The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-07-06

FLIGHT RECORDOF
174 Hours IN AIR
After Buffetinq Storms for More
Than a Week AirpIane
Drifts to Earth -
FLYERS ARE EXHAUSTED
Thousands Greet Mitchell and
Newcomb as They Land
After Long Grind

Cleveland, Ohio. July 6.-(ReHold.
ers Of q new worlds record for en-.
durance flights Of l74 hours and 80
seconds. Pilots Roy L. Mitchell and
Byron K. Newcomb today rested their
wearied bodies after remaining in the
air from week ago Friday afternoon
until 1880 so this morning. when they
brought their plane to earth at Cleve-
land airport.
They exceeded by one hour, % min.
utes and So seconds the old mark set
recently In Forth Worth. Texas, BY
Reginald Robbins and James Kelley,
who remained aloft 172 hours, 81 min
utes and second.
WEAKNESS brought the airmen to =
landing and the riotous acclaim Of
$4,000 persons. one Of whom was killed,
after q flight which became more
hazardous and difficult as the days
aloft cut down their physical endur-
ance.
The climax OF the attempt came
but few hours before 1t ended, and
the two men said 1t nearly killed
them. They survived q severe elec-
trical storm, which damaged their re.
fueling plane in forced landing and
stopped all other air traffic, to fight
on for the record, attained twelve
hours later.
Men Are Exhausted
Exhausted, the airmen immediately
were taken under guard to q hotel.
They were spent. I'VE broke the rec.
ord. That's enough. All We want now
is Sleep," Newcomb said.
Resting with them was Ernest Bas.
ham, pilot Of the refueling plane, who
completed - contacts during the
flight to replenish the supply o. Saso- !.
line, oil and food. !,
Roads were jammed for miles. and
the airport was crowded with specta-
tors when the record was equaled
shortly before midnight. The crowd
increased rs the monoplaqe. City of
Cleveland. rode through the darkness.
The waiting crowd joined in . ter
rifle outburst as the record was set
at l2:10:52. Rockets and flares were
released in salute to the airmen. .
display of fireworks added to the
brilliance Of lights at the field.
A little later the cruising lights Of
the ship appeared as the pilots
dropped from the altitude Of 5000
feet which they had held early In the
night.
Boy Loses Life
When the wheels touched earth. the
crowd charged. Police were helpless.
The field was overrun. and 1t was
during this rush that Steve Kusko, Is.
lost his life. He climbed to q vantage
point atop an electric interurban car
and was electrocuted. Unknowing, the
crowd surged, and as the pilots swung
the ship around hundreds crowded
the ship. hanging to the wings and
tail as 1t was TAXED to the hangar Of
the Stewart Aircraft Corporation.
hackers Of the flight.
Mitchell and Newcomb rose smiling
from their seats and stepped out.
Again the mob fought to get near the
flyers. They were hurried into the
company'S offices inside the hangar
and many Of those unable to follow
fell upon the plane. tearing at 1t with
their hands as they sought souvenirs.
It was not seriously damaged, how.
ever.
Once inside the office. the men said
they were tired out, that they had
broken the record and that they saw
no reason for flying longer against
the weariness which tortured them.
The flyers greeted their wives first,
then after accepting hurried congrat-
ulations hurried to their rest.
Traffic Jammed
The spectacle Of thousands spend
ing the night in the open was pre-
sented At Cleveland airport after !
new record for refueling endurance
flights was established last niSht
when the crowd Of $1,000 found the
worst traffic jam Of the city's history
blocking egress from the field.
Motorists spent hours near the air.
port, hopelessly tangled in traffic
snarls, unable to thread q way
through the maze Of automObijos.
Traffic lanes were demoralised. ooma
settled themselves for sleep. Thoso
was no way for them to leave. % tlaoy
stayed.
The on rush to leave the fila
where Roy /. Mitchell and Byron r,
Newcomb had landed after ro0ain-
ing In the mir for seven days ana
seven hours, overturned every proeon-
ton and at daybeeak the styoouaS e
automobiles nudeing their way 10
ward home sttll Issued from tn ~
around the field.