RESCUER’S STORY

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1929, Page 5

RESCUER’S STORY

McWilliams Like a “Wild Man” “PROTHBLOWEKK ANTHEM” SUNG. DERBY, (West. Aut.) April 15. A pen picture of th - Southern crew is provided by Aviator Heath aud J. Tonkin (journalist), who landed near the Southern Cross on Saturday- , -re McWilliams was a regular wild man. lie wore shor s, ana had a heavy beard His hauy limbs presented a fearsome aspect. It needed a second glance to identify Ulm, who would easily have passed for an Afghan. His dirty shirt hung half-way down his leg;,. Smith was easily rec-, ognisabll', but was painfully thin. Litchfield was less unkempt and fairly fit with a radiant face. Heath handed the aviators- a budget of telegrams received since the news of their discovery. Thea J were opened hurriedly, aud. read aloud amid great, hilarity, culminating in the Hallelujah. Cuorns, and the Frothblowers Anthem. Hea.h was chaired, in order that he might , i>l photographed with the others. They were -very weak men who did the, chairing. I Smith asked Heath to undertake j thj> transport of petrol and. further stores as he knew the giound. Tonkin states it. is marvellous how the Southern Cross landed- without damage on such a perilous spot, with engines almost touching the trees, while b) hind tho machine there are vast stretches of reeds, covering a black mud flat. Heath’s plane had great difficulty in hopping off again. Heath will probably return to the Southern Cross to-morrow.

McWilliams to return. AUCKLAND, April 16, Private advice has been received from T. H. McWilliams, wireless operator of thii Southern Cross, that he intends to return to the Dominion for about a week, while the monoplane is being refitted in Sydney.

FLIGHT TO N.ZMASE’S PROJECT. LONDON, April J 5. The New Zealander, Li’ ut. Mase, has completed test flights with the Spartan plane, in which he proposes to fly to Australia and New Zealand, He will fly the machine to Lympnc on April 19, wh re he will await favourable weather before the start. He hopes to leave two or three days thereafter. He will carry a spare propell 'r and will change the spark plugs daily. The route embraces the following stopping places:—Borne, Malta, Banghazi. Cairo, Baghdad, Basra, Bushire, Karachi, Allahabad, Caleut ta, Rangoon, Victoria Point, Batavia, Sonrabaya, Bima, Darwin, Sydney. Melbourne, Hobart and Qhristchurch