The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-09
TWO SEnrLiAIiNES Al
ARRIVE SAFELY
AT HALIFAX, N. S.
NC-4 Developed Engine
Trouble and Has Not Been
Located = Flying Time
Was Ten Hours.

4
American navy seaplanes, NC-1 and
| NC-S. arrived here at eight o'clock to-
night, seven, New York time, thus fin
| ishing the first leg of their trans-At-
| lantic flight. No reports have been
received here regarding the Nc 1
which developed engine trouble short
ly after leaving Rockaway Point at
ten this morning.
Washington, May S.-The destroyers
McDermut and Kimberly, stationed so
miles north of Cape Cod, where the
last word was received from seaplape
NC-4 today, tonight are making a dee
termined search for the missing trans
Atlantic flier.
New York, May s.-The first leg
of the trans Atlantic flight began to-
day when the three NC seaplanes left
Rockaway Beach at 10 o'clock for Hal
flax. NC-3 with Commander John H.
Towers was the first to take the air.
The NC-S cruised for a minute in
Jamaica Bay, moving at half speed
through the water and then turned
west for the open sea. The throttles
roar of te 1900 h. p. motors the plane
took to the air.
One minute later the sNC-1 lifted
herself from the water, followed with
in fifty second by the NC-4.
After rounding Rockaway Point, the
squadron turned east. heading for
Montauk Point, which is the tip of
Long Island.
About 1900 persons including the
/, 900 officers and men of the navy air
station watched the three great planes
start. The only ceremony was the pre-
sentation of a four-leaf clover to each
member of the crews by Captain NJ.
A Irwin, of the aviation section of
the naval bureau of operations. As
the men took their places they were
obviously under the influence of
rigidly restrained spirit of excitement,
earger for the adventure and confident
of the outcome. Commander Towers
expressed the confidence of all that
the flight would be successful. As he
donned his sheepskin lined uniform
and helmet he exclaimed delightedly
to his brother officers, boys we're go
ing to beat it.r AS Commander Tow
ers took his seat he waved his hand
to the spectators and called out,
good bye boys. There is nothing we
can see now that will prevent us from
being in Halifax by 6 o'clock. The
men are fine set. We could not have
better. We are confident the American
navy will be the first to fly across the
Atlantic ocean"
Lieutent Commander Read. the third
skipper, said. nothing has been over
looked in the construction of these
planes. They'll do the trick"
The first reports from the filters
came at IL o'clock, when they were
reported passing between Fishers Is
land and Long Island. off New London,
Conn. They passed Block Island at
11:35 O'Clock with the NC-3 consider
ably in the lead.
By 1880 D. m the planes had closed
up in formation and were passing over
Naushon Island, off the Massachusetts
coast. Twenty minutes later they
passed Bishop and Clerks light, about
Is miles from Chatham, and at 1:2S
they took departure from Chatham
light and headed northeastward on the |
Cape Sable course.
Nc-4 Has Engine Trouble.
washington, May S.-Commander
A. c. Read, of the NC-4. reported to |
the navy department by radio at two
o'clock through the Chatham station, |
that is plane was experiencing engine |
trouble and might be forced to land. |
The message read: I'VE are running /
on three motors, oil trouble on one, |
and may have to land"
Trepassy. N F., May s.-The last
units of the American destroyer flo I
tilla. which is to be scattered between
and the Azores in con-
nection with the navy departments
transatlantic flight, arrived here. to-
day. The first weather reports from
the battleships stationed in mfd-ocean
were received here today.