Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-03
ALICHTED ON
SEA EASILY
Food Supply of IS Days
Relieved Worries Of
Hunger

GIBRALTAR, July z.-P)-Short-
age of water, cold, rough seas and
a bitter sense Of being at the mercy
of the waves were the chief memo
RIGS of Maj. Ramon Franco and his
three companions who reached Gil
hbltar today.
TASK anything you want" said
4 Major Franco to the correspondent
of The Associated Press who talked
with him. The major was dressed
in khaki. The suit had been given
him by of the members of the
Eagles crew.
Out OF gas and, much to their sur
prise, beyond the Azores, the air.
men we've compelled to alight on
the "a.
THE landing was made perfectly
or a quiet sea-" said Major Franco,
MY watch showed nine in the
morning. At first we did not know
where we we're although we pre-
sumed we could not be SO rar from
the Azores. Then the sea became
rough, and strong winds pushed tbs
plane rom one side to the other.
We saw no vessel. We felt slightly
cold. Naturally we were much dis
appointed. Thinking we would soon
e a boat, VIZ settled ourselves ana
arranged to stand guard.
I'VE were not worried about eat
ing since we had food for Is days.
The first night we did not sleep
although at dawn I had a little nap
in the commanding cabin. On the
morning of the 23rd the sea was
rough, and we feared for the plane.
We even thought of dismounting
the wings to avoid being ship
wrecked. However, thanks to God,
this was not necessary.
I'VE began, then, to feel thirsty,
but soon decided to drink the wa
ter stored in the radiator. We did
not drink at all. There Is some.
Sea Was Rough
1.-THE following night was rather
bad. It was cold and we had TO
put on our fur ~overcoats. The sea
was rough and the plane was be-
ing buffeted by the waves. One OF
them denied the left wing, and the
man on watch became wet. We were
BEGINNING to feel somewhat uneasy,
and nobody slept.
I'VE spent the night In the best
manner we could. Toward morning
the sea became calmer, and we
were able to rest a little. We did
not eat much. We were hoping to
see some ships. On the night of the
oath we began to light rockets, but
our signals were sent up to no avail.
Doubts began asSailing us because
the realization dawned on us that
we were at the mercy of the waves.
Yet even though we were outside
the regular steamer lanes, we did
not lose hope altogether.
when topics of conversation be-
came exhausted during moments
of leisure, when we were not on
watch, we began to wonder what our
families were thinking in Spain.
During the day the sun bothered
us some, you can see that we are
tanned, but I can sur you that
We did not suffer from hunger. Food
49, the water we got from the ra-
oil tor to make up for our shortage
of regular drinking water, were suf-
ficient.
1--WE spent our time scanning the
horizon. There was n moment
when we almost despaired OF ever
being saved. We shall always re-
member the night of the 9th which
was terrible. The sea was strongly
flashing the left wing, and we also
saw the right wing being broken
up. Further the rudder was being
affected by the constant beating
of the waves. The situation was
desperate. AS the plane was tossed
about we closed all openings in Or
der to keep the water from flood
ing us. AS our anxiety increased,
we lighted bengal lights which were
put out by the water.
Sea Grows Calm
"On the morning of June zn
The sea became calmer, but we did
not know where we were, even
though we had the sur to guide us.
Every spot on the sea seemed to
as like a boat. But nothing came
into sight the day proceeded COM
paratively well. Our spirits were
low, but we never gave up hops.
early on the morning of the
29th Major Gallarza was on watch.
Suddenly. with joy in his voice, he
shouted he thought he mad seen
lights. Then we all came out and
sent up rockets. We spent an hour
sending these rockets, about 4
o'clock we thought we heard the
noise os engines. but rs il was still
dark we could not see anything: at
5 o'clock We saw smoke and then
soon after this an enormous ship,
che Eagle. You cen easily Under
stand how great was our JOY.
ut took al hour for us to get
on board the Eagle. First Of all we
thanked the commander, and then