Evening star., 1937-06-16
AMELIA EARHART
ARRIVES IN ASIA
Crosses Two Seas, Nom
Stop, From Eritrea
to India,
BY AMELIA EARHART.
? Radio to The Star,

u He ClAT.
KARACHI, India, June l6.-We
crossed two seas yesterday and my
Lockheed- Electra monoplane set her
wheels down in Asia-for her and for
me a first visit.
Leaving Assab, Eritrea, to which
Capt. Noonan (Miss Earhart's naviga-
tori and had flown from Massawa
Monday. We crossed the Red Sea. Our
course then lay along the eastern coast
of Arabia, over the Arabian Sea from
Ras el Hadd to Gwadar, In Baluch-
istan, and thence skirted the coast to
Karachi. There we touched the fourth
continent on this leisurely world cruise.
The distance flown was slightly more
than that across the North Atlantic
from Newfoundland to Ireland (Which
Miss Earhart new solo on May 2O-2l,
1892, or about 1920 miles.
l had been told that nonstop to
India had not previously been made
Sees Arabian Wastelands.
Surely, some OF the wastelands of
the world bordered our route. I have
never seen more desolate section
than the Arabian shore. Low sand
hills reach almost to the waters edge,
or ragged mountains tower Most OF
the time we flew inland, so that we
could see the tips OF tilted hills and the
dry river canyons. No habitation was
visible except few villages near the
sea.
Surprisingly. in the midst of this
section number OF emergency flying
fields are to be found. I think there
Is only military use for this route, be-
sides an occasional itinerant pilot.
We left ASsab before daylight yes
terday morning. The actual time of
the take-off was 3:15 am. (8:l5 pm.
Monday. New York time). We checked
over Gwadar at S pm. G:30 am
Tuesday, New York time) and landed
at Karachi at 7:o5 pm. (s:35 am,
New York time).
Gas" Lever Jams, Cuts Speed.
Perhaps We could have made even
better time if my manual mixture
control lever had not iammed Thus,
I could not regulate the quantity of
gasoline consumed by the right engine,
and it gulped and gulped 1 was afraid
I should run out of fuel, so reduced
the speed to economic.
Fortunately. such difficulty can be
remedied here. There seems to be
every facility for caring for airplanes
at the huge airport. 1t is one of the
largest in the world, I am sure.
One Of the customs I am becoming
used to Is being fumigated. Every time
the plane lands, attendants with fit
guns or more elaborate contraptions
fling open the door and begin squirting
Having been in the yellow fever dis
trict, Fred Noonan and I are suspects
and warnings are being sent on ahead
that We are coming
However, rumor which apparently
found some circulation at home, to the
effect that we might be quarantined
here for nine days, seems to have no
foundation. Our healthfulness appears
to be off1cially accepted.
Phones Husband in New York.
Last night marvel of modern
communication stepped in to make me
feel very much at home, or possibly
homesick. I talked by telephone with
my husband In New York, pretty we'll
on the opposite side of the world.
Mr.. Putnams voice sounded natural
as could be. 1t was cheering inter-
lude.
Stayed Last Night
We stayed last night at the home
OF an American. Mr.. Markley Hos
pltality extends the world over.
Everywhere we go, some one steps
up to offer food and shelter, baths and
laundering. We are very hard on
clothes, inasmuch as we have had to
be our own mechanics much Of the
time. We are always running short.
Despite my long day yesterday, I had
date with the mechanics in the
morning early.
I hope to start Thursday for CAL
cutta and points east and south. This
trip is not particularly speedy, for
which I am glad, as am enabled to
see some little Of the places visited.
tCopyriEht. 1872