The Washington times., 1929-07-15
ISL LANDERS
TELL Of
CRASH
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fdsikowski and Kubaia kept on,
fighting desperately, hopelessly
against the winds. until finally
when Ia the vicinity Of the Azores
they came to the realization their
only hope lay in safe landing on
firm ground.
Sinister messages sputtered from
their radio. Telling OF engine trot-
bie and OF the necessity Of landing,
and the football field here, the only
thing approaching q landing ground.
was prepared for their arrival,
Wireless Messages Cease
There was little fear that they
would fail to reach their goal In
spite of their trouble, but suddenly
the wireless messages ceased. Still
no apprehension was felt among the
gay crowds who had gathered th
watch what was 70 have, been the
first descent Of q land plane on this
rocky island, when like q bolt from
the blue came word that the Marshal
PilsudslkI had crashed in landing al
Graciosa. and that Idzikowsh had
met his death.
It was dusk on Saturday eve.
ming when residents Of Graciosa saw
4 white plane approaching from the
sea.
There were two men in the plane.
One Of them leaned over lhe side
and made motions with his arms.
He was evidently trying to find il
there was landing field any place
in the vicinity.
The people Of Graciosa stood star.
Ing skywArd, thrilled by this
strange and sudden sky visitor.
Motor Trouble Cause
AS the plane SKINNED over cul-
tfvated ground near the village of
Santa. Cruz, the people on land did
not know the airmen were in dan.
gar, but an expert could have de-
;fected mechanical trouble by the
disjointed pounding Of the motor.
Finally the nose of the Marshal
sPilsudsl1i dipped and The plane
dropped speedily to land. So rapid
was its progress the momentum
carried 1t swiftly over a sharp de-
clevity.
The plane turned over as it
crashed and human figure--the
body Of Kubala--shot from the cock
pit. There was q flash Of light and
an explosion and the ncn-metal por.
tions Of the machine were soon con-
.sllmed by fire.
81 Idzikowslxi. plotting the plane, was
strapped to his seat. Otherwise, he
might have been thrown clear Of the
burning plane and possibly escaped
with injuries.
4. Guards Rush To Aid
) Customs guards rushed to the as
nistance Of the men. They found
sKubala unconscious. Under the
debris they discovered the mutilated
remains Of Idzikowski He had been
skilled almost instantly, it was be-
siieved.
i Spectators who had been watching
ethe downward swoop Of the plane
rushed forward when they heard the
explosion. Some of them were In
sjured by flying fragments of the
gasoline tank. None was seriously
hurt, however.
2 KubaIa's most serious wounds
were in the head, but his body and
limbs were badly bruised.
This was Major IdZikowsh's sec
%ond attempt to fly the ocean. In
August OF last year, he and Kubala
took off from LIE Bourget in a
similar plane, but after nearly
reaching the Azores the airmen
put about and returned, landing on
the ocean so miles off the Portu.
guese coast. where they were res.
.eued by a German steamer.
z KubaIa Injured Before
On that occasion, Kubala was in.
jured and was confined to hos
pital for several days. The extent
of his injuries this time has not
yet heen ascertained, but the action
of hospital authorities in forbidding
him to see interviewers indicates
his condition is grave.
{. It = thought possible here that
wheN Kubala Is sufficiently re-
covered he viii be taker back to
Europe aboard the Polish training
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