New-York tribune., 1922-06-12
Panther Trees
FLYER Lost Forty
Hours inSwamp
Cadet Raymond White Drops
Into Florida Morass as
Gas Gives Out: Savage
~ Gnawed by Mosquitoes
Lacerated by Saw Grass
Finally Makes Way 10 Semi
mole Camp: Searching
Planes Fail TO Find Him

ARCADIA, Fla. June 1i.-Treed by a
panther. devoured by mosquitoes. his
clothes torn to tatters by the saw grass
OF the Florida swamps, without food
for nearly forty hours-these we're
among the experiences Of Cadet Ray
mond White, Carlstrom Field aviator,
whose plane crashed into the wilds Of
southeastern Lee County last Thurs
day He was brought back TO the Ay-
ing field to-day in one OF the planes
that had been searching the Everglades
since his disappearance was reported.
Cadet White, whose home is at
Pritchett. Tex, was ordered TO make
practice fight from Carlstrom Field TO
Okeechopee City and return last Thurs
day The first part Of the flight was
completed without accident, and Cadet
White, flying along, started on the re
turn trip, when ne lost his direction,
and instead Of flying northwesterly
headed his plane almost due south.
When at a point about forty miles
southeast Of Immokalee, Lee County,
his fuel tank ran dry and his plane
fell The plane was completely
wrecked, but the cadet escaped injury.
White started TO walk, looking for
signs Of human habitation. With his
clothing torn 10 tatters and bitten al
most beyond endurance by the swarms
OF mosquitoes, night overtSok him.
During the night panther chased the
aviator into the branches Of a cypress,
where he remained until daylight.
Continuing his tramp, foodless and
with only the swamp water to quench
his thirst, young White was picked up
Friday evening about 8 o'clock By Sem
mole Indians and was taken 10 Semi
mole camp. There he spent the night,
proceeding Saturday to another camp
several miles distant. Two OF the
searching planes from Carlstrom Field
were sighted during the day, but the
sviators signals apparently were not
seen.
Saturday the aviator and his Indian
guide reached Kennedy Carson's ranch,
where the night was passed. Early
this morning Carson started with
White in a blackboard for lmmokalee.
On the way another OF the searching
planes was sighted and Carson and
White, signalling with a sheet, at
tracted the attention OF the flyers. The
plane made a landing and took White
on board.
White suffered no serious effect,
from his narrowing experience beyond
the myriad bites OF mosquitos and the
exhaustion Of his walk, in the course
Of which he covered fifty miles OF the
most difficult country in Florida.
OMAHA, June 1l.-Eddie Ricken-
hackers around-the-country fight end
ed abruptly early to-day when his large
all-metal plane crashed TO the earth
while attempting 10 take OF from the
air mail field here for Denver. None
Of the Riekenbacker party was in
jured.
AUGUSTA. Ca, June l1.-Msjor
Brainard. Marine Corps officer, and
Lieutenant r. T. Aldworth, OF the air
service. narrowly escaped death when
De Haviland airplane in which they
we're travelling crashed TO the ground
at Camp Hancock landing field late TO-
dav. Both officers are at the Uni
versity Hospital. badly injured.
CHICAGO, June 11.-R. c. Wheeloek
Of Zion, H., and his bride Of two weeks
were killed and the pilot was injured
TO-DAY when an airplane fell 300 feet.
According to the pilot, John Metzger'
the controls janmed, causing The &c.