Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-08-26
HOPED OFF YESTERDAY.

HOPED OFF YESTERDAY.
BRUNSWICK, Ca, Aug. 26.-tRl-
"A vast Gxpanse OF sea and sky
stretching away TO the tropics today
held behind its walls Of silence the
fate Of its newest explorer. Roaring
away from Brunswick nc noon yes-
terday in the face of unusually fav-
orable weather conditions, Paul Red
fern, Georgia aviator, piloted his
huge Stinson- -Detroiter monoplane
ssawSrd on his proposed 4,600 mile
nonstop journey TO Rio de Jansirc.
he sought 10 establish new endu-
rance and distance marks.
Despite headwinds forecast Red
fern today should be far along on
his route through the tropics. Steer
ing a course east OF the Bahamas,
the young birdman headed for Porto
Rico which his schedule indicated he
should have reached by midnight.
Pressing on, Redfern hoped 10 be
speeding during the day over the
waters of the Caribbean sea toward
the isle OF Trinidad.
The daring birdman had not been
heard from since his plane winged
its way southeasterly out over the
Atlantic.
OuL OI CnipS rain
Far out of the paths OF ships plow-
ing through southern waters during
/ the early stages of the flight be-
was not expected 10 be sighted until
he had swung over the Caribbean
sea, the cradle Of hurricanes. AS soon
as he enters this leg of his trip.
passing steamers may give first re-
ports Of the planes passage. Radio
advices have been broadcast through
out that region requesting any in
/ formation.
II the big ship ~ aloft today. Red
fern has passed a big portion OF the
/ twenty-four hours in darkness. Ma
val navigators and photographers at
Washington pointed out that Red
fern in addition to buckinR head
winds over practically his whole
course, would be flying without
moon.
The naval men said that IL Redfern
reached his objective II would be
nothing short of n miracle. They
estimated he would miss his objec-
tive az Rio De Janeiro ny about $50
miles. as they did not believe his
gasoline supply would last more than
81 hours, while with favorable con-
ditions il would take 50 hours to
reach his goal. They believe when
he reaches the northeastern coast Of
Brazil he will turn east TO Pernam-
buco.
Hazards are Great
Redfern in referring to his flight,
called il the Brunswick TO Brazil
hop and said that when he reached
the Amazon river he would check his
gasoline supply 70 determine wheth-
er he would change his course TO
Pernambuco or keep on TO Rio
! The fact that Redfern will be IN
contact with land during most Of his
flight, naval men point out is in his
favor, as he will be aided in keeping
his course NJ night by navigation
lights for the network OF islands
over which he Is flying.
Not discounting the hazards he
| faced, Redfern left prepared for any
eventnality. but at the same time eK-
pressed confidence that be would
reach Brazil
To his father, DR.. NJ. @. Radfern,
i at Columbus, s. C.. and to his moth
err who IA visiting in Rochester, ~. W.,
Redfern sent messages saying good
bye and will cable you from Brazil"
His young wife. who witnessed his
take off, collapsed i'm the arms or
/ friends ms the plane sailed out over
the Atlantic yesterday. But she was
confident he would succeed.
Redfcrn's $500 mile hop IN one of
the most exhaustive tests OF both
man and machine.