The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-19

place, the left wing crumplea, and
the propeller smashed to splinters.
Realizing he was out Of the transat.
lantic race after years Of planning
and work, he collapsed utterly. Nor
gan, too, was unable to contain him.
self. The breaking Of the axle as the
plane left the ground is said to have
caused the crash.
Attempt without Parallel.
On the other side. Of the Atlantic,
toward which Hawker's plane, freed
OF the weight and air resistance Of un-
der-carriage, speeded at an estimated
rate Of 100 miles an hour, there is
fame, moneyand the inward satisfac-
ton OF a great deed accomplished
waiting for the aviators, but on the
way death turks.
They have a good plane with a
single reliable motor, the best that
England, under the stress of the war,
produced, the expert knowledge and
great flying ability of Hawker, the
skill as navigator Of Lieutenant
Commander Grieves in their favor,
but against them there is the omi-
nous fact that never in the history of
aeronautics has a plane-even a
multi-motored plane like the Ameri-
can seaplanes-travelled distance
OF 1000 land miles without a stop.
Hawker's departure to-day was en-
tirely unexpected. save by the men Of
his crew and few Of his intimate
friends. 1t was known that since the
first Of April. when he arrived here,
first Of the entered transatlantic fiiers
to reach Newfoundland, he has been
under an increasingly great strain as
the days passed by. The plague Of
contrary winds, storms at sea, the de-
pressing fogs and searching chill Of
Newfoundland descended upon him
in measure unreasonable even in for
bidding Newfoundland.
Other Aviator. stilI waiting.
Then came Raynham. a week be-
hind him. He congratulated his
younger rival and wished him luck
with the real feeling of a sportsman.
Then came the other contenders, Col.
John Cyril Porte's great Handley Page
seaplane, with two engines, able to
ride rough seas indefinitely; Capt.
John Alcock. who proposed to fly
great vimy-vickers bombing machine
across the gap, and Capt. P. s. Ben
nett, who planned to span the Atlantic
with a Bolton & Paul three seated ma
chine.
All the other contestants but Rayn-
ham had bigger machines and better
chances-so the aeronautical experts
said with disconcerting frankness-
than Hawker. He welcomed them all
and hoped the best man would win.
Then came the American navy men
with three great seaplanes. Hawker
honestly doubted their ability. with
their great weight-a weight which
he considered their four heavy en-
gines to add to unnecessarily. On
the day they left Trepassey Bay
Hawker still was waiting anxiously.
upon the weather reports which came
to him from Great Britain, from ships
at sea and from the local authorities.
Some of the townspeo1le. weary OF
the delay, bega to wonder, some more
openly than was polite, when he was to
get away. But it was when the
Americans reached the Azores that
Hawker's determination to leave de-
spite the absence of those perfect con-
ditions for which he hoped-conditions
which probably would mean the differ
ence between life and death to him.
Wished to Beat Americans.
He determined to take a chance
or rather to add another chance to
the multitude which he was taking
and leave without positive assurance
that head winds in mid-ocean would
not meet and beat back his plane until
with gasolene exhausted II sank.
His decision, MADE after an early
the office Of the Royal Air Force
meteorological, was with the intention
of beating to England the American
seaplanes, one of which he learned was
at the Azores within $50 miles of con-
tinental Europe. Hawker Is pro-
fessional fier, and he would lose none
OF the London Daily Mad prize Of $780,
600 should the naval flying boats beat
him to the British Isles. but his patriot
ism urged him on in fair competition.
Immediately after the decision Haw-
ker's spirits scared upward. Despite
the report Of the weather men, which
he quoted as mot yet favorable, but
possible" the strain upon him seemed
to have relaxed. The uncertainty had
passed. He felt that within twenty
four hours he would be live hero or
q dead fool.
With Grieve-who was as unconcerned
AZ the pilot. as became a British naval
officer in the face OF great peril, prob
ably greater than he had faced during
his active service in submarine infested
waters during the WARMTH his navt-
gator, Hawker Tested lightheartedly as
they packed their satchels.
Gravely weighing Commander Grieve's
satchel Hawker inquired OF his COM
panion in the perilous adventure:
Cant you dispense with patamas just
for the trip?"
And In response to a question about |
sleep during the voyage. for Grieve has |
had some slight experience as a pilot |
and may fly the machine for short In
tervals. Hawker replied:
he. al