Evening star., 1936-04-08
AIR CRASH HEROINE
DESCRIBES EVENTS
Drags Two to Safety, Then
StumbIes Through Woods
for Help.
BY NELLIE GRANGER,
Hostess on the Sun Racer.

hoSIeSS on the sun hacer'
BY the Associated Press.
UNIONTOWN. Pa, April s.-We
were flying in thick weather. The
engines were roaring along smoothly.
When 1t seemed as if enough time
had elapsed for us to be nearing
Pittsburgh I went forward and asked
the pilot when we were due. Capt.
Ferguson leaned back and said over
his shoulder About 10:l2."
I left the cabin and walked down
the line of passengers about my job
of seeing that their belts we're
fastened as is the custom when we
are about to land.
looked at my watch. II was
just 1905. I fastened the passenger
belt on Mrs. Ellenstein who was oc-
cupying seat 7. We passed a remark
about the fact We were to land soon.
I don't remember precisely what was
said it was just a cordiality.
The men, even Mr.. Challinor, who
occupied seat IL, already had fastened
their seat belts so had nothing TO
do but walk on aft. I don't remem-
Der whether or not I fastened my
seat belt think must have. I do
it sort of omatically-almost with
out thinking.
Looked Out and Saw Trees.
1t was only few minutes after
had seen that everything was ship
shape when the plane started descend
ing. The pilot had told me We were
flying at a little above 5000, so I
naturally figured We were gliding into
the airport
1t was still pretty foggy. AL at
once while gazing out Of the window
could see some trees. They were
terribly close. After that came fog
again. Then I remember what seemed
to me like the right wing hitting a
tree. 1t was a few seconds-while we
seemed suspended in midair. Then
came the crash. ! must have been
knocked out.
When I came to I could see the
sky above me. I was still dazed. There
was a gaping hole in the top of the
fusilage and the wreckage was strewn
in every direction. I got up and
walked-only few PAGES, I think.
Then heard a man call. He was
outside the plane. I grabbed a b,en-
ket automatically and went over and
spread it over him. don't know why
I did, but I did. He was in SEMI
dazed condition. So started for my
emergency kit. I thought possibly I
might locate it in the wreckage of he
fusilage. then heard a woman
cough. She was Mrs. Ellenstein-the
only woman we had on board.
Started to Get Help.
I pulled her away from the plane
at just about the time it started to
blaze. I did not know how hot the
fire would get so pulled both of them
as far away as possible. I did every
thing I could for them and then
started to get help. I looked at my
watch again. 1t was a few seconds
before 1890.
I had to guess at the right direction
in that forest, but I wandered-haf
walking and half running-until some-
how I found a path. This led me to
an old farm road. I followed that for
what seemed like hours, finally reached
a clearing, in the midst of which stood
a log cabin. ran to the door, shouted.
but received no answer. I rushed on
down the road again.
stumbled on slipping in the mud
every few steps, but made myself get
up again. I finally found another
farm house. There were woman and
her daughter there, and made them
understand that l wanted to use a
telephone at once.
They told me they had no phone,
but the daughter volunteered to show
me how to get to the Adds place
down the road where there was a
phone. AS soon as I got to it tele-
phoned news of the crash to the
T. W. A. Office at Pittsburgh. Two Of
the Adds boys and myself then went
back to the plane.
When We reached the wreck the
boys pulled a door from the ship,
padded 1t as best they could and used
it for a stretcher. The Adds brothers
carried Mrs. Ellenstein to their home,
where she was given first aid. Then
they came back with an ambulance
and help for the injured man.
I was not hurt to speak Of. I feel
so good that I'm ashamed Of myself.