The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-28
TELLS
A GRAPHIC STORY
Richardson Relates Thrilling
Tale of Adventurous Trip of
NC-3.
SIGHT LAND FAR AWAY
Gruelling Task Of Hardy and
Heroic Crew in Keeping
Frail Craft Afioat Under
Difficulties.

Difficulties.
Universal Service presents
herewith the graphic detailed
story written by Commander
Holden C. Richardson on the
thrilling and tempestous Journey
of NC from TrepaIssey New
Foundland. to the Azores. The
trip was rcpiete with unusual and
exciting Incidents Commander
Richardson's story narrates them
IN accurate ard picturesque style
He tells OF the days when NC-3
and her gallant crew were prac-
tfcaffy gfvpn up for host by the
world. The story reached New
York Tuesday by special cable
from Lisbon, PORTUGAL It is the
FIRST detailed account OF the his
tory-Yaaking night to be printed.
BY Commander Holden G. Richardson.
fPilot Of EC3. Copyright 1919 By
Universal Servfce)
Lisbon. May e7--After having Tr~-
passey Friday evening an went well
with ms until $50 New York tins
Saturday morning. Al that time we
had covered 200 knots. or l,48t
tA1tU yhaISS ID 100 nDNfA
y From tlss time We passad Ssxsicn-
ship -. II We had passed through
i've hours of RAIN squalls and fog. -
thick 1t times al to maire It fmpoe-
sihle to see the horfxon or the surface
OF the ocean.
The air was so rorgh mat the nav3-
gator was not satisfied with the ae-
curacy OF hts sights.
N
RAISING DESTROYER No. IS and consid-
cred it advisable to make a sea land
ing in order to determine our position
The only vessel we had seen was far
Oft to the %outhward Of our course. AZ
we figured later. n probably was the
e. s. s Marblchead
From the appearance OF the sea a
landing seemed possible and the d.
vision commander, after consultation
with the pilots, agreed to make the
attempt becau1e our gas supply waz
running low and n was essential to
employ what we had to the best
advantage. BESIDES. In the frequent
squalls. It was not Impossible that VA
should suddenly run INTO land with
mountains Nhe~d.
MAKE A LANDING
Accordingly. we swung around for
~ Spill ia tdIt0hfg experimenting IH6
surface cautiously. picking a suitable
opportunity throttl-d the engines
close to the surface and made con-
tact. The first contact was on the
crest of sharp w1ve which dropped
from under MS: the next was on the
far side of the next wave. in a deep
hollow.
We hauled UP wr1l and stalled the
engine. expecting to stick. but this
wave also dropped sharply and let us
fall heavily IN the sharp crest Of the
following wave. The last blow was
4 sharp one and examination showed
that the hun had been severely dam
aged. The tubusar struts Of the front
center engine were hent Hike a bun
dogs legs. and the living wires IN the
engine panels were very slack. due to
the settling cf the wings The ale
ron leads also were slack.
Further examination showed the
huh to he leaking forward. but not
dangerously The hufi longttudfnals
were huckled and cracked as well as
several ffoor frames. The bottom
plankfnr still held. but the principal
were damaged locally
where they delivered their load to
the main hun trusses. One truss wire
was carried away.
It was at once apparent that II
would be impracticable to resume the
flight, even II the surface was
which WAS not the casa Ten
to twelve foot waves were running.
on a heavy ground
swell.
To communicate by radio n was
necessary t. relocate the radio gene
rator In tho slip stream OF the pro-
Ya1larU TVNtv vu,n~ onH nv
ming the port engine we were able
but although We could hear the pa
trole boats working, our messages
we're not acknowledged.
From our supposed position. which
We later confirmed, we were about
forty-ffve miles southwest Of Horta-
The wind favorfng us. we started to
san astern on a course that wound
lake us toward the ASoreaL About z
r. M. we intercepted wireless report
that NC-4 was at Horta alongxide the
Columbia and ready to proceed to
Ponta Delxada the next day. NC-1
Was reported down with 4 damaged
left wing and tho search for her was
On.
UNEASY SLEEP
At ( p. M. we set the watch and I
,cok the trick from to 8. Nothing
occurred in that period. I
rot about three hours sleep. though
he racking OF tho wings on the hull
ma the swaah Of the water IN the
hull were rather dis00nc4sting. NY
. 4 - f.s r. AZ !. y \ I ~ 70,