The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-07-02
SPANISH Plane CREW.
RESCUED FROM OCEAN.
HAILED IN GIBRALTAR.
Major Franco and Companions
Are Given Rousing Recep.
ton by Thousands

Gibraltar, July 2.-tR-The Span
ish transatlantic aviators, Major
Ramon Franco and three companions.
arrived In Gibraltar at $50 a. m. to-
day, almost as great heroes in adver.
sity as they would have been in sue
cess.
They we're brought here by H. M.
s. Eagle, British airplane carrier.
which picked them up Saturday
morning 100 miles southeast Of the
Azores. where a fuel shortage had
forced them down seven days before
on their trip from Cartagena, Spain.
to New York.
Thousands lined the water front
and cheered as the Eagle swept into
the harbor beneath the brow of
Gibraltar. where the flyers and q re-
ception party of Spanish and British
officials debarked.
In Good Condition
Major Franco and his three com-
panions. Major Eduardo Gonzales
Gallarza, Captain Julio Ruiz de Aida,
and the mechanic Pedro Madariaga
we're all In fine condition, we'll and
happy at the demonstration OF vel
come accorded them.
Their plane. a Dornier Wal is, which
the Eagle salvaged at the time they
were picked up, was too damaged to
be flown to Alcazares air drome,
Cartagena, from where the flyers
started more than a week ago. It was
left aboard the Eagle temporarily to
be removed and repaired later.
The program for the aviators at
Gibraltar today included a trip to
government house to express their
thanks to British officials for their
rescue, q visit to a Roman Catholic
church to hear mass, and luncheon at
the Spanish consulate general.
On Way to Spain
They will cross the Spanish frontier
to Algeciras, across the bay, this aft
ernoon where an even greater well
cone than they received from the
cheerhug thousands here await them.
Remaining tonight at Algeciras by
order OF the Spanish dictator, General
Primo de Rivera, they will leave to-
morrow for Madrid where an official
welcome will be given them.
The greeting of Major Franco and
his wife, who came here yesterday
from Madrid, took place aboard the
Eagle away from prying eyes. She
was accompanied by Frances father,
and Governor Mario Muslera of
Algeciras. They met the Eagle in the
bay in a launch. Franco was the only
married man of the four.
Clings to Hope
How he chung to a forlorn hope and
followed a fantastic light CLEAN near
the Azores Saturday morning to save
the lives Of the Spanish transatlantic
aviators was told by Lieutenant r. A.
Kilroy of H. NJ. S. Eagle upon his
arrival here today.
Lieutenant Kilroy was on watch be-
fore dawn Saturday morning of last
week. Neither he nor his fellow Off
GERS believed there was q chance the
Dornier Wal plane Of Major
Ramon Franco still floated. They
only hoped against hope.
At 4 a. m. there was a queer weird
beam from the surface of the sea far
to the south G.. him. 1t might have
been most anything but Lieutenant
kilroy turned the Eagle about and in
q few minutes was able to make out
the plane with the four Spaniards
aboard waving and gesticulating to
him.
Lieutenant Kilroy was reticent but
Major Franco was more voluble. He
told how they sent out wireless mes
sageS after they came down south
east of the Azores. These gave their
position, but apparently they we're not
picked up. Day after day they drifted
with the wind. And on their fifth
and sixth day afloat. Thursday and
Friday, June q and June %. a
heavy sea made them fear that would
be their last.
On the morning Of Saturday, June
20, Major Gonzales Gallarza saw a
vessels light. probably 20 miles away.
The aviators flashed their own bengal
lights and sent up some rockets, then
spent anxious moments wondering II
they were seen.
Taken on Board
The flyers were taken aboard, and
at six o'clock, two hours after they
were sighted, their plane was lifted
up by the Eagles hoists and lodged
on n of the decks. Lieutenant Kill
roy said Major Franco and his three
companions were exceedingly cheer
full despite their danger.
The me were given tea and cigar
cites. They later joined in deck
games. Played cards with the British
nffirotS q voa euoro nnoo a,n<n~<o{,~~l -.
q special concert. They were given
some grey flannel trousers and tweed
coats from the civilian Tits Of the
Eagles officers, because their own
clothes had been ruined.
Although they still had plenty of
food aboard, their drinking water was
running short and they had been
using water from the engine and
radio tanks. They were visited aboard
the Dornier by Lieutenant Stevenson
Of the Eagle before they came aboard.
He shook hands with them and they
thanked him earnestly.
Fog Hides Sea
Major France told the story Of their
landing early Saturday morning, June
%. just a week before they were
picked up. He said conditions were
bad on the journey with visibility
greatly impaired by layers Of clouds.
There was dense fog over the Azores
in which they could find no break.
They knew they were over the islands
but II they attempted to fly low and
get their exact bearings they probably
would crash. Therefore they flew
around until they were sure they
were over the sea and then came
down upon the water.
Their fuel was exhausted because Of
having flown 90 long through the fog.
After landing on the water they saw
no ships for more than six days.
They took turns sleeptng. some one
OF the four always on the lookout.
They had considerable rough stormy
weather and bad seas with their
plane pitching heavily. They were
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