New Britain herald., 1927-08-31
Waited Ten DAYS

waited len Days
Upavon. Eng, Aug. 81 CP-After
waiting at the army airdrome here
for ten days for favorable weather,
Captain Leslie Hamilton and Lieu
tenant Col. F. F. Minchin, with
Princess Lowenstein Werthein as a
passenger, left here at 1882 O'Clock
this morning in monoplane, the ST.
Raphael, in an attempt to fly to
Canada
They had fuel for A hour
fight, but expected to reach Ottawa
in 81 hours. After landing at Of
tawa they hope later to go on to
London. Ontario, to claim the prize
of $4,000 for a flight from London,
England, to London, Ontario.
Make Fine TakeoR
They made a beautiful takeoff
after running about three quarters
of mile they circled over the fly
ing field and headed westward. Rain
was falling and it was very misty.
so the plane was lost to sight to the
numerous watchers almost immedi-
ately.
At the east end Of the field, the
fliers narrowly missed hitting the
roof OF hangar The airield off,
GERS, fearing crash, had an am
bulance and fire engine ready, but
the accident was averted.
Minchin had the wheel at the
start, but Hamilton expected to do
most of the flying.
In Flying Clothes
When the princess, who is
financing the fight, entered the
plane she took off her cloak, re-
vealing she was wearing a purple
flying outfit of knee breeches and
jacket, black silk stockings and
brown leather boots with black fur
around the tops. She carried her
own supply of food in a leather hat
ooX and wicker basket.
Changes Her Mind
She drove on the field while the
airmen were preparing to leave, but
said she had decided not to accom-
pany them. She became so inter
ested in the preparations and pros
poets, however that she announced
that she had suddenly altered her
mind and would so after all. With
her on arrival at the field was the
Most Rev. Francis Mostyn. Roman
Catholic archbishop of Cardiff,
Wales, who blessed the plane, babe
the tliers Godspeed and said he
wished he might join them.
Hamilton and Minchin had forti-
fed themselves for the flight with a
substantial breakfast in the officers
mess, eating the time honored Eng
lish morning dish of fried bacon
and eggs, for which the fresh morn
ing air and their activities on the
field since $50 had given them
hearty appetite.
Supplies Taken On
In spite OF the fact that British
military flight officers expressed
their suspicious over the weather.
the aviators continued their prepar-
ations. Among the supplies placed
aboard the plane were emergency
army rations for two days. strong
coffee in a vacuum jug and sleep
averting" tablets.
Then Hamilton made a detailed
eAdlllllldl loH VI lIle plane anu Plo-
nounced it in excellent condition.
Goodbyes were said, and the plane
was off on its hazardous venture.
cheered by a large crowd which had
gathred before daybreak, largely at
tracted by the report that the prin-
cess would be a passenger.
Confident of Success
Just before taking her seat in the
plane, she said to friends:
''Of course we are going to make
1t, there is no doubt about it. Ill
send you a cable from Canada"
The course set by the aviators was
for the coast of Ireland, after which
they expected to make about 20
miles south Of Dublin, thence to
Clifden and Galway, where they
were to strike out over the Atlantic
for ST. Johns. Newfoundland,
The plane is the type used daily
in the London-Amsterdam service.
1t has a wing spread of 60 feet, is
equipped with a single 500 horse
power Bristol-Jupiter engine and
bears the letters "GEBTQ" and the
name st Raphael 1t does not car
ry radio apparatus. but has collap-
sible rubber boat.
The aviators are taking letters to
the mayor Of Ottawa from the
mayor of Bristol and also letter to
Colonel Charles y. Lindbergh from
friends in England.
Religious Service
The first woman to attempt
flight across the Atlantic ocean,
Princes Wertheim, was the central
figure in a touching little religious
service which occurred under the
big wings of the Monoplane ST.
Raphael
While the Archbishop of Cardiff
was commencing the ceremony of
blessing the transatlantic plane, the
princess approached, and on Bonded
knee, kissed the Episcopal ring, at
the same time asking for blessing.
This was Immediately granted. Cap |
tain Hamilton and Colonel Minchin
followed suit. after which the arch
bishop shook their hands and wished |
them all a safe crossing.
Just before the plane started.
Father O'Reilly, local priest, hand /,
ed the princess a shamrock made of |
Irish oak which had been in his pos |
session for 80 years.
Flying officers at the Upavon field !
express great admiration for the |
manner in which the loft was |
made and for the daring of the avia-
tors.
Officers who traced the tracks left
by the st. Raphaels wheels say the