Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-14
Weather Stops
Attempt to Fly
Across Ocean

1
! st. John s, y. F.. April 13-Dense fog
and drizzling rain today forced Harry
| G. Hawker, Australian aviator, again
to postpone his attempted fight across
the Atlantic in quest of fame and the
$4,000 prize offered by the London Daily
Mail. Yesterday a clustering south
easter made hop off, impossible.
Hawker plans to begin his ad-
venture at the first signs of favorable
| wind and weather, but mariners wise
in the lore of fog and rain said to-
night it might be week before the
misty curtain lifted, as thick wealth.
| er is to be expected at this season.
Meanwhile the trans Atlantic
flight is developing rapidly into a
real race. Encouraged by the de-
lays encountered by Hawker. Cap
tain E. P. Raynham, British air.
man, is rushing the work of assem-
bling his Martinsyde biplane, which
he hopes to have ready in time to
take the air at least as soon as
Hawker's Sopwith machine "Hoh-
soff'' as the rivalry between the two
camps increases, there are indica-
tons that Hawker and Commander
Mackenzie Grieve, r. n, his naviga-
tor. are ready to sacrifice every pos
sible safeguard to the sporting de-
sire of getting the jump on the
other fellow"
Despite rains overnight. continu-
ing into this morning, Hawker pre-
pared to begin the fight as soon as
the fog lifted measureably. Scowl-
ing at the murky clouds being blown
over the harbor on light winds, he
ordered his plane made ready for
flight. while Commander Grieve sat
judge on weather reports which
came by telegraph and radio from
along the coast and far out at sea.
After several attempts today. his
plans were finally abandoned when
Grieve decided that the weather,
with the hazards which ordinarily
must be encountered, was too inaus-
picious for the attempted fight.
One reason for the spring fogs is
the effect of the Gulf Stream on the
icebergs lurching down the coast
from Labrador. An iceberg rising
% feet above the surface floated to-
day past the entrance to the harbor,
but further outside the usual ice
clear. At dusk fog hid from view
the harbor mouth.
The rival airmen had an oppor-
tunity to judge preparations made
for the fight by the other when
Hawker today returned call made
yesterday at his aidrome on Mount
Pearl Plateau by Raynham. who had
erected a canvas hangar in a field
at Quidividi. 1t was surmiSed that
this call was responsible for the an
Eouncement from Hawker's camp
that he would essay the 1900 nile
flight to Great Britain with the first
clearing of the weather and even a
negative wind. Rain, it was said,
would not be so much deterrent as
the motors were adequately housed
To save time and weight Hawker
has abandoned plans for perfectinS his
wireless equipment and his navigator
will not have available wireless direc-
tional devices which it was expected
would he installed. Instead. Com
mander Gricve will have to determine
his position by occasional wireless
messages sent out by vessels met in
crossing.
Hawkers delay has given added
impetus to Raynham's mechanics. vino
are working night and day on the
task assembling their Martinsyde.
Because of hills and valleys, the con-
tour of New Foundland offers no
large level fields for a take-off, and for
this reason Raynham selected the site
for his "airdome' in a field by the
roadside. When he hops off" it will
be from this road.
When Hawker arrived at Quidividi
he found there. besides Captain Rayn-
ham. the latter's assistant pilot and
navigator, Major G. W. Morgan. a
British veteran Of the war, who lost a
leg in action. Hawker found his
rivals fuselage assemblage. One set
of wings was ready for adjustment
the other still was in it's crate. At no
time did Hawker of Ranyham discuss
the others chances of being first
to cross the Atlantic by air, but each
confined his conversation to a techni-
cal discussion of the machines.
This discussion brought out COM
parson of the machines and the de-
vices on which the rival aviators are
relying in case they are forced to
plunge into the sea.
Hawker's Sopwith carries in it's fus-
elage miniature boat which tests are
said to have shown can not be cap
sized, even by the united efforts of two
men. In this boat have stored emer-
gency rations and Hawker and Grieve
have expressed confidence that in case
of being forced to abandon their plane.
they will be able to float around for
several hours in relative safety, wait
ing for assistance.
Raynham and his war-Scarred COM
panion. on the other hand have no
such devices and in case of mishap
will be forced to rely solely on cloth
ing designed to make it impossible
for them to sink.
Nor has the Martinsyde a device
for cutting loose the heavy UNDER
carriage and landing gear II IL is
found they hamper flight by weight
and wind resistance. On the other
hand, it is said, if Raynham succeeds
in crossing the ocean he will have a
better chance Of landing his machine
whole than Hawker, who, If he drops
his landing gear out at sea, will have
to crash on land or water when he