Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-18
AMERICA BRIDGES
OCEAN AS FLYERS
REACH THE AZORES
Jinx Ridden NC-4 of Aerial
Squadron Was First
to Land.
GIANT FLYING MACHINE
PUTS INTO HORTA ISLAND
Commander Read Picturesque
Figure as He Bows to Stun
ned Population.
WELCOMED By FAYAL FOLK
Crowds Throngcd Every Point OF
WELCOMED By FAYAL FOLK
Crowds Throngcd Every Point or
Vantage to Catch First Sight
OF Huge Graft.

PONrA DELGADA, AZORES, Nav
i''-America has accomplished the
feat Of bridging the Atlantic by air.
To NC-4 jinx-ridden ship of the aerial
squadron. has fallen the honor of be-
ing the first TO reach the Azores Com
mander Read, the thirty one ear-old
naval officer in charge of the big fyinr
machine, brought the great air boat to
q landing in the hnrbor OF Horta. Island
of Fayal. at o:25. New York time. this
morning. He then stood up in the
cockpit strangely picturesque figure
IN his heavy aviation toys. doffed his
leather helmet. smiled with slee and
crowIs response to the cheers of the
VFoWus on shore who had assembled
TO witness the accomplis hmen, of the
greatest feat witnessed by these islands
S,n n columbus, ,I touched here his
The whole population of Fayal turned
out TO greet the American flying men.
pro wese k tbs IL touch with the
the line of ldcstroyers, along the course
fren on s.founttand' 'to- the Azores. .
. n > .;ah, was reported tearing along al
'aassed the destroyer Craven. station
~ S2S,N = ~ NJ, New York
orta. t,rowds lironged every painn
OF vantage along Ihe island strai ing
their eyes TO catch the first sight Of
M = idit nSiER UOat.
The next repoot was received NEARLY
Two hours later, when NC-4 had sight
eu fiores. the most westerly of the
Azores group. at 7:35 A. NJ, New York
time. u N
See Faint Speck In Sky.
About an hour later the anxious
Watchers detected faint speck in the
western sky which grew steadily larger
until SHORTY after 9 o'clock, when IL
was seen that the plane was going to
alisht at liorta instead Of contintiin r.
on to Ponta Delgada.
IN anticipat ion OF such a decision.
her landing in the harbor. Oficia Is
hurried TO the watersde to give a
htting welcome TO the men whose
daring had arrested the attention of
the world. VI
~ ten minutes after o'clock un-
earthly shrieks from The whistles OF
TO, 10 .he crowds on shore that the plane
was about TO make landing. A few
minutes later the big plane swoopcd
s snarpiE 10 the left. voIplaned down,
great gull, then dipped her nose into
ome water piowed along for a minute
or SO, throwinE spray right and left
anu rouhded TO her anchorage.
Crowds Cheer Crew.
Then with the cheers OF the crowds
on shore and the shrieks Of siren and
cailiope ringing in his ears, Commandsr
mcad stood up and waved his .acknowl-
,.iN"e VI cue piduuitS evoked by the
realization that at least the old and
new worlds had been linked together
by air. through the enterprise and dar.
Ing of Americans
me crew stood up and stretched
themselves. reminding one OF the
or wa in the stands al baseball game
IN the seventh inning. Then ali hands
climbed out of the cockpit and shoot
l hands with the ships officers who
Somma nder Read and his men we're
al dead tired, they said, by their long
Watch, and said the thing they wanted
nos, mos pal, or al WAS a chance TO sleep for a
-, "oulS. rms was arranged for.
Whiie mechanicians started to overhaul
inc engines and other parts of the ma
chinc Tor resumption of the flight
IT was limited that the plane nigh,
IKE me ar again this afternoon Tor
either Ponta Dclgada or Lisbon. but n
hirlzziing rain and low lying fog made
h. ,".nc' unilkeiy that start would
DC made before tomorrow
a, NS SO, w tr;da started from Trepasscy
commander Towers hagship. NC3. and
mead OF lieutenant Commander Bel
forged ahead during the night.