Evening star., 1924-09-05

JoSt as viz
rest of us are This applies also
to the King and Queen and Prin-
cess Mary, who can hardly move
outdoors without finding them
selves In the next days picture
papers. On official functions this
is well enough, but when private
visits are concerned the thing is
an outrage. Royalty is proven
hially long suffering, but 1t must
hate the man who invented the
portable camera"
ley had taken up a station near
Farce Islands, and the Reid was be-
tween her and the cruiser Raleigh.
lying outside Hornafjord, Iceland. the
next scheduled stop. Weather con-
ditions were not satisfactory for fly
ing July 81 and August l. but the
following day the three planes got
into the air after much difficulty.
Scarcely had they disappeared oven
the hills when the Richmond pulled up
the hook" and departed for Reykjavik,
Iceland, but she was not under way
long before message came from the
advance officer at kirkwall. Maj. II. c..
Davidson, that Smith and Wade had re-
turned and Nelson was lost.
Fog Causes Difficulty.
A heavy fog shut down on the planes
shortly after they left kirkWall and
Smith and Wade climbed up through 1t
after thinking there was no end to it's
depth. When they reached clear sky
Nelson was not in sight. He had gone
down to the waters edge while the
other two climbed above. There was
nothing for Smith, the leader, to do but
return to Kirkwall and sound the
alarm. Nelson in the meantime had
held to his course and soon the Bill
Kingsley and Reid and finally the Ra-
leigh reported having sighted him. He
landed safely at Hornafjord. AS he
passed the BillingSley he dropped a
note stating he got in-wash of Smiths
plane and almost fell into spin.
The I'd of August closed on the
good fortunes of the three pilots who
had battled their way five-sixths of
the globe by air after their COM
mander was eliminated by a crash.
Sunday morning, August 3, was
beautiful. The sea was very smooth
and a slight breeze was blowing.
Before 8 o'clock planes 2 and 8
Chicago and BoSton-taxied out into
an open space and maneuvered for
many minutes to get off the water.
Wade had little difficulty, but Smith,
with lower horsepower motor, found
it not so easy as on the preceding
day. Finally, with Wade's help, he
was blown off, and the. Richmond
once more set out for Reykjavik.
Iceland
Oil Pump Fails.
About so miles southwest Of Su-
dero, Farce Islands, the oil-pressure
indicator in the Boston dropped to
zero.
There was nothing to do but land
for no oil was flowing through the
motor. The sea was slightly rough
and with dead motor the heavy
plane hit the waves even keel WIT
crash, breaking two vertical wires
connecting the upper and lower wings,
close to the cockpits and the water
pump, in addition to springing the
entire plane out of line. Smith and
Arnold say the plight Of their COM
rades, eircled low. and by signals
from Wade knew the motor was gone.
Picking up his course again Smith
headed for the Billingsley. located
near the Faroes, and as he passed
message bag, which missed and was
not recovered. I've got to get this
message to them," he declared to him
self, so he took his rubber cushion.
fastened another note to it and
heaved it at the Billingsley as Smith
flew over low.
This was fished out of the water
and told the destroyer that Wade was
down. giving his position, that he
needed immediate help and requested
the Richmond and planes to search.
AS requested in the note Billingsley
blew two long blasts indicating re-
ceipt of it and Smith continued his
flight to Hornafjord of about $50
miles. The Billingsley and Richmond
which had been informed of the seri-
Gus news Immediately turned in
Wade's direction at full speed.
Weather Conditions Bad.
The wind blew, sky clouded and
expected to reach the position by
$3.50 O'Clock, and shortly before this
time stopped to enable Lieut.. Comdr
B. G. Leighton, flight officer of the
light cruiser division, to be dropped
over the side in a seaplane, accom-
panied by a radio officer. But the
seas were running high and water
swept over the little ship, killing the
exposed air cooled motor time and
again. and this had to be abandoned.
Reports Men Safe.
Just before the plane was pulled
up on deck to its place on the cata-
pult the Billingsley reported she had
found the Boston in tow of a trawler
and that Wade and Ogden were well
and uninjured. A few minutes later
the Richmond pulled up alongside
and took over the tow line from the
Billingsley. which had relieved the
trawler Rugby of Grimsby, and
was f1oated over to the Richmond on
a life preserver. The plane was
swung over and its hook attached
to a rope in the top wing center
section.
Wade and Ogden came aboard and
the boom started to pull it aboard,
as investigation had revealed it was
impossible to repair the plane on the
running seas. The waves bounced it
up to the level of the main deck
time and again. About three feet off
the water the plane was lifted and
then came a crash-it dropped and
the boom with it, smashing the pro-
peller, putting two large holes in the
left pontoon, which by its stability
in not springing leak had saved the
lives of the pilots as they tossed
about on the ocean for hours, and
slightly damaged the wings.
There was nothing left to do but
bring aboard all movable equipment,
which was done at great risk to Ogden
and several sailors, because by this
time the dying Douglas was being
bounced about like chip. So she was
put in tow, and the Richmond through
the rainy windy night moved slowly
towards the Farce Islands, where It
was hoped she could be salvaged if not
reconditioned for flight. which appeared
quite unlikely.
Plano Sinks Quickly.
About 5 o'clock in the morning her
pontoon fittings broke loose; she
whaeIed over ON the mort side and dis