The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-04-21
CONDITION OF
THE FLYERS
Who Are Preparing to Sail
Across the Atlantic. Wood
Will Repeat as
SOON AS WEATHER CLEARS
SOON AS WEATHER CLEARS

st. Johns, Nova ScOCla-Locdi
atmospheric conditions this morn
ing were perfect and the British
and Australian contestants an
nounced their determination to Hop
off, this afternoon on their trip
across the Atlantic.
st. John, N. F., April 20.-Al-
though local weather conditions
were favorable two storms were re-
ported today working westward
from midAtlantic. and for this rea-
son neither Harry G. Hawker Aus
tralian airman, nor Capt. Frederick
P. Rayham, Britisher, "hopped off,
as they expected in competition for
the $4,000 prize offered by the
London Daily Mail for the first sue
cessful trans-ocean flight.
Holyhead, April 20.-Major J. G.
P. Wood and his navigator, Captain
G. c. Wylie, who came to grief in
their flight from East Church to
Ierland, on the first leg of their trans
Atlantic flight will pepeat their at
repaired, or another machine put in
condition for the long journey. If,
by the time they are ready, other
| aviators have flown over the Allan
tic they will try their best for record
time.
Major Wood and Manager Kemp,
of the Short Company, both attrib-
| ute the surplus flow of petrol which
| brought about their descent, to a
| defective carburetor. They say the
| engine was perfect. The airplane
| will be sent by rail to Rochester, and
/ repairs are expected to occupy about
fortnight.
Neither the pilot of the "Sham-
rock nor the navigator is the
| worse for the adventure, and neith-
er man is disheartened. Describing
| the accident Majtr Wood said:
Until we reached Holyhead the
| engine had been running splendidly.
took control, and starting across
| the chanel, we climbed to 5000 feet.
| We were twelve miles out when the
| engine stopped suddenly as though
| throttle open, and as the engine re-
| fused to re-start, turned for short and
settled in the sea half a mile from
the shore.
"The machine tipped it's nose and
for a moment I was submerged. ]
was thrown out of my seat but
Wylie did not go under, as he was
in the back seat.
Meanwhile, Parker, in the &C
companying airplane, seeing us il
difficulties, landed in field and go
assistance"
Manager Kemp added that the
flight had proved that the speed O.
the machine was quite as good as
and even better, than had been ex
pected.
Still Waiting at st. Johns.
st. Johns, N. F., April 18.-Il
contrast with the sketchy and prim
tive preparations made here befor'
the arrival of the Sopwith and Mar
tinsyde entries in the transatlantic
air race, the Hand1ey-Page bomber
built for bonn bing Berlin and now t,
attempt a cross-ocean fight for TIL
Daily Mail $4,000 prize, will fin,
everything ready when it gets here
The big fellow, with its pilots an,
navigator, is expected to leave Eng
land on April % and should reacl
St. Johns by May 1 unless the arc
tic drift ice delays it for few. days
In the meantime at Harbor Grace
ninety miles from here, on Concep
tion Bay, hundred men are toilin
to erect suitable hangar and pre-
pare an aerodrome.
Harbor Grace lies on one of tn
most attractive arms of the Sc
along the whole island, and the por
ulation is SO eager to have the plac
the scene of a transatlantic star
that they have literally offered t
move the whole village if it is in tn
way. As matter of fact thre
houses were in the path of the sit
chosen, and though one was a siz
= | story dwelling on the farm of Bish
op March, the residents all cheer
e fully agreed to have them shifte
! and this was done.
CONTINUED ON page six)