The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-05-21
SEAPLANE NC-3

soon as it hcatcd into the air and
Hawker headed straight into tbs
northeast When ne dropped his un-
der carriage he and Griev waved {
quick farewell.
Flying straight without swacvins a
tnair- from the chosen course, the lit-!e
plane faded rapidly from view. Ir
five minutes it had dwindled to 2
speck in the sky ard in six minutes
it was out Of sight beyond the hills
Hawser's sta: wcs made IN tae
face of weather ,4>..tions which nc
characterized as mot yet favorable
! but possible He and his navigator
gravely considered the hazards of the
attempt and decided to stake every
thing on an effort to "beat thesAmer-
! icanS.''
Overnight reports to the n1etefolog-
ical station had shown Increased at
iacspheric pressurcs, smoother seas
and fair barometer conditions. Al
though wines and pressures were not
all they hoped for, Hawker and Griev
ordered their hand satchels packed
and made ready for the start.
Hawkec considered weight as OF
utmost Importance Lifting Grievs
! bag he found it heavy and inquired
sol;citously if he could not dispense
with pajanlas on the trip" Wher
asked il he thought he would have
a chance to sleep during the voyage.
Hawker replied: Well have long
sleep coming at the end Of it.
1t was o'clock in The afternoon.
Greenwich time, when Hawker order
ed his Sopwi:h plane out of its han
gar for a ground and wind test Over
in the Quidiv:di field at the other enc
Of the city Raynham had found cross
winds sweeping over his Martinsyde
take off, grounds.
Hawker tried out the Scpwith for
"a minute or two and called conditions
for a start good enough Griev
agreed. The plane was then given g
final inspection.
AT 5.51. Greenwich time. the Sop
with was ready. At 5.55 sharp. Haw-
ker gave the word and the ground
crew "let GO
The little plane jcrked forward,
then moved steadily over the uneven
ground
HawlSer gathered speed rapidly as
he bowled over the turf. rockins
heavily. At zoo yards h" was soire
fairly well. but swaying badly. a
hum.nock lifted" him az 900 yards
and with a last lurch the SopWith
took the air.
From that instant It set sail cl-
rectiy northeast w;nsing higher ARD
higher. When the under carriage WI:
dropped the little group OF spectators
crieG out: Shes off. -
Haynham. at Quidi.idi. heard The
rear OF the Sopwith engine and as tie
plane rose we'll into the air he order
ed the Martirsyde !Aade ready at once
and Went into consultation With his
cavieator. Morgan.
Within an hour the Martinsyde was
taxing for start with Raynilam
ut the control. humping heavily and
rocking from side TO side over tie
rough ground Suddenly . rear axe
buckled and The machine crashed on
its side. plov;irS into the earth. Rayl-
ham and Morgan were lifted out q
the wreckaSe streaming with blood.
Too heavy & carriage was said 10
have caused the collapse OF the Mar
tinsyde's under carriage II was try
ing 10 carry 36S gallons of gasoline.
Hawker and Grie: are a;.ing over
a course all their own. figured out
last night and this morning with the
one object in mind of how 20 head
off the Americans-I
Hawker and Grieve were wholly
calm at the start Methodically and
without the slightest trace Of ner-