New-York tribune., 1919-05-20
Probably Failed, ,
M0zsrzss ST. John s
Newfoundland City Wcits
in Voisa for Nesos Of
HasVlfer and Navigator

ST. JOHNS, N. f, May 19-Harry
Hawker and his navigator, Mackenzie
Grieve, air adventurcrs, and the little
Sopwith biplane in which they set out
Yesterday to span the Atlantic in a
single flight, were unaccounted for here
tonight, and their associates reluctant
ly conceded that they "probably have
faiIed.'
Messages were flashed to every ship
at sea equipped with radio in en- eff
fort to find some trace Of them. But
there was no news. No vessel which
responded had seen the winging craft
! or heard the small voice of its tiny
wireless.
All day long and far into the night
this city waited eagerly for encourag-
ing word of the hiers. Radio rumors
and telegraph reports cf their safety
were hungrilv rclaycd, only to be found
groundless. Since the minute they dis
appeared over the hills from Mont
Pearl plateau on their "big hop" to
sea all trace of them had vanished
Sea Combed by Wireless
Late in the day appeal was made to
4
the hope of locating the plane.
Evening weather reports to the Royal
Air Force meteorological station
showed only one stormy element which
was unknown to Kawker and Grieve
when they made their start. This was
a centre of considerable violence which
developed from a small depression near
the Azores and moved rapidly over the
northwest course almost to the Irish
coast, increasing in violence and NOV
ing more rapidly than was anticipated
Hope was entertained, however, that
Hawker had been able to climb above it.
This little city wanted to believe
| Hawker and Grievc were safe on the
other side of the Atlantic. Bets laid
against their success were paid cheer
fully at the first report that they had
| landed and the whole city voiced it's
happiness.
A bulletin posted by an afternoon
newspaper, declaring that Hawker hae
landed at Brookiands, drew an enor-
nous crowd and in all parts Of the
city it was accepted as apparent con-
frmation of vague but persisten,
rumors of a safe landing
Raynham Congratulates Rival
Captain Frederick P. Raynham, the
British aviator"who was badly cut and
bruised in the collapse Of his Martin
sydc plane when he tried to "take off,
in the wake of his rival, sent mes
sage of congratulations to Hawkel
from his sick bed and issued state
ment applauding what he termed his
"fellOW Briton's success"
The pilot Of the Martinsyde machine
and his navigator, Captain c. W. F.
Morgan, sustained painful injuries
when their plano was wrecked in at
tempting to take the air in answer to
Hawkcrs challenge to join in the flight.
Captain Raynham was able to drive
his automobile away from his hangar,
but Captain Morgan was more seri-
ously injured, his face bearing three
deep cuts which required several
stitches to close.
Those who had been close associates
of Hawker announced they expected
tho earliest possible authentic word
of his landing "anywhere on the other
side" With Raynham and Major
Charles W. f. Morgan, his navigator
they sat up virtually all last night in
tho hope that wireless flash would
bring clad news from tho tiny plane
They were up with the sun this morn
ing, eagerly awaiting reports.
Raynham announced from his bed
tonight that he may still attempt q
transatlantic flight. After check O
the damage sustained by his Martin
syde, he said he might try to repair 1t
u shall fly homo If it ia possible,
he declared, probably in the sam.
plane reassembled. II that is not pos
sible, then In a new one, provided m,
owners agree"
Raynham's navigator, Morgan, an
nounced he would not "pay up" on hi.
wagers "yet" because no hopes to "n,
tho Atlantic" either from Ncwfound
land or from the "other side"
Il bet that ! would Ay the Atlantic,
| he said, land I still hope to. The Oh