The Washington times., 1927-10-19

lightning flashed streaks through
the blackness. George showed
much concern about keeping the
plane on a true course.
The next few hours are almost
impossible to write about. I would
much prefer to put this part Of the
story in my private diary where
1t could never be referred to by
anyone except myself in case
wanted to live that experience over
again.
MeL -.ced by Lightning
I noticed by the altimeter that
we were now 10000 feet high
and were still climbing steadily
up there toward more blackness
and more lightning flashes.
The sounds that smote our ears
were the winds and the motors
roar.
George again asked me to take
the controls and he opened the
window and put his head as far
out as he could reach.
After he had resumed his posi-.
ton he looked really worried and
called my attention to the fact
that the oil pressure had dropped
down from to SIS pounds. Those
dangerous spots of oil had meant
something after all. In some way
our oil was going wrong and
the drop to SIS pounds meant that
something serious was the trouble.
George closed his window and
took the controls. He told me
that we would not try to go any
higher. but would go straight on
through the heart of the storm,
hoping that in a short time we
might be out Of it.
Roar Of Motor browns
But it continued to rain and
sleet. Even harder than before.
At times the motor was almost
invisible from our sight. The
earth inductor compass indicator
would show hard over to the
right and then to the left. The
sound Of the motor was very
uneven at this time and often
George turned on the flashlights
and was looking only at the in.
struments.
We were having a real battle.
We tossed and whipped about.
When George did turn the lights
off all was dark, and the rain
and sleet being blown against the
window sounded terrific.
would not admit even to my.
self that I was petrified at the
dark, angry sky. After all, I am
only a girl. and / could not let
George know my feelings. I hate
hAfAG iITgf . erfFl wHyttta Aralry
girls foresight, and had to fight
with myself for a few moments
to get back into that same, happy,
carefree state OF mind which it
had been my fortune to have since
the very beginning.
Hard Effort to Smile
cannot express, it is impossi.
bic to convey, the tremendous EFF.
fort it was to smile when George
asked me how ! felt. Neverthe.
less, did smile and reply:
Fine! George, well get through
u sO0n." His answer was:
You are courageous, old dear,
when we cannot see outside. But
don't worry, as we win be up
where the moon ID shining SOON"
l think he believed that, be-
cause he continually attempted
to keep the plane climbing. /
knew the elements were against
us, because We could not see
ahead and the ship was being
constantly tossed violently about.
What night 1t was! More black.
ness. More lightning flashes and
the wind screamed about the
plane.
Georges face had hardened
again, and he was working fran
tically at the controls, as it was
beyond my strength or ability to
be Of assistance at this time.
1 believe l must have asked
him 80 times IL everything was
all right, and always his answer
was the same. It was always q
snappy:
Everything 0. K"
Ice Jamming Controls
George was working the ailorons
continuously and could not
understand this. After a while I
asked him the reason for work.
ing them so much.
He informed me with cold i'm.
patience to try the ailorons
myself.
I did so and found that all of
the controls had gotten extremely
hard to move. This was a new
trouble new danger. I again
asked him the reason and he
answered by throwing the flash.
light on the wings. I SAW ICE
ON THE WINGS.
We fought this condition for
the next two hours and to me it
was apparent finally that we were
getting nowhere. / concluded this
because the compass was swing
ing in every direction and the
ship was tossing.
George called my attention to
the altinaeter. When looked at
it saw that It had dropped from
10,600 to $500 feet.
FROM THIS WE REALIZED
THAT THE PLANE WAS BE.
ING SLOWLY BUT SURELY
FORCED DOWN BY THE ICE.
had no more than realized
this condition and wondered what
might be ahead when George
suddenly turned to me and told
me that we could not remain
aloft any longer.
There we were up In the sky
whipped by the winds-sonething
wrong with the Office cover.
ing the plane gradually and
around it all that black storm
with its lightning flashes.
George came to his decision
suddenly. He turned to me and
in short snappy tones said:
go back and put on your
life suit, Ruth. We don't know
what we will find underneath
us. We are certainly getting
nowhere I'D here"
/ knew George was right and
! climbed over the gas tank to
put on my suit.
A.