MISHAP TO LANCASTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 6

MISHAP TO LANCASTER.

CRASH ..IN DUTCH INDIES. STORY BY PASSENGER. MUNTOK, Jan. 12. The mishap to the plane in which Captain W. N. Lancaster and Mrs Keith Miller was flying to Australia, which crashed at Muntok, off the east coast of Sumatra, is described by Mrs Miller. She says: “I am broken-nosed and broken-hearted. We hoped to reach Australia on Saturday, but just after taking off at Muntok we dropped like a stone.

“Captain Lancaster saved our lives by side-slipping to the ground between the trees. The machine crashed with terrific force and turned over, facing the opposite direction. Captain Lancaster i was thrown out. I was pinned inside the cockpit, but managed with great (difficulty to extricate myself. I “Captain Lancaster had several stitches put in his tom upper lip. He (lias many bruises. I have two black eyes, a broken nose, and many bruises. Otherwise, both of us are in good order. Our spirit is undaunted. “If Australian sportsmen would put up funds for a new machine we will complete the flight. Only £7OO is necessary. The distance is too great for a small engine. We should have changed engines half-way to make success certain. We were prevented throught- lack of funds from doing this. '

“We intend returning to Singapore to-morrow as guests at Government House. We will await developments there. The Dutch residents here are wonderfully kind.”