Evening star., 1932-08-20

to provide fuel storage. Even food
was sacrificed. I didn't even bring
razor. I carried pound OF barley
sugar and two small TASKS Of brandy
Don't get the wrong idea. They
make the ideal medicinal combination
barley sugar is easily digestible ano
brandy is the perfect stimulant and
carries no after-effects.
I waited eight days for good weather
reports before starting across the AT
lantic. I became nervous with walt
ing and almost started prematurely
But wiser counsel prevailed. HAD
hoped off then I probably would pe
at the bottom Of the sea now.
But the start was timed ideally. lts
hard to get favorable east TO W WeS'
winds. When they came it was rain
ing. but I struck out. That was al
1885 am, Greenwich time THURSDAY
(6:35 am, New York time).
Flying conditions were good for Q
while but as night shut down ran into
fog. 1 tried to climb out Of it, but the
Hearts Content was too heavily loaded
NV ceiling was limited. / was anxious
about the allowance I had made fol
drift. but the calculations must have
been well-nigh perfect, for struck
land almost at the exact spot oeslg'
mated.
No Engine Trouble.
NV engine worked perfectly through
out the 2, 2,70o-mile jaunt. ] had no trou'
BILE whatsoever.
liner, (The S. S. Ascania.) Sne gave
blast of her siren in salute. She mus
have been surprised to see plane tna
distance from land.
It was still dark when I f1ew ovel
! Harbor Grace. I decided not to lane
there. as I had intended, so I sWune
off for Halifax Then was struck VIII
the possibility Of making New York non
stop. 49,.
/ circled low over Halifax so that the
plane might be identified. When hac
gone 100 miles or so beyond II became
apparent that my fuel was barely SUI.
ficient for the journey and I doubtec
was very weary and decided to land
Fog shrouded the coast, which wa:
rocky and forbidding. I turned about
and was forced to fly back some u
miles before I found a suitable place.
Owing to the high speed OF my long
distance plane I had to have large
field I sighted large rolling meadow
and descended. I found ! had but 2;
gallons of petrol.
At a nearby farm house I rested &
while and had a sip Of tea before drlv'
ing into st. John, 40 miles distant, b.
auto.
Tomorrow I'm going on to New York
1t will take some time to check up thu
plane. Then 1 will fly back across th'
Atlantic. The return trip will be easy
Thirteen out of fourteen weather report
are favorable for a west-to-east cross
ing.
Gets Wife on Phone.
telephoned my wife from st. John
I'm mighty glad I have justified Amy
confidence in me. Before I left Dub
lin yesterday she said, Jim, I know
you can do it." My wife gave me muci
| help in preparing for the attempt. Sh
is one of the best flyers in the worlt
and therefore she is practical. W.
| have only been married three weeks, bu
| she was more concerned about m,
maps. compass and calculations thai
worrying whether ! wore. a tie or m
hair was comhed. 1t made me all tn
more anxious for success.
| Besides my personal satisfaction In
| RldQ IlldOc II 1OI IlIC odhC VI VIA Z
people who mean very much to me
There's Amy, of course, then my mothe
and then Lord Wakefield. Lord Wake
field is my fairy godfather. SO to speak
He has finenced most of my previou
| fights. This one I financed myself
They showed me a picture here thl
! afternoon. 1t was taken in Dublin jus
| before 1 took off yesterday and wa
telephoned across. 1t beat my time.
They tell me I've broken four record
on this hop. The first westward At
lantic solo, the shortest time from Ian
to land on a westward crossing. the frs
trans ocean trip in a light craft an
the longest duration flight in sn1a
plane. That may be laying it on rathe
thick
Anyway, I'm satisfied that I've pu
it over the skeptics, who maintaine
that a plane of 120-horsepoWer and
cruising speed of ITO miles or SO pc
hour could not compete with tn
weather of the Atlantic.
1t can be done.
(Copyright, 1882, by North American News
! paper Alliance. Inc)