The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-05-27
UNCLE SAM IS ONLY
ENTRY In OCEAN RACE
u. S. MACHINES WINGED WAY
THROUGH LONG HOURS OF
NIGHT. TWO QUIT FLIGHT.

NIGHT. TWO QUIT FLIGHT.
The United States now is the sole
entry in the race to cross the Allan
tic in heavier-than-air machines.
Harry Hawker, the daring Australian
flyer, who was lost for a week and
was thought to have forfeited his
life in an attempt to make a non
stop flight from Newfoundland to
Ireland, was, with Lieutenant Grieve,
rescued Sunday in latitude so de-
grees, being picked up by a British
warship. They alighted close to a
steamer owing to a defect in the
water circulation of their motor
Both men are in perfect health. The
airplane was not saved. They were
missing six days. Frederick P. Rayn-
ham was injured and his pine wreck
ed in an effort to follow Hawker.
The Americans have demonstrated
that they have the greatest machines
in the world for long-distance fly
ing over the ocean. 1t was only due
to heavy fog that two of the three
big seaplanes failed just at the end
of their flight to the Azores. The
commanders of the NC-1 and the
NC-3 have stated that their Liberty
motors worked splendidly and that
their wireless equipment was capa-
bic of receiving and sending mes
sages at a long distance. The NC-4,
commanded by Lieutenant A. C.
Read, managed to reach Horta be-
fore the fog became too dense to nav
igate.
Success of the Americans.
The American naval flyers have
established a great record in their
fight. Two of the three planes that
left ROckaway Beach, L. l., arrived
at Trepassy bay on scheduled time.
The NC-4, however, was forced to
land off the coast of Massachusetts.
1t continued the flight as soon as
light repairs were made and arrived
at Newfoundland barely in time to
get ready for the pioneer trip across
the sea.
1t was late in the afternoon of
May 16 that the three planes left
the water at Trepassy bay, New
foundland, and started for the
Azores. Through the long hours of
the night the "Columbuses of the
air" were guided by destroyers sta
toned every so miles to the Azores.
The naval vessels were brilliantly il
Eliminated and at intervals sent up
star shells, visible at great distance.
Soon after midnight the moon came
up and the flyers felt more comfort
able as the sky was illuminated.
The seaplanes, which had been fly
ing at a comparatively short distance
from each other at the beginning of
the flight, soon separated. The NC-4,
the ''lame duck" of the expedition,
assumed the lead in the race. The
NC-3, the flagship" of the fleet,
commanded by Lieutenant Comman-
der John II. Towers, who made all
the plans for the flight, was unable
to make the speed of the NC-4, which
was winging through the air at an
average of nearly 90 miles an hour.
All three planes were aided by
12-knot wind.
Although the motors were work
ing satisfactorily the commanders
of the three planes ran into fog soon
gan. The NC-4, however, had made
such a record that it managed to
''land" on the water in the little
harbor of Horta, in the Azores, be-
fore the fog made it impossible to
navigate.
Located by Star Shells.
The story of the successful flight
of the NC-4, from Trepassey bay,
Newfoundland, to Horta, in the
Azores, is the most thrilling in the
history of aviation, according to ex-
perts who talked with Lieut.. Com
mander A. C.. Read, commanding of
1cer of the seapiane, after it had
landed" 1t was late on the after
noon of May 16 that the three big
flying boats left the water. and it
was only few hours before the
crews of the seaplanes were flying
through the darkness bound on the
pioneer flight across the Atlantic.
With his motors working splendid
ly Commander Reads seaplane drew
ahead of the planes and soon before
midnight he lost sight of the dim
lights of his companions. 1t was an
unusually dark night and the appear
ance of the moon made the aviators
feel more comfortable, Commander
Read said
During the long hours of the night
the NC-4 followed its course east
ward by the star shells sent up by the
destroyers, which were brilliantly il
Illuminated. In some cases these star
shells would be seen for a distance
of more than 80 miles.
Flight Resumed.
The NC-4, which had been delay
ed at PontI Delgoda a week on ac-
count of unfavorble weather, resum-
ID l.--l.A l.