New-York tribune., 1919-10-17
Lieut.. Maynard Forced to
Alight at Wahoo, Neb.,
After Crankshaft of
Liberty Motor Snaps
Bomber Stripped
To Aid Pacemaker
Leader in Derby Facing
Danger ofLosing;Delay
to Count Against Him

The progress of Lieutenant Bel
win ". Maynard, the famous flying
parson.' leading contestant in the
'cross-continent air derby, was halted
abruptly at noon yesterday when tho
crankshaft Of his Liberty motor broke
in midair and compelled him to make
a forced landing at Wahoo, Neb. II
almost any similar accident had
crash would have resulted, but May
nard made perfect emergency
landing.
The accident seriously affects the
airman's chances of winning the race.
Being compelled to land between con-
troll stations, the time taken for re-
pairs will be added to his total flying
time.
There now begins double race for
Lieutenant Maynard, race against
time and q race against other Mneoa
starters who are gaining on him. Had
the accident occurred forty miles fur
ther east he could have landed his ma
chine in the Ak-Sar-Ren field at
Omaha, aad taken as much time for
Hcpalrs as was necessary without af-
secEng his flying time.
lie still has a cnanca to be the first
% cross the country twice in the great
race, and every official OF the Air
Service Is moving strenuously tc assist
MIN IN the accomplishment Of that OBJ
Iect. All official red tape has been cut.
Wife Baked Victory Cake
As soon as word of the accident had
been received here Mrs. Maynard, wife
OF the aviator, who has been anxious
~ watching his progress, was in
formed
81 am dreadfully sorry" she said.
will it affect his nying time?"
When told that it would she said,
That's too bad. / baked a special
cake IN his honor because | felt sure
lie would be here tomorrow"
Maynard's knowledge of the Liberty
motor enabled him to Judge immedi-
a'ely what was wrong when the crank
snaft broke. He closed the IGNITION
and shut Off the flow OF gasolene to the
camaged engine.
Before the broken parts could grind
themselves apart under the terrific
STRAIN and wreck the engine and air
plane in mldalr he mad taken the only
step possible under the circumstances
TO save his ship and his life.
Immediately after he had shut off
the damaged engine Maynard circled
around IN search of a suitable landing
ne!d. tie chose a cornfeld, and came
oown to perfect landing.
When he had landed his machine
salely IN a cornheld Lieutenant
with the officials at Omaha. From
them he learned that the giant
;na,tln bomber, piioted by Captain Roy
\. Francis, was lying wreck at Yu-
'ah' out ten miles away from the point
mere has own machine was forced
down.
Further Inquiries developed that one
OF the two Liberty engines Of the huge
oomoer was still in good condition and
eou'd De transported by road to Wahoo.
NSPthla Francis, himself eliminated
IRON the race through fog, Immediately
.slt futan for Wahoo upon hearing Of
Mi@syaard's misfortune. He viii person
any assist in transferring the motor
from his own machine to that Of Nav
marc 3. 1t IS feared. however, that the
sIaASfer VIII take at least two davs.
Still in Race" Says Maynard
Il am still in the race" declared
;hayhard, as soon as he had completed
MS arrangements. Lieutenant Il Y
"eiis, commander Of the Omaha CON
lro4 station, sent truck.oad Of sol
o'erS 70 Wanoo to guard the machine
sary.
orders hare been issued from Wash
lyon Mat eTery assistance necessary
~ g'Fcn Maynard at once. II also waa
s-@teo mat because Of his good showing
'oond Tor the SKY pilot" aviator in the
sseht ne could not repair the one in
"h4ch ne has already flown over three
'nots@nd miles in the race
lieutenant Wells Of Omaha said last
h'gnt that not d single moment would
DC ioSt IN transferring the Liberty
motor from the Martin bomber to MAJ
nara dc HaViland 4.
maynard waa hy.ng at an altitude Of
22,,V'D ieet ~hen the cranAshaft broke
ne Immediately shut down the daro.
" suitable field, and landed his ma
chine perfectly.
Tapped Western Entry
;, The accident occurred just afte,
naynArd had again triumphcd owe,
'he inclement weather that prevailed
GENERALLY throughout thc middle Wes'
yssterday. He started from the Sid
nney' Neb., control station where n.
hsd spent she night-in snowstorn
7:l5, mountain time. yenterda,
morning.
flying steadily through the rouy}
ssather, he had the eaDgfaction q
passing the second SIN rranciac.
s,ar,er, Who was still on the FIRST AYh
aeross the country. rhe was Lieu
Continued on merit pugc