The Washington times., 1929-07-10
j. 6. HEROES.
LAIU)EDBY !
T'HR()NIDS
CONTINUED from First Pagel
spanish time. or s:1s New York

tC0ntlnueu from clrst 1aSSl
Spanish time, or e.1s New York
time.
The Pathfinder was reruelled and
overhauled during the morning and
found in perfect condition for con-
tfnuation OF the flight.
The airmen-- Roger @. Williams
and Lewis Yancey-said they were
confident they could finish the
flight without a stop, reaching
Rome this evening.
The airmen flew nearly $500 miles
from Old Orchard to Albericia in
about 81 hours and 30 minutes. land.
ing at $50 Spanish time last night.
williams was at the controls
when the Pathfinder took of. he
headed the plane northward then
yeered sharply to the east, following
the coast line. He disappeared
from view in three minutes after
4 the plane took the air.
Mounted police patrolled the air
field keeping back the crowd.
Had Good Rest
THE airmen had a good nights
rest and were greatly refreshed
after their long vigil over The sea.
They left their hotel shortly after
9o'clock. driving in an automobile
to the air field. There they made
4 careful examination OF the Path
fifder, especially the motor. When
they finished they told mechanics
at the field that everything WIS
satisfactory and that they would
hep off within few hours for the
Eternal city.
The motor was examined also by
Spanish mechanics. They likewise
found everything in good shape ex-
cent the cover of the gasoline tank
which required some slight repairs.
Take OFF Perfect
Spanish officials shook hands with
the Americans in farewell and
wished them speedy and success
ful flight to Rome.
The plane was covered with in
scriptions when it left Albericia.
Many persons who got near enough
wrote their signatures upon the
wings and body and there were
many such inscriptions as Viva
United States
The crowd at the field kept
gathering throughout the morning
and there were thousands held back
by the police lines when Williams
made ais perfect take off. The
crowd cheered and tossed hats into
the air until the plane dWindled
to speck in the sky then disao-
peared.
Refreshed after 4 night OF i'm.
broken sleep. Williams gave to In.
ternational News Service today a
graphic description Of the eyentful
flight.
4 was at the control Of the Path
finder when we hoped from Old
orchard" Williams said, after
five hours OF plotting, / had bad
attack of stomach ache and had to
hand the controls over to Yancey.
AFTER that we alternated at the
controls every five hours. 1t hap
pened that / was at the controls
again when we sighted land and
decided to bring the plane down
at the Albericia Field.
Il was necessary to fly at a great
altitude during most Of the flight
owing to dense cloud formations.
In mid-Atlantic, We flew at a
height of $4,000 feet. and our low
est during the flight was SO feet,
when we swooped down over the
Spanish coast.
I'VE were favored by tail wind
all the way across, but visibility
was exceedingly poor. owing to the
dense fog"
The Pathfinder, Williams stated.
encountered three bad patches Of
weather, but the plane weathered
the storms well, and came through
with small damage.
I'VE hit three bad storms during
the night the fliers continued.
One OF them-about midnight
was so violent that the wind ripped
the metal cover off our gasoline
tank. We knew something was
wrong, but didn't find out what 1t
was until we landed. The damage
win not prevent our taking eff for
Rome this morning.
On Spanish Coast
1--WE approached the Spanish
coast by way OF Cape Ortegal, and
from that point followed the coast
lire. As we approached Comillas
we recognized the spot where the
Yellow Bird had landed, and, al.
though our gasoline supply was
running dangerously low, we were
determined at least to beat our
French rivals, even though it was
obviously impossible for us to
reach our goal.
We managed to fly 25 miles
further in an easterIy direction be.
fore lack of fuel forced us to land.
We flew over Albericia Field sew.
eral times looking for a suitable
landing place, and a number nf
children on the field spotted us.
They Lit bonfire which guided us
to a safe landing.
The Pathfinder almost over
turned when the wheels struck a
soft mound Of earth. and in trying
to avoid other mounds / was forced
TO swerve the plane violently. We
finally came to rest with the nose
Of the Pathfinder pointing toward
America instead Of Rome.
II was very dizzy when got out
OF the plane, but quickly recovered
after medical attention