Evening star., 1925-09-12

large quantity of ice. At Duluth
Mimi, he was transferred to tht
steamer for Isle Royale in an ict
truck.
material at any time in the air OF
water" he said.
Il wish TO say finally that as Ha
waiian flight commander l was fully
supported by the units of the Navy
chiefly concerned" he concluded.
Stantz, the radio operator, a blonde
younSster, looking too young TO have
achieved SO great q measure of fame
had a goodnatured grin. Il feel fine
| never felt better in my life" he as
serted as he shook hands with every
one who came near him. He did not
appear worn bit by his experience.
William II. Bowlin of Richmond
Ind, aviation chief machinists mate
was talkattVe. He wanted to tell
about his adventure. Bubbling with
the thrill and joy of being greeted as
hero, he told his experiences agair
and again.
Skiles n. Pope, the aviation pilot
from Dayton, Tenn, looked tired and
dropped into the corner of the ton.
neau of a touring car and yearned
for a bed.
Sharks About Plane.
Sharks rolled and wallowed round
and round, following the disabled
plane for most of the 218 hours that
they drifted
Yes, there We're sharks, big black
fellows, that followed day after day
always waiting, l suppose, for choice
bit OF human tiesh,' said Bowlin, and
the other two chimed assent.
-,
orders We're given to cut away the
fabric from the two lower planes
This is a hard and fast rule for all
planes making a forced landing which
are likely to be at the mercy of the
waves for any length of time. The
fabric was saved and we later fash
toned sails with it.
Then began the long wait. Stantz
our radio man, could hear the mes.
sages of alarm that went out over
our sudden drop from sight. II was a
queer sensation-that listening to
those hunting for us and being unable
to communicate with them. That s
the way it went, day after day. One
day, | can't remember which, we
sighted a commercial steamer about
8 miles to the starboard. 1t was
early in the morning and the sun was
behind us, SO that ! suppose we were
not visible to the lookout on the ship.
About the third day, l think it
was, we sighted the Pelican 20 miles
away. We were certain that we had
been sighted and would be picked
up, as she seemed to be steaming for
us, but, after coming on a mile or
so, she put about and headed south
Again as we neared the shore of
Oahu, which we later sighted, we
,,Ia
were about TO approach US they, too,
turned back. Fate certainly seemed
against us.
Three times we thought we were
sighted, only to see the ship or plane
put about. Believe me, that was
tough, wasn't it?
After we sighted the north shore
of Oahu we thought we would be
able to land there, but the wind
shifted and we drifted away again.
That. l think, was when our hopes
sank to their lowest ebb. 1t was too
much and l for one was ready to
call the shark up and say, Come
and get me any time you're ready,
big boy But twas here that Mr..
Rodgers showed his stuff. He joshed
US along, kidding us, and said. Hell,
boys, we might be worse off than
this; why, l once knew a man who
was adrift with nothing but a log
under him for Is days.
We drifted for two more days, l
think, when a rainstorm struck us.
1t was then we managed to get our
first drop of really fresh water. We
put out a bucket oversize and spread
our fabric to catch it,. Big boy, it
certainly felt good and tasted good!'
Were Without Food.
In answer to questions about food,
BowIin said: I'VE hadn't any; we
ate most everything we had the first
two days. Water was all we had to
keep us alive for eight days of the
time we We're adrift. We managed
to distil a little each day with Capt
Johns still; that's all that kept US
alive"
Bowlin continued to say that they
never really felt themselves endan-
gered as far as capsizing was con
cerned, and that while choppy seas
were encountered at times there never
was a really strong storm. Our only
fear on that score was that a pontoon
might become punctured or water
logged and tip the plane, but this
never happened, which certainly is a
recommendation for that type of
plane"
The trio agreed that the most haz-
ardous experience as far as capsizing
was after they had been towed into
Nawiliwili harbor Thursday night and
lost anchor. 1.-The boats that came
from offshore had trouble in getting
a line aboard because of the darkness
and because of the uncertainty on
their part of our exact position. We
had no lights, you know. 1t was then
that Capt. John had his finger broken
and the others received several
scratches apiece"
All offered Prayer.
The trio was asked whether any
prayer was offered up when the R-4
picked you up?"
''Well, nothing actually spoken, but
reckon we all gave a silent prayer
of thanks, at least 1 did," one of the
boys admitted and the others assented.
Stantz is very modest over his own
efforts, merely mumbling, smiling re-
plies when he is questioned.
II simply did what was expected of
me- he said. "Ond that was the way
with all of them. Each had been
placed aboard the mighty Leviathan of
the air for a specific purpose. Each
did what was expected of him-and
more"
They also praised Connell, who was
in the pilots seat for p hours.
PILES OF MESSAGES.
LIHUE, Island of Kauai, IT. H,