New-York tribune., 1919-05-31
Halted by
Engine Trouble,
Spends Night 343
Miles From Lisbon
Flier Harried
By Old 'Jinx'
Descends Twice on
Last Leg of Her
Ply m outh Trip

BREST. May 80 (By The Asso-
eiated Press).-The "hoodoo" which
beset the giant American naval sea.
plane NC-4 in the early stages of her
hght across the Atlantic Ocean de-
scended upon her again to-day. 1t
stalked upon her in the same old form
engine trouble.
Twice to-day in her attempt to COM
pete the final leg of the history max
ing flight was the plane compelled to
descend upon the waters of Spanish
rivers, first shortly after her start
from Lisbon and then again northeast
Of Finisterre, near Ferrol, Spain, where
she rides at anchor tonight, ready to
resume the flight to Plymouth to-mor-
row.
Dawn had scarcely appeared in the
Portuguese capital when Lieutenant
Commander A. c. Reads famous craft
took off from the waters of the River
Tagus. Smoothly and swiftly she at
tanned the desired altitude and set out
on a direct course for Plymouth, IT'S
nautical miles away and terminus of
the greatest flight ever undertaken by
man.
\ Auspicious Start Is Made
At the time the second station ship
was passed along the route the NC-4
xas flying at an altitude of 1000 feet
sere runninEssn7ooth1y. This was about
= -, A
few minutes later the huge ship turned
inland and came to rest on the surface
Of the River Mondego.
The first news that the giant aircraft
was in trouble came in the form of
wireless message from Commander
Read himself, bearing the laconic text,
"Landed-Mondego River"
Then, apparently as though recogniz-
ing the doubt this brief message might
uouse and interfere with the station
arrangements for the fight, he quickly
followed it up with this message:
INCA at Mondego River. Must await
high tide. Seaplane cannot make Ply
mouth. Request destroyers to keep sta
tons. What is the best port to land
seaplane within 800 miles"
Only Three Engines Run
Later it developed that the trouble
was in the starboard engine, and al
though the seaplane could have contin-
ued on her flight with the remaining
three motors, it would have been
great strain on the pilots because Of
the unbalanced effect produced.
Rather than continue under these
conditions Commander Read decided
70 land and repair the trouble. The
liver he chose is near Figueira, and 10
subject to heavy tides. For this reason
the NC-4 was unable to take fight
again as soon as repairs we're com
pleted, but found it necessary to wait
for nigh water.
Although the giant seaplane left Lis
bon At $500 O'Clock this morning (1:2o
.. m. New York time) she was not able
TO leave the Mondego River until 1888
10 the afternoon (9:3S a. m. New York
time)
AS soon as the tide had risen suf-
ncientiy in the small river the NC-4,
ner trouble adjusted, rose again in the
ar and headed to the north.
Spends Night at Ferrol
In the meantime Rear Admiral
<iunkett, in command of the destroyer
not,ila patrolling the course, sent a
wireless message to the intrepid air.
men instructing them If possible to
make the port Of Vigo and stay there
.or the night before proceeding to
Plymouth.
Evidently this message never reached
commander Read, because at 4:35
eciock f12:35 p. m. New York time) he
1ought his craft gracefully upon the
waters Of the Bay of Betanzos, at Fer
fsi Spain, fully seventy miles north Of
iigo
The second and final flight of the
eay brought the NC-4 total Of 343
missf from her starting point. II leaves
ser with flight OF only 432 miles to
complete the original schedule set for
si three Of the NC boats.
ADMIRAL Knapp, in London, as soon
~ ne heard Of the descent, ordered the
~ ?. y. Shawmut to proceed to Ferrol
= .iui speed in order to assist the
spiane IN any necessary repairs. The
e.stroyers Harding and Tarbell were
sss' sent TO Ferrol, and this evening
--e--~.-