Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-14
SMITH HOPS OFF
WITH BRONTE FOR
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Delayed Two Hours in Start
by Fog, Flyers First Take
Off Fails.
FORCED TO MAKE NEW
RUN AS PLANE HITS RUT
Father and Fiancee of Smith Bid
Him Good-by as He Enters
Cockpit.

By the Associated Press.
OAKLAND, Calf. July 1.-THE sill
ver.winged monoplane City of Oak
land, manned by Pilot Ernest l..
Smith and Navigator Emory b.
Bronte, took off here at 10:40 am. to-
7 day for a 2.400-mile flight to Hawaii.
The plane left the runway about
1900 feet from the starting point on
its second take-off attempt, the first
having gone amiss when Smith halted
after veering toward a crowd OF spec
tators.
AS it arose slowly from the ground
the escort planes that had been cir
cling about during the delay after
the first hop-off fell in behind.
Fog Delayed Start.
A fog bank in his path off the Gold
en- Gate neceSsitated a wait of two
hours, after which he attempted a
start. but a ground loop, which threw
his plane to one side of the runway,
caused him to halt rather than risk
the possibility of Veering into mass
of spectators.
The plane was reset for start and
Smith and his navigator, Emory +.
Bronte, stood by while their manager,
Capt William Royle, inspected the
plane.
Inspection of the landing gear
showed no damage done. Police Of
ficers started pushing the crowd far
back from the runway. Smith IN
spected the plane and climbed into his
cabin once more, while Bronte took
his place in the navigator's cabin.
Flyers Grin at Start.
Smith and Bronte. grinning, prom
ised to make it this time
The plane was placed to start
farther to the left of the runway than
on its first attempted take-off. This
was to avoid the rut.
The motor was started again at
1926 am. and Smith raced it for the
warm-up The blocks Were removed
from the landing gear.
The close proximity of the crowd
to the runway had deal to do with
the failure of the plane to take off,
Smith said. When he sweryed to the
right he had to shut off the motor to
avoid pulling over nearer to the
massed sidelines.
Smiths father ran down the rum
way to the point he expected his
/ started at 9:55 am. The crowd
cheered.
| Miss Marjorie Brown helped
Smith on with flyers coat and
helmet, patted him on the back and
! kissed him and bid him good-by.
J 5000 at Field.
! Smith first climbed into the pilots
I cabin at $3.50 am. and two small cages
containing carrier pigeons were showed
/ into the navigator's cabin. These birds
were to be released 200 and 400 miles
/ out to sea and return to their Oak
land cote.
! I.ieuts, Maitland and Hegenberger,
! Army flyers, arrived about 20 min-
utes before the time for the hop-of.
The crowds cheered them enthusiastic
cally. The Army flyers discussed flying
conditions between her and Hawaii
with Smith and give him advice as
to the landing field.
Bronte and Smith thanked the Army
men for the pointers. The flyers cIook
hands and Maitland said: well, we're
going TO see you get over there old
men. Good luck"
The crowd was estimated at 5000.
Four Navy planes en- route from san
Diego to Reno, New. were on the field
TO act as escorts to Smith out over
the bay TO the Golden Gate.
One by one the escort planes took
off from the 7,020-foot runway TO
swing about overhead, waiting for
Smith to take the air.
Smelling Salts Sent For.
There was a marked difference in
the attitude of the flyers today COM
pared to their ruffied, uncertain dis
positions the morning of June 2S,
when they were rushing arrangements
10 take off in the wake of the Army
Fokker.
'rThere is nothing uncertain this
time. Everything is in the best con.
dition." Smith said. After Bronte had
: climbed into the navigator's cabin and
was settling himself among his instru-
ments, Capt. Royle, flight manager,
DISPATCHED a motor cycle rider to a
nearby drug store for bottle of smell
ing salts. This was done at the sug-
gestion of Lieut.. Maitland. who told
Cant, RoyIe tht he and Lieut.. Hegen.
berger experienced difficulty in keeping
awake during the middle Of the night
flight, and could have made things
. easier with the aid of the salts.
A floral horseshoe was presented to
the flvers by Miss Anna Van Limge
and Miss Advilda Benncourt. The
flyers acknowledged the gift from their
positions in the plane. At the last min
ute 1t was revealed that there were
four instead of two pigeons IN me
plane. Two birds were to be carried
all the way to the Islands and be re-
leased there. While the crowd and fly
ers waited for the arrival of the smell
ing salts four Navy planes circied
slowly about overhead.
The smelling salts arrived, and was
handed to Smith The two flyers were
talking TO Maj Livingston Irving Of
. Berkeley. one Of the entrants IN the
James j.. Dole flight contest, opening
August -.
My son is going to make it, said
Smiths father with a smile. Miss Mar
Jprie Brown of San Francisco, who
announced yesterday that she and
Smith would be married if ne com
pleted the flight. stood near the plane,
weeping.