WHY HE WENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10723, 22 October 1928, Page 5

WHY HE WENT.

NORTH ATLANTIC TRAGEDY

MRS MACDONALD EXPLAINS ORIGIN OF FLIGHT

SEQUEL TO A YANKEE BOAST

United Press Asbb. by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association ) (Received Oct. 21, 11.5 pirn.) LONDON,. Oct.. 20. “Wliy did you let him go?” “This”, writes Mrs MacDonald in a poignant article in the Sunday Ex. press, “is a question my women triends have been asking ever since my husband started the flight. My answer is:—•

_ ‘When has the wife of an Englishman or the wife of a patriot of any country tried to dissuade;, her husband from an act of courage or credit to his nation Did Englishwoman try to prevent their men from fighting in the war? The aifair began m a crowded restaurrant, inter Colonel Lindbergh’s flight. Two Americans were talking. They said: ‘Yes, we’ve put it across England.’ My husband sitting nearly, overheard and formed a decision. lie planned a world, flight and crashed in a desert. The failure seemed to stimulate ' Klin, lie bought a new machine and told me ho wan going away for a week-end. I only learned he had gone to America from friends, who accidentally saw him isctting _ olf from Paddington station. Next the news came in a few brief cables bef.oi© the starting of the flight. “Then”, she continued, “came tha silence, until a friend handed mo a letter which my husband left to bo given to me two days after the start of the flight. That letter is sacred. It was meant for me only, but some of it must.he given to tlie world for his sake.’ He wrote:—

‘I know you are against it and J. know people will say I am a suicidal fool, but I do not think it. After all, they called Lindbergh a flying fool. If an American do it, an Englishman can. Tf I have made a mistake, darling, I am sorry. It will be terrible for you.’ ” Mrs MacDonald adds that she will carry on her husband’s business as a yachting agent. , WHAT HAPPENED TO MacDONALD ? WAS HE FORCED DOWN? United Prosa Asbd. by El. Tel. Copvrlent (Auetralian Press Association.) LONDON, Oct. 19. A message which rna v explain the fate of Commander MacDonald, issued bv Lloyds, was picked up by the Port Island wireless station from the steamer Firac-h, via the steamers Sch neolady and Caledonia. The Firitch, at 11.*30 o’clock on Wednesday, at a big distance, sighted light, most probably resembling an explosion. it is significant that the bearings given correspond very closely with the position where Commander MacDonald was sighted by the Hardonburg. The time also was similar. (Received Oct. 20. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20. The extraordinary degree of hope for MacDonald’s safety has been more or less banished by the receipt of Lloyd’s' wireless message. It now seems certain that the airman was forced down soon after massing the Dutch steamer. The light referred to may have been an explosion on contact with the water or an attempt to attract the attention of vessels which MacDonald realised were in the vicinity. There is universal sympathy for his wife, whose courage was equal to that of her husband. Late to-night, when the position was desperate, she said she still had hopes that he may be alive somewhere. She spent practically a sleonles.« forty-eight hours, but broke flown to-day and slept fitfully for a Few hours. Curiously enough the same hope was expressed by Branckner: “I still have hopes that he may be somewhere in Norway or thereabouts.” He added that, before the flight started, he was prepared to bet ten to one on MacDonald’s success.

The Dnilv Express announces that it has a letter in its possession which will he published in the Sunday Exnress setting out the reason whv MacDonald ventured the Arlar+ : e flight alone. Before lie started he left this extraordinary letter to be opened bv his wife two days after his departure from Newfoundland.