FELL INTO SEA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11383, 8 December 1930, Page 5

FELL INTO SEA

,V; • ■ji ‘ / f

NEW LIGHT! ON. MISHAP

ALTIMETER GOES WRONG

(U.P.A by Eiec. Tel. Copyright) (Received December 7. 5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 6. Miss Spooner’s' own narrative throw’s a new lighf on .the adventure and shows that the aeroplane: flew direct into the sea-. After leaving Rome, she went to sleep for three hours, and later, she-awoke and noticed that they were flying in a fog. She asked Edwards whereabouts' they were and he 'asked for - the navigation chart. While . reaching'.-for -it;, there was a terrific crash; A few moments previously the altimeter , had showed eleven thousand feet. . She could nob understand, how the mistake occurred. Directly .the machine struck the .sea, water entered the cabin.

“I made my exit through a window,” she continued, “aiid began to swim. I called out to Edwards to Swim for it. Ho apparently did not hear me. I swam for two hours before I reached the? shore.” ,

(U.P.A. by Elec. ' Tel. Copyright.) r , v ROME, Doc. 0.

- The Italian Air Force . dismantled. Miss Spooner’s machine for despatch to Naples, whither Edwards and Miss Spooner will proceed prior to goino; to Loudon in Edwards’. Moth.

HOW MISS SPOONER GQT

ASHORE

SWAY! FOR I'WO HOURS’IN HEAVY. FLYING CLOTHES,

EDWARDS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS.

(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 7, 5.5 p.m;) • ROME. Dec. 6.

Miss Spooner and Edwards are both at Belmonte recovering'. The machine lias been found to be damaged beyond repair. The Italian authorities sent a. seaplane to ho entirely at their disposal. The Italian press publish. % lengthy articles praising. Miss Spooner’s part in the adventure. She was asleep and Edwards was piloting at- the time of the crash. Miss Spooner, was thrown violently into the water and lost sight of the aeroplane in the darkness, but, through the driving rainstorm, sue saw the light at a station and managed to struggle ashore after swimming in her heavy flying clothes lor two hours. Miss Spooner asked that search parties be sent to look for Edwards, and wont in one of the rescuing boats. They found Edwards almost unconscious from loss ot blood and exposure. Ho was clinging to the tail of the deeply submerged aeroplane, but insisted on remaining there to superintend the towing of the plane into harbor.