Evening star., 1935-10-22
.KURTz REPORTED
OVER CHARLESTON
Young Flyer Believed to
Have Doubled Back
From Richmond.

TWenty-year-old Frank Kurtz, an
Olympic diver of Los Angeles, who is
attempting junior flying record from
Mexico City to Washington, was re-
ported seen shortly before noon today
above the Charleston. s. c.. Airport.
after he presumably doubled back
from Richmond for almost 325 miles
on the return course.
The Commerce Departments Divi-
sion Of Air Communications reported
that a plane sighted over Charleston
was at least partially identified as
that Kurtz was flying. The identifl-
cation, however, is not definite.
Young Kurtz left Byrd Airport at
Richmond at $50 am. today. after
spending 40 minutes in fueling. At
tendants reported he expected to con-
tinue his flight to Washington.
Reported Over Charleston.
At 1000 am, however, an airplane
believed to have been that of Kurtz
was reported over Charleston. This
would have meant the flyer doubled
back in almost the opposite direction
to his previously announced course.
officials at the local airport COM
munication center declined to specu-
late on whether young Kurtz had lost
his course or merely changed his
mind.
The Associated Press reported from
Atlanta that KurtZ left there at l2:45
am. after legal ground hazards had
been cleared by Miss Louise Robert,
daughter of Lawrence Chip Robert,
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury.
The youth took off from the Mex
ican capital yesterday morning. drop
ped down at Corpus Christi for fuel
about noon. battled bad weather for
five hours over the Gulf but reached
New Orleans as darkness was falling
and left there at 1925.
In Atlanta Last Night.
He landed in Atlanta at IL: :55 last
night, tired. tousled-haired. red-eyed
and partially deafened by the inces-
SAINT roaring Of the motor in his
single-seated, open-cockpit plane. His
baggage consisted of portfolio con-
tanning good will letter to Presi-
dent Roosevelt from President Car
denas.
Despite his fatigue he was planning
to resume his fight in few minutes,
but Uncle Sans representatives step
ped in.
Acting on telegraphed request
from San Antonio, V. D. Sinsey,
deputy collector of customs, wanted
to know why Kurtz had not cleared
customs properly upon entering this
country. William Reilly of the inmi-
grafton office wanted to be sure he
was an American citizen.
Reilly was satisfied by papers and
baggage sealed by Mexican officials,
but Simsey thought it best to put In
call to his superior in Washington.
Meanwhile. the youthful flyer was
fretting about the loss of precious
time.
Called Miss Robert.
While waiting for the Washing
ton call SinlSey asked the flyer IL
he knew any one in Atlanta. At
first Kurtz thought not but then sug-
gested his 1892 teammate, Miss Rob-
ert. Although it then was 1880
am. an airport attendant called her.
Yes, she knew Frank Kurtz and would
be glad to talk to him.
Simsey then was called to the tele-
| phone and Miss Robert assured him
she knew Kurtz as a citizen in good
standing.
The phone connection to Washing
ton was not made, but Simsey at
1240 grinned and said: Go ahead.
son. III wire Washington, and if
there is any more -traightening out
to do you'll do it there"
At l245 Kurtz took of again with
the prediction he would be in Wash
ington before that wire"