The Washington times., 1924-08-02
FOG DEF|ED BY.
FL|ER ON HOP
To ICELAND
Lieut.. Erik Nelson Sighted off
Farce Island by US.
Destroyer
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appeared which was identified as
that Of Lieutenant Smith. A
weighted bag was dropped from the
second machine. Whine a crowd
was rushing through back yards
searching for the bag, a second one
was dropped. which fell at the fee.
Of Major Davidson, aerial attache
to the United States embassy in
London. Major Davidson was
standing upon the quay at the
time. The bag was hastily opened
and was found to conlain a. note
saying that lieutenant Erik Nelson
had become separated from his com.
panions in the fog and was missing.
Moorings Lifted
When. Smith and Wade returned
to Hout0n Bay they found their
mooringa lifted. The planes will be
endangered IL heavy weather blows
UP.
1--WE tried to fly above the fog,
but at 3.O00 feet altitude, It was
very thick" said Smith, 'The last
VIC SOW Va NetSOH ne was uSSCoNu-
ing, apparently hoping to get be-
low the fog. The Richmond ad-
vised a return to Houton Bay"
II Nelson makes the flight sue.
cessfully to Iceland, Smith and
Wade will attempt to hop off to-
morrow, weather permitting.
Smith Suffers Delay.
Weather conditions were favor.
able early in the day, but Smith
was delayed for nearly an hour
getting his plane to rise from the
water and when the aviators finally
did get away towards Hofn Horn
afford mist had begun to gather.
The aviators were soon lost to
sight In the haze over the water.
After waiting IS minutes for Mel
sons return, Lieutenant Smith en-.
pressed belief that Nelson was pro.
ceeding to Iceland alone.
Early in the morning the United
States cruiser Raleigh, riding at
anchor off Hofn Hornafjord, and
the American destroyers Reid and
Billingsley, patroling between the
Farce isle ndg and Iceland, reported
clearing weather.
Engine Trouble Develops.
Smith, Lieutenant Leigh wade
and Lieutenant Erik Nelson began
to tune up their three machines.
O'Clock but Smiths plane developed
engine trouble which detained them.
Smiths airplane refused to rise
from the water for So minutes
while Nelson and Wade and their
companions circled overhead.
Finally Nelson and Wade descend
ed and talked" along the surface
of Houton bay, making q wake
for Smith which enabled his ma
chine to rise.
The flyers boarded their planes
at 1850 O'Clock and talked" down
Scapa Flow heating their sengines.
Smith encountered difficu1ttaW from
the outset. He tried to use the
wash" OF a passing steamer to as
sist him to rise, but without sue
cess.
BY the time Smiths macmne
went up, a light mist had rlGaF.
All three aviators disappeared into
the haze, flying at high speed.
There was d cheer from the deck
OF the Richmond and from the
shore line as Smiths big gray ma
chine rose from the water and
took northwesterly direction
through the sky.
J The Reid and Billingsly earlier
had reported that visibility was
better and that the drizzle Of rain
which prevailed Friday had stop.
ped. Smith and his companions then
conferred among themselves and
with Lieutenant Commander Leigh.
ton, naval aviation officer on I'D
the Richmond and decided to mop
off If 1t was at all possible. They
were tired Of the delay and wanted
to get into action unless It en-
tailed too much risk.
Smith said he did not believe he
and his companions would follow a
route which would take them over
the Farce Islands, but would skirt
them to the southwark.
With the exception Of the tenn
p0rary baking OF Smiths machine,
all the planes were in fine order
and the men were confident and
In good spirits. They hops 70 reach
the American continent early next
week by the way Of Greenland.
Despite rain and fog there has been
comparatively little wind over the
North Atlantic.
Ice Fields Reported. -
The Raleigh reported ice fields off
the Iceland coast and in Greenland
waters, but the aviators were conf.
dent they would encounter no
dangers from this source. Plans