Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-28

aXux. 26.-(By the Associated Press
heatenants Smith and Nelson, the
American army world aviators, mott
fled Rear Admiral Magruder, com
mander of the conveying squadron
today that they expected to leave
Thursday on their flight fron
Greenland to Labrador, after chang
ing engines.
ABOARD U. S. S. RICHMOND
Aug. 26.-(By the Associated Press.
Lieutenant Locatelli, Italian airmar
who was rescued with three com
panions by the Richmond late Sun
day night, after tossing about for
more than eighty hours in their dis
abled seaplane on the rough NORTH
Atlantic waters, today described his
perilous experience.
With his relief pilot, Lieutenant
Julio Crossio, and Engineers Giovan,
nj Barcoini and Bruno Farnsynelli
Lieutenant Locatelli today appeared
little the worse for his nerve wrack
ing adventure. Except for hands
blistered by castor oil and sea water
the rescued ayiators were not IN
jured While expressing gratitude
to the Americans for saving their
lives, the Italians said they believed
their plane could Rave been flown
again had it not been necessary to
destroy the craft.
II was sorry to outdistance the
American planes when we hoped
off at Reykjavill," Lieutenant Loca-
tell said But I was compelled to
do so because l was unable to main
tain the proper height for such a
heavy seaplane. fully loaded with
fuel, at less speed than $50 meters.
We had planned on the next hop to
give the Americans an hours lead.
Engine Gives Trouble
AFTER "a flight of IA hours from
Reykjavik we developed engine
trouble due to water in the motors,
1 believe we could have made Fred
eriksdal but the fog was SO thick we
decided to land make repairs and
wait for the weather to clear We
came down about % miles east Of
Cape Farewell on an unexpectedly
rough sea.
THE descent loosened two OF our
waters prevented us from taking off
again after repairs had been made.
We decided to wait until Friday, but
the next day and Saturday Engineers
Barroconi and Farsynelli were too
seasick to take an interest in any
thing. Lieutenant Crossio and ]
were unable to handle the plane
alone.
Friday we drifted far SOUTH of
Cape Farewell and Saturday and
Sunday we drifted 100 miles east.
We did not see. any ships. The fog
lifted Friday, allowing a view of
the coast. But it was too far for
US to consider taxing with only six
hundred litres OF gasoline remain
ing. | kept careful watch Of our
position and always knew exactly
where we were. Sunday the two en-
Sineers recovered somewhat and we
made an effort to take off. but tx e
rear engine was cranky because of
xplashing water"
The discovery late SUNDAY NIGHT
OF the missing Italian seaplane came
In dramatic fashion.
The Richmond, flagship Of Rear
squadron conveying the American
world filters, was putting out TO sea
forsthe. night after a Ruthless all-day
scSyHS6 along the Greenland ice pack
VIII It 1884 o'clock flares were
see, \ Immediately the course was
cha .sed in the direction of the
lights, which reappeared at inter-
walls. 1t was after midnight when
nj 1on6 ~
was picked up" by the Richmond
at point 125 miles due east of
Cape Farewell, the southermost tin
Of Greenland
Cruiser Draws Alongside
As the Richmond drew near the
seaplane four men were seen in the
cock pits. previous dispatches said
the crew, besides Lieutenant Loca-
tell, consisted of Lieutenant Julio
Crossi0, relief pilot, and Giovanni
Barcoini. and Bruno Farsynelli,
mechanicians).
A line was thrown to them, the
plane was hauled astern and the
filters were taken off. They were
suffering only from fatigue and sea
sickness and were soon restored aft
err partaking of hot coffee and sand
witches.
The wings and steering apparatus
of the seaplane were damaged and
1t was decided to destroy the craft.
The effects of the filters were re-
moved and then the machine, on
which they had travelled from Pisa,
Italy, was set afire and cast adrift.
Soon after being cut loose the tanks
exploded and the seaplane apparent
ly sunk. BY this time it was 2:30
o clock in the morning.
Admiral Magruder Immediately
send orders to the other vessels, call
ing off the search.
Finding of the seaplane in these
waters after drifting beyond the
probable zone searched by the naval
vessels for three days. is regarded
as remarkable.