Cavalier Rescue First From Sea in Commercial Flying

Northern Advocate, 24 January 1939, Page 7

Cavalier Rescue First From Sea in Commercial Flying

(Received 10 a.m.) NEW- YORK, January 22. VIATORS AND SEAMEN CONSIDER THE RESCUE OF SURVIVORS ' FRQM THE IMPERIAL AIRWAY S FLYING BOAT, CAVALIER, TO RE MIRACULOUS. It was the first rescue in history f rom a commercial aircraft forced down at §ea. A storm is delaying the oil tanker, Esso Baytown, which is plunging toward New York with the 10 survivors. The Esso Baytown is now expected at 10 a.m. to-morrow. ■ The commander of the Cavalier, M r Rowland Anderson, who was among those saved by the tanker, is reported to have been critically hurt. Several of the tanker’s crew are also suffering from exposure and

injuries,

The first boat lowered from the Esso Baytown overturned in the rough sea, and a second boat rescued the seamen and then made the journey through heavy seas to the tiny group of halffrozen men and women, who had been drifting for 10 hours after the sinking of the flying boat. The Cavalier’s survivors told the tanker’s officers that the engines had failed owing to iced-up carburettors.

Hull Split by Impact. The forced landing was so rough that the occupants were hurled against the walls and seats and several were injured. * The all-metal hull of the machine was apparently split upon impact with the water, as the plane sank so fast that there was barely time to get out. Working, heroically, the crew released the passengers through the emergency doorways. Saw Husband Sink Mrs J. Gordon Noakes, wife of. a wealthy New York businessman, said she saw her husband, whose head was gashed and bleeding, struggling to hold to a life belt' which he had been unable to fasten. She tried to reach him, but he lost his grip and sank. Mr Robert Spence, one of the Cavalier’s stewards, was also injured in the landing, and was drowned. .Throughout the afternoon the survivors floated, keeping in a close group and scanning the horizon for the rescue ships.

Succour Passed But Returned ,v. After dark the Esso Baytown reached the spot, but passed on. The survivors said they saw the vessel’s lights and screamed frantically. ‘ Some of the men started to swim towards the lights. The tanker later obtained the true position of the Cavalier at its last report and circled back, finding the survivors shortly after midnight.