Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-29
Wind Increases Steadily.

w AIu INCREASES SIea01IE.
Our prospects at nightfall were not
reassuring. The wind velocity seem
ed to be increasing steadily and the
sea below us was whipped into a
Swirling mass of huge combers. which
when we dropped down near them
seemed of mountainous proportions
Rain clouds, too, We're gathering
even more thickiy than before. and
the darkness intensified their threat
ening aspect. 1t is difficult to describe
ones feelings under such conditions
60 two of us suspended in midair in
eur frail craft. practically at the
mercy of the elements and constantly
on the alert to detect the slightest
Gicn of engine failure.
Such failure. however slight, in
such sea, could have meant but one
thing-death. l couldn't help think
ing of Nungesser and Coli and Won
dering if perhaps they had not en-
countered just such weather as this
Then / thought of Miss Doran and the
other flyers who disappeared in the
Pacific on the recent flights for Ha.
wall.
But once again the weather showed
signs of clearing and, in fact. riffs
appeered in the clouds. permitting
us to see the stars. About o'clock
/,
the second that we had seen since
leaving Newfoundland
The first was a small steamship
which we encountered just off
Newfoundland. This second ship was
obviously a passenger liner, but we
were far above her and did not even
bother to alter our course to examine
her more closely.
Sea Runs High.
Over a phosphorescent sea the
J wind was still blowing strong from
the northwest, although it was be-
ginning to show signs of changing
again. Through the cloud riffs we
could look down upon the sea, which
still ran high. Sometimes we saw
the sea covered with phosphorescent,
through which the churning pillows
gave curious effect. This swirling
spray seemed to sprinkle the sea s
surface with tiny sphorescent
lights like a thousand minute sparks
struck from a giant anvil.
Toward midnight the wind again
changed, swinging to the southwest,
and once more the weather took a
turn for the worse. This time there
was no let-up. II appeared that the
nearer we got to the Irish coast the
more the sea ragged and the more
violent the wind became. Again we
saw our path blocked with storm
clouds. which in the darkness as
Sumed all sorts of weird shapes.
About this time it became neces-
sary for me to empty the contents
of some of the aluminium fuel cans
we carried into the main fuel tanks,
and | had just seized q can when
suddenly | felt the ship nose upward
with unusual sharpness. The first
thing that occurred To me was that
we were going into a tail spin.
called TO BIZ Brock 10 get her out
of that tail spin ] dropped the can
and crawied back TO my seat. Their
/ learned what it was.
Fly Through Storm.
In an effort to avoid one particu-
IarIy black cloudbank Brock had
attempted TO climb over ii. He
nosed the machine up until we were
living at an altitude of 5000 feet
ON examining the thermometer af-
fixed to a strut just outside his win
down Brock found the mercury was
down 10 -. AS there was danger
of rain freezing on the wings. he i'm
mediately turned the plane dowr
again
Conditions were no better at tn,
lower attitudes however. and. sine,
Brock GlSIlhtu ttl' Ia - IN iHE lD'
close 10 the water, we finally were
compelied 10 head the plane RICH
through the storm. clinGinS 10 th'
course we had mapped oul.
These last few hours before daVl
we're out worst. 1t seemed Impossible
that an airplane could live through
such "A storm. | kept thinking OF m
wife and two children in Detroit. Won
dering what they were doing. | eve
figured out where they probably Wet
at that moment. and | came TO tn
conclusion that they were doing Wha
] was doing-praying.
The first real proof we had that W
were actually near shore was
glimpse of Fastnet Light, causl,
through the fog about 3 O'Clock i
Hhe morning. We didn't know a III
time just what place II was and trie
10 come down close to the ground !
The hope that we would be able to ~
o,lr hearings But il was impOSsibl
70 sec anything for the fog. and tn
fear of striking something caused L
10 climb again.
Cruise About for Three Hours.
For nearly three hours thereafte
we crrIised about, trying to pick u
)ne landmark. About 1880 We mad
nut what seemed 10 he a goOd-siZe
f1arbor below us. with passenge
; ship creeping slowly out to Sc