Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

4 little place on the Persian Gulf.
~ Here had some trouble with the oil
leaking from my engine, and it
was impossible to get it repaired until
/ could reach India L decided to carry on.
I struggled on in the hope that should reach
India safely 1 started at dawn from Bushre
with the object of flying to Jask little cable
station on the Persian Gulf some 800 miles
farther on. This flight entailed a journey OF
100 miles across the Persian Gulf, and it was
just In the middle of the gulf that my oil pres
sure began to go down and I realized that
might have to land in that terrible place among
the sharks. dictated record to my husband
stating that / was in serious trouble and that
I might have to land in the sea, and should
not be found and the record was ever found, the
reason why I had to come down was there.
This record was not broken when the machine
turned over later, and my husband received it
quite safely.
Anyway, Struggled on, and just when was
half way across the sea the oil pressure hand
started gradually dropping. fuctuating between
five pounds and Zero then, to my relief in the
distant horizon saw the outline Of the coast.
A sandstone was blowing and the visibility
was very bad Immediately upon reaching the
land cut my engine of and tried to make
landing ON the sand beside the water, the only
place possible to come down. I landed, buS
unfortunately the soil was too soft and the
plane nosed over. burying the engine three feet
in the sand the tail right up in vertical
position jumped out and realized that was
alone on the Persian Gulf in one Of the lone
lest stretches of desert on the border of
Baluctistan.
THERE was not a soul in sight, and I knew
from my bearings on the map must be at
least so miles from Jask. There was no road
means of communication at this lonely point
and 1 sat down under the aeroplane because
the sun was hot 1t burned a spot in my
brain, with temperature Of at least 100 in the
shade. In very short time saw black speckS
coming toward and within short time
was surrounded by many Beluchi tribesmen who
inhabit this part Of the Persian Gulf.
First they seemed angry and annoyed because
I could not understand them. They jumped
around and hit at me with sticks. 1 knew that
to show fear would be fatal, so I smiled and
went up to them, shaking hands with the chief.
This seemed to please them and they all grim
ned. Then they brought their little children to
the aeroplane and played with them, and
tried to show that I was quite unconcerned
Within a very short time had made great
friends with ALL and I think they would have
done anything for me. My one anxiety was the
fact that / had with me only one bottle of
water and that had gone during the first hour
for the intense heat made me crave for some
thing every few minutes. pointed to the bottle
and made gestures. Would I be able to have
water? They made signs that treasured me
and / am glad 10 say late the same evening
they brought water terrible to taste, half
salt, but water and 1 was able to survive
that.
AS soon as had recovered from the excite
nent of the crash. had a look around and
realized that / had done no damage to the
aeroplane except to break q propeller. Before
I set TO work making repairs wrote on q
piece Of paper: THE British consul, please
send help: have crashed. Mrs. Bruce and
tried to explain by gestures that wanted this
message delivered TO Jask. The savage seemed
to understand taking the note, he disappeared.
Then / settled myself down for the night.
I decided to sleep under the aeroplane and
awake early in the morning before the sun
was too strong, fill up with oil, can Of which
I carried; change my propeller, which was
broken, with the spare had in the fuse
Iage, and try TO take Off and fly to Jask
1t was very lonely in this spot as night came
on and the wind blew and the sand soon COW
cred me over. At about that time Of the year
they have very bad sandstorms on the Persian
CialK An the other savageS walked away to-
ward the mountains, where I think they hive.
The old BelucM king. chief Of the village On
that side made gestures Which seemed to say,
"Look out"
He was a really good, kind old man, and I
think that IL IT. had not been for the old