Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-16

Continued From First Pagel
at all successful until we set our plane
down in Tacoma. We are going TO Try
it agaln-and make 1t! we know II can
s, be done and We know We are going 10
do i'll
1--WE got away beautifully with our
heavily loaded plane, City OF Tacoma
Sunday morning. ut was Saturday
afternoon back home.) We throttled
our motor down to 1900 revolutions, I'M
usually low for such load. We were
congratulating ourselves on that and on
the weather when, two hours from the
start. we had the first intimation Of
trouble, slight chattering sound.
Poisonous Gas Fills Cabin.
It came from the collector ring Of the
exhaust manifold. Soon break was
visible and finally most Of the ring was
burned away. leaving sheets OF name
shooting toward the cockpit. Inen pol
sonous carbon monoXide gas 1llieo the
We opened everything openable to
let in the air and get rid OF the
fumes, but it didn't seem to do much
GOOD We were in a desperate pngnt
out there over the wide and desolate
Pacific with the land behind us a vast
distance away, with the land ahead OF
us even more remote.
The gas continued to blow back on
us so disastrously that VIC could scarcely
breathe. Indeed, every breath We could
take was an added peril. Gatty SUI
fered acutely, and the fainttng attacks
began to seize him.
Engine Starts Skipping.
And then the engine started to stop
ON us every little while. The windmill
pump forcing fuel from the wing tank
had partly failed.
Finally, a dense fog closed in around
rs. We could see nothing. And then
If was that we we're forced to turn
about and head back for Japan, the
nearest land. Anything else would nave
been suicide, nothing less.
We made every effort TO get out OF
the fog. Sometimes we went down TO
within 20 feet of the sea. Again wed
rise to a height of 1000 feet we
could 60 no higher nor even remain
for any length of time at that altitude
because of our failing fuel supply.
Wherever we turned the fog chung to
us, gray, wet, impenetrable. 1t got
thicker instead of lighter.
But our decision to return was due
solely to the monoXide gas. we were
equipped to overcome our other trouble
and, in fact, had almost finished re-
pairing the pump and cleaning the line
Hard Decision to Make.
The decision to turn back was hard
one to make. We might have reached
Alaska, but the chances were great that
we would crash and crash certainly
would not help aviation. And then,
too, If we returned the ship undam-
aged a new attempt would be possible.
At o'clock Sunday afternoon we sent
out a radio call telling of our plight.
But after finally resolving to turn
hack we had next to find out which
way was back. Night fell and we kept
pounding on without knowing where we
Eere flying The gas still was punish
ing us. Every now and then the en-
CINE would falter and our hearts would
almost stop. Then the motor would
fick up again, but it seemed hopeless
Tor us.
I Then the fog lifted for an instant and
&atty saw the shine of a star, dinly
That was OF Kamtchatka. He made
observations and we swung the ship in
tne right direction.
Fog Closes In Again.
The fog closed in on us again. 1t
was SO thick 1t ran off the plane like
water. But that was not our only
trouble. We had to hug the Kuriles
group because of motor trouble and that
added to all our difficulties the danger
Of crashing into q mountain peak.
Once we had very narrow escape.
GaJty was at the controls and I was
Working the gas line. We decided to
Change places, and while we were doing
% the motor failed. We dropped as if
shot and that seemed the end OF all
tflings for u.s. But at the last moment
Ea1e motor resumed We could see water
hss than 800 feet below.
2 Blinded as I was by the flames from
Che exhaust ring, circled the main
land of Japan for hours unable to find
4 landing place. We came down finally
1t Shitsukari Beach on the Pacific side
df the island, at $40 Monday morning
S(4:20 pm. Sunday e. S. IT,. We were
tearly overcome by the monoxide gas
Both Gatty and ! literally fell from the
cabin door and staggered for three
Quarters of mile up the beach. We
dropped exhausted and did not awake
for two hours. 1 was lying in our coll
hpsible boat which do not remember
taking rom the plane. A group Of fisher
men had gathered around and were
staring at us.
Now for Little Rest.
We were unable to start the motor,
lacking a booster. We worked all day,
belp arriving in the evening. We in
tend to ny to Sabishiro Beach for an
ether try unless the bad weather con-
Enues.
There is no reason why we shouldn't
get through the next time.
And now for little restl
(Copyright, 1880, by North American News
paper Alhance.)