Il 30 p. m., Washington timeI
Compelled to go above clouds at station
s on account of failure of lights on tn,
pilot's instrument board and necessity
of having heavenly bodies for reference
Last destroyer sighted, No. 13 Cam,
through clouds at daybreak but missed
destroyer IA.
Blown OF Course by Winds
"Believe thrown off course by higl
velocity of upper winds. but lait
parallel course. Encountered hPav,
ram Squalls ~ VI. NJ. L. 10 a.
o'clock, Washington time, May Il
which continued until 1.3O G. NJ. r
60 80 a. m. Washington timel, whel
weather cleared and we decided to lant
y to make observations, as we only hat
two hours fuel left Discovered heav,
sea humming; too late to remain in air
Slightly damaged hull and scriousl
damaged forward center engine strut
on landing, which made it impossible u
leave water.
''ObservatiOns showed this position t
be Al. .45 north, 30 % west (apparcntl
this should be latitude 81 instead of Il
as given in the Dispatch. Gale aros
on evening of 18th, which was riddle
out successfully until 800 G.. NJ. 7
Il, a. M, Washington timeD. May 1G
when lost port wing pontoon. Seaplan
suffered severely, but succeeded in rid
ing out gale, and by sailing a total dis
tance of 205 miles made moorings a
Ponta Delgada under own power q
1850 G.. NJ. I. Il 80 p. m, Washing
ton timel , May 10, having lost starbcar
pontoon just outside harbor."