The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-02

The crew had planned to
row, but they may be delayed
leave on the new fight tomor-
until Monday while the right
motor of the Southern Cross is
dismantled and inspected.
Captain Kingsford- Smith will
confer today with officials of the
Bishop museum, who are authori-
ties on Polynesia. They will
examine the charts in an endeavor
to determine the reasonable posi-
bilities of flying to Suva.
The Australian f1ier is determined,
if it is at all possible, to attempt
the hazardous flight, but the con-
ference with the museum officials
might alter his plans.
Careful of His Motors
Skilled Army mechanics at Wheel
er Field were eager to overhaul the
starboard motor of the trim South
ern Cross, but Captain Kingsfords
Smith was reluctant to have anyone
touch the craft that brought him
from California.
"These motors are my pets and I
don't want any overhauling until I
can be present" he told the me-
chanics.
Cablegrams of congratulation
showered down upon the f1iers from
all parts of the world today. In
Honolulu, where thousands waited
anxiously during the tense hours
they we're fighting treacherous
cross-currents over the Pacific, the
men we're accorded the greatest re-
ception since the trail-blazing fight
of Maitland and Hegenberger.
Those who shared the honors
with Captain Kingsford- Smith we're
Capt. Charles T. P. Ulm, his fellow
Australian and relief pilot; Lieut..
Harry Lyon, navigator, and James
Warner, radio operator.
Honored at Dinner
The fliers took a nap at their ho-
tel after they had been escorted
from the flying field in automobiles
and taken to the city. They slept
from late afternoon until evening,
then arose to attend a private din
ner given in their honor by the
Honolulu Chapter of the National
Aeronautical Association.
Out of respect for their wishes to
avoid any strenuous social program
while they are here, all entertain
ments for them will be informal.
They have responded good-na-
turedly to repeated requests from
admirers to relate the story Of the
Southern Cross's epochal voyage. As
was judged from the tone of their
radio messages, they enjoyed the
whole fight extremely, they said.
Confident Of Triumph
Lyons, for one, never was in
serious doubt as to ability OF the
ship to succeed in the hazardous
venture which has claimed the
lives Of six men and a girl.
Asked If he had experienced any
fear Of plunging into the ocean,
the navigator replied:
"Hell, moi I was born to be
hanged-not drowned"
The Southern Cross required q
hours and % minutes for the flight
from California. The most trying
part Of the journey, the four men
agreed, was during the early hours
Of yesterday, when they temporarily
lost their bearings and were un-
certain of the amount of gasoline
left in the tanks.
But the gasoline gauge later was
found to be registering faultily.
They arrived at their goal with 100
gallons to spare.
instruments Go Bad
after we dropped the San Fran
cisco radio beacon, we navigated by
periodic compass" Capt. Kingsford-
Smith said. "All through the trip
the plane performed splendidly. The
motors fired clear through to the
finish"
The instruments furnished the
only mechanical worries Of the voy-
age. After the gasoline gauge had
failed, the compass went bad.
"We did all our navigating by
dead reckoning after that" Lyon
said.
The continuous whirr of the en-
gineS and the noise of the exhausts
left each of the crew temporarily
deaf. That was their only com
plant. Otherwise they we're in
good. health and fioh srnirita