Evening star., 1925-09-11

0s y.
at 11:25 last night the joyous message
of the arrival in port was intercepted:
Arrived safely on shore. Rodgers
and his crew in good condition. Well
and happy. Entire population Of the
Island of Kauai were waiting on the
beach to greet the flyers"
To the commander of the submarine
Admiral Robson radiocast:
"Heartiest congratulations. Please
report condition of personnel. Give
Rodgers and crew our congratula-
tions. What is condition of plane and
can it be salvaged?"
The island communities, on the
point of despair yesterday, were cele
brating the arrival Of the aviators
with joy that found vent in an i'm
promptu celebration at Honolulu in
which the island residents Joined with
the fleet crews just returned from the
Antipodes.
One native at Liuhu couldn't wait
for the arrival of the plane. He swan
out and told the seaplane crew they
were approaching a dangerous spot.
"All right" replied Rodgers, tow
US to the beach"
Doctors Are Sent.
There was some uncertainty as to
the procedure to be followed after the
landing was accomplished at Kauai.
AS soon as news of the discovery was
received here the L. s. S. McDonough
and several other vessels were dis
patched with a squad Of naval sur
geons.
1t is possible that the McDonough
will bring the rescued airmen to Pearl
Harbor, If their physical condition
permits Otherwise they will remain
at Kauai until late today. when they
will be started for Pearl Harbor.
The seaplane landed at IL pm.
three hours after it was towed into
the harbor by the submarine. The
boats went to her assistance.
The anchor line of the aircraft
then broke and 1t drifted into the
breakers near a coral reef. Attempts
were made to take the crew of, but
Comdr. Rodgers and his crew refused
to leave until the plane was towed to
safe anchorage.
When the happy crew was brought
ashore, the men were taken to
Liuhu hotel, where doctors inspected
the men. Comdr. Rodgers, the last
man to leave the plane. thereby up
holding one of the Navys Oldest
traditions, was ordered to bed. All
the men bore a haggard look.
Without Food Four Days.
They plainly showed the strain
which they had been under for nine
days. They were heavily bearded;
their faces were tanned by the
tropical sun.
The wings of the seaplane were
badly smashed by the seas, but the
hull was intact.
Food and water were exhausted
on the fifth day after the plane was
forced into the sea by lack of fuel.
They were therefore without food for
four days.
The fabric was torn off the plane
while it was being buffeted about at
sea and used to catch water when the
aircraft was tossed through provi-
Dental showers.
This saved our lives" they said.
HAS the Phi made q successful
f1ight?" was the first question asked
by the rescued aviators.
The messages radiocast by the
scare 1'~~ plane and surface ships
were al picked up by the downed
seaplane, but it could not put mes
sages on the air in response. This
was due to the fact that its droop-
ing antenna was under water. I'VE
were forced to land the second day
out, as you know" member Of the
crew said. 1--WE sighted a merchant
vessel five miles off. Signals were
sent up repeatedly and every effort
was made to attract attention, but
the steamer passed on.
Our plane was able to pick up
messages from the steamer, which
refused to divulge its name, but
drtfted to the northwest. After that
no searching ships or planes were
sighted until last Tuesday, when we
saw plane off the coast of Oahu"
Fish Jumps in Boat.
After Comdr. Rodgers landed he
said: I'VE experienced rough weather
for just one day at sea. That was
the third after we were forced down.
Rain and heavy seas made matters
uncomfortable. but the plane was sea-
worthy and stood the rough weather
we'll"
One amazing incident occurred
brought ashore in small boat. A big
mullet fish jumped into the boat and
Radio Operator Stantz picked 1t UP
and said:
big boy, IL you only had done that
two days ago you would not have
lasted long"
The PN.9 No. 1 was forced down
just north Of the point where the de.
stroyer Aroostook was stationed less
than 800 miles from shore. The flyers
experienced no trouble in landing,
they said. Then began their deter
mined fight with the elements.
Just nine days later they were res
cued, acclaimed by an awaiting world
as Argonauts of aviation, as heroes by
the residents of the Hawaiian Islands.
Rodgers Liked Place.
When Comdr. Rodgers was in.
formed that a destroyer was on its
way from Honolulu to take him and
his crew back to Pearl Harbor he re.
plied:."Hell. like this place, and am
in no hurry to get away"
Comdr. Rodgers came ashore with
Lieut.. Osborn, the skipper on the sub.
marine which rescued him.
Before Comdr. Rodgers would al.
low Lieut.. Osborn to return to his
submarine, he wanted to make ar