New Britain herald., 1928-10-18
Waiting AnxiOusly

London, Oct. 1B ~D-AI Eh8lanQ and Ireland awaited anxiously today the coming of Lieut.. Commander H. C. Macdonald, retired naval officer, who is flying alone in little moth plane across the Atlantic.
 The hours passed without word of the airman. who had hopped off at Harbor Grace. Newfoundland. at 11:51 (eastern standard time) yes- terday morning and when the circle of 24 hours had been completed. and no news of the sighting of the flier from sea or land was received, grave anxiety began to take the place f pride over the intrepid adventure.
 None of the watchers along the west coast of Ireland caught a glimpse of the Gypsy Moth De Havi- land, and during the early morning hours reports from that section in- dicated most unfavorable weather. Later, however. the wind died down somewhat and visibility was greatly improved.
 Hope continued that Macdonald might have passed over his objective point In Ireland and was proceeding inward possibly to the Croydon air. drome. which would add about four hours to his flight.
 There is a question here among aviation authoritiea.as as to the dis- tance Commander Macdonald would be able to fly with the amount of gas he had aboard. and the time he could remain in the air. Some flx the period of time at 24 hours, which would mean that he must have already como down soms- where. Others place tho time limit at 20 hours, while there are few who ventured the belief that he could rsmain in tho air 35 hours. Another consideration which caus- cd anxiety is the brief experience the commander has had In handling an airplane. particularly at night, but counterbalancing this. in some measure, is his we'll known ability a . navigation officer.
 Wife Coundent
 The wife of the hier and his lit- tls son, look forward to his return home by air with confidence and Joy. MrMs. Macdonald. like other wives who have awaited the return of their husbands on perilous ven- lures, expressed today her belief that he would ''make it." .,
 Commander Macdonald's wife sat up all night in her Kensinstoh apartment waiting for news of her husband while her baby son slept peacefully. At ! o'clock this morn. ing she fell asleep, thoroughly ex- haustsd.
 ''shs waited and waited for news until she could not keep her eyea open any lonssr." Mrs. Macdonald's . maid said. Tt is . very anxious time for her and I think she is worrying moro because the news of Commander Macdonald's departure came as . shock. She knew. of course, that he intended to attemp, to fly the Atlantic some time, but had no idea he intended to start so soon."
 Crave Newp
 Others who awaited anxiously for news of the lone airman were acutely conscious of the fact that he had no wireless equipment and that the only possibility of hearing from him in his 1900 mile voyage over the waters was the chance of his being sighted by some ship which would report by radio.
 The keenest lookout was kept along the Irish coast which wal where the first glimpse of his tiny machine might be expected. as this was his announced landfall. Wealth 'er condition there were none too propitious with squalls of rain, visibility was bad. making 1t possible for him to get to land unseen.
 Some thought 1t possible that ', he reached Ireland safely and VII, going we'll he might have decided to keep on to England.
 Later in the day. Mrs. Macdon. ald said to reporters:
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