South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-05

Flyers Fight
Fierce ind S
In Long I rip
IranscOntinental Pilots Al
most Hit Cliff-Descend
at indianapolis.

DAYTON. o., Nov 4-CBy A. P.)
After laundering their way three
fourths @f the distance across the
United States from san Diego to In
dianapolis, through storms and
calm, darkness and light, aboard
the monoplane To. Lieuts. John A.
MacReady and Oakley G Kelley, re-
Taxed tonight after the hazardous
trip and related incidents OF their
record breaking nonstop flight Of
1850 miles.
The aviators were forced 10 land
their ship at Indianapolis at 9:47
O'Clock this morning after they had
exhausted their water supply owing
10 a broken line They borrowed
a plane and flew to Dayton early
this afternoon. Had they Travelled
Approximately 700 miles further
they would have succeeded in their
attempt 20 cross the continent with
out stopping. MacReady and Kei-
lev, however. are not entirely disap-
pointed for their flight demonstrat-
ed'that coast-tO-coast flight is pos
sible, they declared
Bad weather hindered progress OF
the flight in early stages and for
more than IL hours the aviators
were forced 10 battle their way
through a thunderstorm, low clouds
and heavy cross winds. For a time
they said, they held little hope thai
they would be able to set across New
Mexico because weather conditions
were so bad. Darkness overlook
them in New Mexico and the first
ray of sunshine was sighted at 81.
Louis this morning. MacRead said.
suffer No III Effects.
Neither pilot suffered any il! ef-
fects from the trip. but both were
greatly fatigued Evidence of their
calm nerves was shown in their abili-
" 10 take an entirely different type
OF plane at Indianapolis and lily il TO
Dayton where an official report was
made to Mai T. II. Bane, com
maudant of McCoOk field. where
both the filters are regularly station
ed
I'VE are feeling fine" MacReady
said tonight. "and I would be will
ing 20 take another shot at it to
morrow if we were ordered by the
department"
Neither pilot considers the fact
that they broke a worlds record as
much of a feat but regard valuable
information CLEANED from the trip
for the future Of aviation as fore
most In making their report to
L
The takeoff was perfect and
everything was working we'll until!
we entered New Mexico. The
weather was giving us some trou-
BILE however.
The wind was $50 bad at times,
7 told MacReady We would meet
our end within a short time Kelly
told Mai. Eane Il can safely say
no two men even encountered such
conditions before.
Almost Strike Cliff
AT one time we were flying at
s ZOO feet when a high cliff sudden
" doomed up i'm front OF US. 1
stCered the ship to avoid hitting It
and was successful IN passing over
the top Of thu preCipice about three
feet to spare and a speed of 81 miles
an hour.
High winds i'm tho canyons also
gave us much trouble. but the first
real trouble occurred over Kansas
when we noticed the water leaking
from the engine. which began to
heat up. We used every possible
means TO repair the break. but 20 no
avail and when we reached Illinois
I We decided 20 land.
"In Indiana We selected a field
ard circled IL once with intention
Of landing but decided 10 proceed
I TO Fort BENJAMIN Harrison wher
/ the motor temperature did not in
. crease for a time. We landed with
out mishap.
When the monopiane landed and
/ we climbed out. IL was so hot We
| had 20 use the charge Of several fra
( extinguishers 10 prevent fire, -
! Lieut. MacReady said.
/ Eve hoped 70 be able 10 take or
more water at indianapolis and
bring the disabled ship on 10 Day
/ ton for repairs at McCook field, but
/ examination showed this could not
/ be done for the motor had been
! overheated so badly j, would not
make the trip. After seeing it placed
\ in storage and borrowing another
plane we came on 20 Dayton"
Continuation OF the flight with
1 the water leak and even unlimited
/ water supply would have shaken the
! motor 20 pieces. the pilots believe.
after examination OF damage done
! in reaching indianapolis.