Evening star., 1925-09-30
HAWAIIAN FLIGHT
CHIEF IN CAPITAL
Rodgers and Aides Make Re-
port to WiIbur-WiII
Meet ProberS.

Comdr. John Rodgers, with three
other officers of the Navy's recent un-
successful Hawaiian flight. came to
Washington today for the double pur-
pose of reporting first-hand to the
Secretary of the Navy Wilbur on his
experiences while adrift for nine days
In the disabled seaplane, PN-9 No. l..
and of appearing before the Presi-
dents Aircraft Board.
Comdr. Rodgers first objective was
accomplished shortly after his ar.
rival here this morning. when he and
his fellow officers. including Lieut..
Byron ]. Connell. also of the PN-s
No. /; Lieut.. Allen p. Snody OF the
PN-9 No. 3. and Lieut.. u. G3 Law
renee w. Curtin. went to the Navy
Department and received the personal
congratulations of Secretary and Mrs.
Wilbur on their escape from what
many had feared to be certain death.
HIS next mission will be fulfilled
Friday, when he and his brother
aviators are to give what testimony
they can In furtherance of the board 8
desire ito better the quality Of the
air services"
Confer With NotAbles.
Secretary and Mrs. Wilbur. with
Rear Admiral Eberle, chief of naval
operations. chatted with the bronzed
heroes for nearly an hour. while a
roomful Of newspaper and newsreel
photographers snapped innumerable
poses and ground out reel after reel
Of film. Prominent in the pictures will
be noted Comdr. Rodgers splint-
bound middle flnger-the only out
81 h{S
against the elements after his plane
had been forced down near its OBJ
jective by lack of gas"
Mrs. Wilbur appeared to be quite
as much interested In the stories OF
the flight survivors as did the Secre-
tary of the Navy himself, and she
frequently broke into the converse
| ton with questions about their ex-
perience. Comdr. Rodgers was almost
reticent in giving his account OF the
| happenings to Secretary Wilbur as
he was newspaper men who first
greeted him after his rescue. He
! answered each question put to him
briefly, would sea captain to the
owner of his vessel. but his respect
/ full and modest answers told a never
| theless remarkabl story Of heroism.
Mrs. Wilbur admitted to the myers
| that she had virtually given up nope
| of their rescue after the long lapse OF
time during which no word OF encour.
agement was received. but she added
that her husband steadfastly refused
| to give in"
Asked About Food.
Secretary Wilbur's questions ranged
| from how the near-famished crew
managed to distill water for drinking
| hat
any fish. Lieut.. Connell explained that
| gasoline from the fued tanks was used
to operate the still and Comdr. Rodg'
| ers said that a few small fish were
captured for food purposes.
Incidentally, Comdr. Rodgers told
newspaper mon that he "hoped" the
! Navy would try another Hawaiian
| West Coast flight, and II such an at
tempt were made again he would like
to take active part in it.
"If I ever go to Hawaii again. the
commander remarked to the press. II
| intend to make the trip in. sea
plane" ;,
| He added somewhat regretfully- II
| seemed, that he would be stationed in
Washington for the next three years
under his new promotion and assign
ment as assistant chief OF the Bureau
of Naval Aeronautics. He said he ex
poets to reside at the Army and Navy
Club while here.
Assigned Presidential Suite.
The four flyers arrived here from
Chicago at o'clock this morning and
went Immediately to the Willard Ho-
tel. where they were assigned the
suite occupied by President and Mrs
Coolidge before they entered the
White House. Upon their appear
ance at Union Station they were met
nv a battery of movie and news pho
tosraphers, and again at the hote
they were besieged by the press.
| With Comdr. Rodgers at the hote
were his mother and father. with
whom he breakfasted before going tc
the Navy Department.
Comdr. Rodgers was anything bu,
voluble while the newspaper mer
were around, however. and one re-
porter who piled the officer with
numerous queries that he already
had answered in Honolulu and Sar
Francisco was chided for his fall
:" Continued on Page 2. Column ~