Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-05-18

y
three American naval seaplanes
which set out last evening from New
Foundland in the first attempt in a
flight acros sthe Atlantic. still was
missing late tonight. Another was
riding at sea, 200 miles from the
island of Fayal, Azores, and the third
was safe at Horta, Fayal, after es-
tablishing record flight for heavier
than-air machines.
The missing plane is the NC-3,
flagship of Commander John Henry
Towers, commander Of the squadron,
but the fact that the last report came
from her at 5:15 o'clock this morn
ing, Washington time, did not cause
naval officials to entertain any
apprehension for the safety of Com
mander Towers and his crew of four
The last message from this show
Cd her off her course in a fog some
$50 miles from Fayal and naval Off
Gals believe that it was only the mist
bank which enveloped the sea around
the Azores throughout the day that
| prevented all three of the planes from
reaching port on or ahead of schedule
time.
NC-1 Lost Way.
Lieutenant Commander Patrick N.
l. Bellinger's ship, the NC-1, also lost
her way in the fog and was forced to
descend at 1l:40 a, m. Washington
time.
The one plane to reach port was
the NC-4 which led her sister ships
practically all the way and descended
mt, mt Horta harbor at 9:2O o'clock,
washington time. Her official time
Tor the flight was Is hours and IS
minutes and the average speed was
approximately 80 miles an hour. The
performance of the plane was all the
more satisfactory to officials here be-
cause OF the fact that she suffered a
serles OF mishaps on the first leg of
n ner voyage from Rockaway Beach, to
lrepassey Bay.
10 Lieutenant Commander Reed,
summarizing - the NC-4 goes the honor
u " having made without interruption
isne most daring journey ever attempt
81 IN an alrship of any kind. Rising
rom dinner last night, in the ward
room OF the minelayer Aroostock at
ttrepassey Bay, N. F., he and his men
preak.1asted soon after 9 o'clock this
morning :. aboard the cruiser Columbia,
a. a. Morta. But for the fog that clamp
s. 81 oown on the NC-4 as it sighted
w ~ heights, acros from Morta, they
v mvua nave boarded the U. S. s. Mel
:. .''e De1ore noon today and been ready
= Jump again tomorrw-this time for
t Hh'soon' the city marking the end of
' actual hight over the Atlantic.
n, NC-4 Led Way.
h., Ne story of the long flight as told
oy ~ si'e y, radio waves that filled the air
~ the North Atlantic last night
n ~ De gathered in BY the navy de-
tnha a. from many quarters, shows
ma. commander Reeds hard luck of
s asI legs of the transatlantic
s ssSu appears y to have turned from the
f;rst '' ne led all the way after rising
doS Ss al lrepassey Bay only to come
off;oa again to give his commanding
81 ~ commander Towers, the honor
l. i, 90 sooarting first. The NC-4 was near
bef Su minutes ahead of the NC-1, lust
Al ~ commander Reed sighted land
Nc 'aG azores, and the flagship, the
n Az Jagged still farther behind. That
tba mM1innutes, officere believed. saved
~ 3 MA from the fog.
sean,. virtue of that narrow lead. he
mo moons to have slipped through tc
have lln ai in Horta harbor only te
beb;na' me fog pail roll down heavily
advam t nlm, barring the way for his
torv ma1 companions on the his.
linysan.n making voyage. Commander Bel.
unSer was caught with land almost
ers W. ms eyes, but Commander Tow.
sbow Was olanketed we'll out to sea
banI the speed with which the foe
seas a. sea usually means smooth
bel;evaaaau httie or no wind. Official.
cre nssed the fog-bound plane and It,
SON sh are IN no jeopardy for that rea
away SHOULD 70 wind come, it would tea
to tsLa .ie rug curtain and permit il
rise 1 Il ar again before the sea coult
boat san. any event. the boat is a rea
All ws sseaworthy as well as airworthy
The snre Quilt to ride out storms 81
has s an. # necessary. The crew
Ap'e stores of food, water AM