Evening star., 1928-04-16

Islands. Quebec, 230 miles away. At
238 Saturday afternoon Schiller put
his ship down at Seven Islands There
was quick call for workmen to aid in
Installing extra fuel tanks for the next
and last leg of this thrust into the
lower Arctic. desperately dangerous
leap which must span 800 stormy miles.
I'VE want three extra tanks and want
'em quick" ordered Schiller. Were
leaving at dawn tomorrow" And he
cooked an eye at the sky. to see what
the weather promised He flashed a
radio message back 10 Murray Bay:
Reports Plane in Good Shape.
Ship all o. K. for take off to Greenly
Island" 1t said. "Wil wireless irnme.
diately arrival there" But with day-
break came vicious weather An icy
wind bowling and slashing. a cold rain,
driving down at q searching angle.
falling temperature, and then, snow.
Broken messages came swapping
through to Murray Bay from Schiller
They rallied at the weather. They ex-
pressed bitter alarm lest the rival plane,
still back In Murray Bay. would over
haul the Fairchild plane. but they told,
also. of cold determination to cut
through that storm when IL showed the
slightest sign Of abating. Schiller need
have had no fear of the rival plane.
however, for the weather was bad in
Murray Bay, too, and there the rest
less. eager flyers OF the second ship were
held. as frantic to be away as Schiller
and his companions.
The pilot Of this other plane was
Romeo Vachon. His passengers were
Leslie Roberts and Jackson. New York
newspaper men. Ray FcrnSton, camera
man. and Scampton. a Canadian re-
porter. The mechanic was Georges
Oueilot.
AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning
Vachon attempted 10 start. He did get
away and few 40 miles. Then he ran
into a spreading gray sea OF fog. So
Vachon turned back. and in so minutes
he had returned TO the landing field at
Murray Bay.
Take of From Seven Islands.
In the afternoon came a flash from
Seven Islands. In the air again, II
said. Schiller and Cuisinier and Thi-
bault were on their perilous way once
more.
Facing adverse weather conditions, $
reported another bulletin Rain, snow,
ice. perhaps fog. but the Fairchild plane
went roaring Oft into the stormy skies.
with one last shout from Schiller.
'Greenly Island. between z and 3
tonight" he bawled against the wind.
And then the friends of the three dar-
ing flyers in the gallant plane began
the anxious wait which ended with
Schiller's brief fash of victory from
Greenly Island.
A delayed message from Schiller. re-
ceived at Murray Bay, said the plane
was forced 10 break It's hop from Seven
Islands 10 Greenlv Island by stop at
Nalashquan, Quebec.
Forced down by easterly gale and
heavy fog" the message said. Taxing
on more gas and proceeding immedi-
ately"
Chosen for Atlantic Flight.
Duke Schiller, or Clarence A. Schiller,
as nobody calls him. came into pronlt-
nence when he was chosen as pilot for
the projected Windsor. Ontario. 20
Windsor. England, flight last Summer.
The flight was abandoned. due 10 pub
lie opinion after the disastrous failures
of two other planes. Old Glory and the
Sir John CARING. Forbidden by his
hackers 20 attempt the Atlantic hop.
Schiller entered the New York-to-Spo-
kane non stop transcontinental race.
In thrilling dash across America.
with Eddie StinSon. Detroit airpIane
manufacturer. as his chief rival, the
Canadian pilot covered almost the en-
tire distance then landed at Billings.
Mont, Blinded by snow. weighed down
Dy sieet and with his gas running low
over the Rockies, Schiller had been
forced 10 draw of his course for fear
Of crashing into mountain, He had
10 flY southwark out Of the storm until
lights indicated landing place The
distance he covered 10 Billings. how
ever, WAS almost as great as he would
have flown TO Spokane
Schiller was an experienced pilot
long before he engaged IN these snec-
tacular featS. He learned his flyine
early and kept on flying because he
loved II. Tall blonde. massive. he is
an eaSy-mannered giant and he seems.
on his occasional visits 10 his Toronto
home. to MI the house az 3 OStend
avenue. where his parents, Mr. ard
Mrs. Donald Schiller, live Though his
parents are both Canadians, Schiller
VINO Is nearly 20 was born in the United
States. lie grew up in Toronto. how
ever. and entered the ROYAL Air Force
IN 1917. at an age considered under
the Ia TO which enlistment officers
made him testify
Detailed to Instruction Duty.
Fine flyer from the beginning ne
was detailed 10 instruction duty a, the
DeSeFonto. Ontario. Training School.
Since then he has been flying continu-
ouSly, Commercial aviation attracted /
him after the war. and in 1919 he con-
Quoted A pioneer eeYort In aerial adYer- |
tiSing. Then, nntl 1928. he few a pas /
senger plane between Miami and |
Nassau
In 1924 he returned 10 Canada and /
Joined the Ontario Provincial Air Ser
vice as a member of the forestry patrol /
lie was one Of the best pilots We had "
said Capt, Roy Maxwell. director of the /
Provincial Air Service.
Shortly after leaving this organiza- !
tion for the Windsor Windsor flight. !
Schiller performed a notable feat which /
saved mans HE. He was with his I
observer, Pineo. and a mechanic. r. NJ |
Stull far from their base. when the OBJ /
server became acutely III with appen- /
dicitiS, The nearest hospital was at l
Fort William. Ontario. 80 miles away. /
and the weather made normal flying [
impossible. Heavy fog and rain made Il I
extremely difficult to see Il course. and 4
misty winds Increased the danger
But Schiller placed the sick man In /
his plane, and new at top speed a few
yards above the railroad tracks. almost |
skimming tree tops. so he could keep /
low enough to rind his way Schiller |
got his man to the hospital in time for /
the hasty operation which saved him /
Parents Send Message.
Through the North American News
paper Alliance and the Toronto Stas.
Schiller'S parents sent their son a mes
sage yesterday afternoon Ia be relayed
Ia Duke as he fought 70 be the tlFSt 70 /
reach the stranded Bremen.
"our best wishes for success ~ trip"
ran the message. We shah he looking
forward 90 your next weekly letter,
Mrs. Schiller was confident her boy
would succeed
"Cne thing | ann sure Of" she ex.