The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-31

IN ENGLAND
CONTINUED from page ID

stead of sailors OF the air who had
experienced narrow escapes from
death in trying to fly across the AT
lantic.
Lieutenant Commander NJ. A.
Mitcher, OF Oklahoma City, pilot oil
the NC-1. declared the transatlantic
flying problem was not one of motor
power, but OF navigation. owing to
uncertain weather conditions. He
said he hoped an airship would
eventually be built big enough to
alight enroute, If necessary. and sur
vive the buffeting of storms.
Every man Is eager to try again,
declared Lieutenant d. H. McCulloch.
of Newport. Pa.
Lieutenant BARN. of Portland,
Ore, said there was nothing SEN
sational about the NC-1 experiences;
that their adventures seemed no diff
ferent from those met with on an
ordinary flight.
There was considerable excitement
in Plymouth at the approach of the
American plane. Crowds were out
yesterday and were disappointed
when word came that the machine
had been forced to descend on the
Mondege river in Portugal. When
Read wired for information as to the
best port within 500 miles in which
to spend the night, he was advised
to go to Vigo or Ferrol. He chose
iFerrol. on the northern coast OF
Spain. While the plane remained
there, the American destroyers Hard
ing and Tarbell stood by to render
assistance.
At Brest II O'clock.
PARIS, May 31,-The NC4 flew
in France, at II a. M, according to a
message received here.
Left Spain at 6:27.
LONDON, May 31.-The American
seaplane NC-4, renewing her flight
from Lisbon to Plymouth, England,
left Ferrol, Spain, at 6:27 a. M.
Greenwich time, 1927 a. m. New
York time, this morning. She passed
station No 2 at TAB, Greenwich
time, and station 4 at 4.06.
Passes Station No. S.
LONDON, May 31-The, NC-4
passed station ship 5 at 1906 a. M.
time (6:05 a. m. New
York time), according to cable
from Brest received by American
navy officials here. The plane. the
message said. was not sighted.
presumably it reported by radio.)
Story Of Transatlantic Flight.
The actual flight Of the NC planes
started from Rockaway Beach. May
3, when the NC-1, NC-3 and NC-4
aopped off for Halifax, N. S. The
NC-1 and NC-3 made the Halifax
station on schedule time, completing
The $40 mile jump without trouble.
Commander Reads ma
chine, however, was forced to alight
near Chatham, Mass, and after rid
FnS ever a rough sea put into Chat
ham Bay for motor repairs.
Two days later the NC-1 and NC-3
few from Halifax to Trepassey,
while on May II the NC-4 completed
her voyage to Halifax. making the
distance In 4 hours and 10 minutes,
III rage ia OF lAiCS pei AOuAs hC
ollowing day Commander Read
his machine to Trepassey,
arriving just as Commander Towers
md Bellinger were trying to rise for
he jump to the Azores.
The planes left Trepassey for the
Azores at sunset on May Is. Read,
With the 'jinx machine" was the
lrst to leave the water, but after
:ircling the bay for sixteen minutes
llighted. Following tactics adopted
" Pilot Hinton of the NC-4. Bellin-
,er and Towers succeeded in leaving
he water, followed by the NC-4 and
he trip to the Azores 1880 miles
away. The NC-4 arrived at Horta
fter 10 hours and is minutes of fly
ng The NC-1 came down near
flores wreck, while the NC-3 was
orced down on account of fog about
,05 miles from her destination, ar
living at Ponta Del Gada after sur
ace run, too badly damaged to fly
urther.
On May 20 the NC-4 flew from
Iorta to Ponta Del Gada, $50 miles,
n one hour and A minutes. Seven
lays later Read hoped off for Lis
bon. The distance, $40 miles, was
covered in nine hours and forty-three
minutes, making the actual flying
line from Trepassey to Lisbon 2,150
miles, just twenty-six hours and
'orty-five minutes On May 30 the
NC-4 started for Plymouth. but was
forced to land on the Motego river.
100 miles from the Tagus, where the
start was made. A few hours later
she proceeded to Ferrol. Spain, where
the crew remained last night.
The trip from Ferrol to Plymouth
was completed today.
Rousing Welcome.
TBy Edwin Hullinger, United Press
Staff Correspondent