Evening star., 1928-04-21
BITTER REGRETS
D. ATTEND LANDING
Bremen's Crew Disappoint-
ed-Koehl Foregoes Sleep
to Compile His Reports.
BY MAJ. JA,iEs c. FrrzMAuRrCE.

BY MAI. JAsfES c. FITZMAURICE,
Special Dispatch 10 The star and New York
Times
MURRAY BAY, Quebec. April al
Our landing at Greenly Island was a
bitter disappointment, We knew that
gathered on the flying field near New
York thousands of persons were await
ing us. We would disappoint them.
Furthermore. the machine that had
brought US safely across the huge ex-
panse of water was tilted on its nose
and damaged.
Upon getting out Of the machine our
FIRST concern was to ascertain as nearly
as possible the full extent of the dam
ege. We surveyed the machinery thor
oughly and found that the propeller
tips were bent. But this was all.
Gale Aids in Work.
Our first lob was to lower the tail of
The machine TO the ground, This was
extremely difficult. for although three of
the natives Of the island came 10 our
assistance the number vas far too
small TO be really effective, In addition,
necessary tackle or equipment for work
Of this nature was not available,
Fortunately for US gale was blowing,
which tended TO force the tail of the
machine down to the ground. the pres
sure of the gale on the tail of the ma
chine gradually forcing the nose Of the
machine out OF the ice, and we were
gravely worried that the tail would drop
suddenly to the ground end result in
trreparable damage to our truSty craft
Three men lay on the nose Of the
machine 10 balance the pressure and n
rope was obtained, laSSoed round the
taiiSki6. and we were delighted when
we succeeded in lowering it gently TO
the ground
All this had occupied about half an
hour and We had been exposed to bitter
cold and a lashing wind. 1t was then
suggested that We should adjourn to the
comfortable quarters of the lighthouse.
Baron Won Huenefeld already had gone
there because of a slight nliShap. In
getting out Of the machine he fell into
the water twice. and it had been neces-
Sarv for him to leave us that he might
dry Of before he frozs.
KoehI Insists on Staying.
But this suggestion that We go to
some place of comfort was not pleasing
Co Capt. Koehl He. like a good airman.
wanted TO stand by his damaged ma
was that we did not 60.
In the falling snow and the bowling
wind we carried on with the work OF
examining the machine more closely
and endeavoring to lift the wheels out
OF the water. with the intention OF roll
ing IT back onto solid ground.
We got some pianks and iron bars
were used as levers for this work. but.
unfortunately, after having succeeded in
getting the right wheel onto the solid
ice q large Snag occurred. We dis
covered that the axle had snapped in
the middle It was just too bad.
We were almost broken hearted be-
cause we felt that with the utensils
available IN connection with a small
forge at the lighthouse We could
straighten the propeller and have gone
on 20 New York.
On the collapse of the undercarriage
the machine subsidized into the water
again Our work of nearly two hours
was all for nothing
We decided that nothing further
could be done so we obtained some rope
for the purpose Of securing the machine,
which might be still more gravely DAM
aged By the wind during the night.
new difficulty nov arose. The PICK
cts cannot be driven into the ground
for the simple reason that 1t Is just ike
solid rock. owing TO the intense cold
experienced IN this district. The ma