Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
BY JACK BINNS.

BY JACK BINNS.
ABOARD THE s. S. MINNEWASKA A.
August 4.--The rescue Of Capt. Frank
T. Courtney and his three companions
from his slowly laundering airplane III
midatlantic was one OF the most dra-
matte events In the history of the seven
seas.
First. ii came after a hearthbreak-
Ing day of ceaseleSS search over the
vast reaches of the midatlaatic. wherein
ships officers and crew kept sharp
! lookout in every quarter
Then. when the sun was just sink
ing below the Western sky, there came
a hail from the lookout atop the mast.
A faint Speck had been discovered On
the eastern horizon.
Just few moments later and fate
would have taken the MinnewaSka on
course that would have passed. out
of sight, southwark OF the plane-ttle
captain, in fact. was just voicing the
order for change of course when the
lookout's shout came rolling down.
Ships Csmbed Sea.
Not since the wireless called desper-
ately for succor In the cases OF the Re-
public and the Titanic has such con-
terday Every vessel within a hundred
miles radius was combing the Atlantic
waste in reply TO the S o sent by
Operator Gilmour after the blazing sea-
plane, through the miraculous plotting
of Courtney and the heroism of Pierce,
had landed safely.
Throughout, night liners in various
parts OF the Atlantic were frequently
| inouiring for news Of the plane. but
| Giimour. realizing IL was necessary to
conserve his weak storage battery power.
| sent only one call after landing. and
then waited until daybreak before re-
| peating it.
The second call was heard by the
! liner Celtic. which immediately asked :
do you need assistance?"
Gilmour replied, laconically:
Yes, bags OF 1t" Then he gave the
position of the plane to the Celtic. which
immediately broadcast it to every ship
BY chance the youngest operator OF
the Minnewaska. a kid making his first
sea trip. was standing by on watch in
the radio room, and had the thrill OF
picking up the message
Like magic the news spread through
the ship. and every passenger rose i'm
mediately. lining the decks for the rest
Of the day and staring In q vain effort
10 detect the flyers
The captain of the MinnewaSka inn
mediately changed his course. increas-
ing his speed to the limit, and rushed
toward the vague position given by
the missing plane.
Plane in Gulf Stream.
Lookouts were sent to the masthead
IN boSun's chairs. while others, atop
I
/ their ceaseless vigil for the tiny speck
containing four gallant lives.
BY noon, the Minnewaska had
reached the point Courtney had given.
| Nearest us we're the President Hayes,
/ an Oil tanker, and the German ship
Columbus. Then began q checker
/ board search OF the ocean more thor
ough than any mine sweeping opera
/ ton during the war For three hours
the cream OF Atlantic shipping searched
/ vainly.
Then Gilmour risked his precious
| battery juice in the midst Of the wire
/ less babel 10 send a new position OBJ
tanned by Courtney.
! The airplane was in the Gulf Stream
and the wind was causing it to drift s
/ knots an hour, despite drag anchor
I thus addeding 10 the difficulty OF the
search.
The ships Immediately rushed TO the
new position and again began their
! checkerboard tactics And q few mo-
/ nents before shutdown the Columbus.
( on the starboard horizon, changed It's
course 10 the southwark and the tank
er, far astern, did likewise The Mime
1 wsska's captain turned 10 give his or
1 der for change of course and
Half an hours steaming from the
/ time OF the iookout's hall brought the
/ Minnewaska alongside the plane. In
| the meantime lifeboat on the port
quarter, with a picked crew In charge
/ of the first officer. was swung out in
readiness for aid
l The airpiane, WaIlowang In a heavy
swell, had a white distress flag hoisted
on a boatilook that cIilmour had rugged
up 10 carry the emergency wireless
aeriaIs The stern engine. badly
scorched from the violent blaze tina
brought the plane down, gave the shir
a grim aspect.
Within 10 minutes Of launching hi,
boat. the first oficer and his crew hac
reached the wrecked plane, but thii
only after splendid exhibition Of oars.
nsnship.
Crew Taken From Plane.
Alongside the plane the crew Of foui
was taken of IN quick time Wigwag.
gers Rignaled the bridge OF the Min.
nswsska for Instructions about ainking
the plane, but in view Of the tremen
dous amount Of gasoline still on boar'
and the fact that burning Was th'
only means available 1t was considered
best 10 abandon her and leave IT. "a
other ships 70 take the necessary step
70 destroy her
The Iifeboat returned smartly. Court
ney was the FIRST man up the ladder
lie seemed little affected by the 1ar
. rowing experiences Of the night before
. Pierce and 0ilm0ur followed him, Will
) Hosnner stayed In the boat until it wa
! raised 10 its dAvltg
The passengers sent up might
cheer as each man reached the Mime
waskaK deck then gave A roliging 1ur
raf for the splendid seamanship Of th
3 Minnewaskas crew,
o The rescue ie remarkable tFibut
!, IN the efflciency OF modern wireless an
? 10 the skill Of the operators The air