DISASTER AVERTED

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12951, 16 May 1935, Page 5

DISASTER AVERTED

TAYLOR'S HEROIC ACTION

SOUTHERN CROSS LIMPS BACK. PART OF MAIL JETTISONED. SMITHY’S CLOSE CALL. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Cony r lgh t. SYDNEY, May 15. Only the superb skill and daring of two of the world’s foremost aviators saved the Southern Cross and her crew from certain disaster over the Tasman to-day. When the historic monoplane was about 450 miles from Australia on her Jubilee mail flight to New Zealand the starboard propeller broke off, rendering the engine useless. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, realising his desperate plight, immediately resolved to head the machine back to Sydney, but in an exciting race against oftimes it seemed that the crippled old bus was destined to be lost. The anxiety of the crew was heightened by the fact that the other two engines showed signs of failing, causing the 'plane to lose speed and height. The crew will never forget the courageous act of Captain Taylor. When ordered to make the port engine function properly he climbed on the wing and supplied a gallon of oil which gave it a new lease of life. PUBLIC ANXIETY. When the news otf the Southern Cross’ mishap became known in Sydney during the forenoon the public exhibited the utmost anxiety. The details supplied by the broadcasting stations and the afternoon papers kept the people well posted as to the monoplane’s progress back to. Sydney and there were wide expressions of relief when it was learned that a safe landing had. been, made at Mascot at 4.15. The hero of another aviation epic. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith emerged from the- ’plane like a man from the dead. The crowd were ohviouslv very delighted about, bis safety and cheered and cheered, but his face was expressionless. NIGHTMARE BATTLE.

A friend exclaimed: ‘‘Great work. Smithy,” but Smithy xust stared blankly at him. Indeed, all the airmen showed the strain on their faces of their nightmare battle. Their arrival came as a dramatic climax to 16 hours otc suspense. The Faith in Australia with an Air Force machine began the search for the Southern Cross at mid-day. Hours went by before their -return from a point south of Sydney with the Southern Cross well in the rear. Messages had been received about 3 p.m. saying the Southern Cross had sighted land 60 miles away, but a painful silence followed and it was over an hour before it was reported that the machine was approaching the aerodrome escorted by a number of aeroplanes. Smithy made a good landing. Lady Smith was among the waiting crowd. She wore up well under the terrific strain. An examination disclosed that the starboard propeller was net lost altogether, hut five or six inches of a vita] part were splintered. DEAF AND EXHAUSTED Smithy, supported on the arms of friends, was escorted through the surging crowd and placed under the care of Dr. Banks, who refused, to allow interviews. An official report was issued that he was temporarily deaf and exhausted. Local Flying Officer Shiels expressed the opinion that the damage to the propeller was caused by the piston ring on the central motor flying off and striking the starboard propeller. The Southern Cross was flown for five hours fully loaded until the other engine began to cut out owing to the oil pressure of the port engine failing. Cajrtain, Taylor then climbed through the cabin port to the disabled starboard engine carrying with him a suitcase and thermos flask. He bailed the oil out of the engine into the suitcase, climber back into tile cockpit which necessitated changing places with Smithy within the confined space. He then clambered out to the spluttering port engine still carrying the sixitea.se and poured the oil into this engine which, saved the situation. Mr Shiels is Smith’s manager here. N.Z. MAILS JETTISONED. About half, the Southern Cross’s petrol had to be jettisoned along with all the cargo. No attempt was made to jettison the mails until the position was desperate. This course had to be followed with the result that whereas 15 bags of mail were taken from Richmond only eight small bags were brought back. It was extremely galling to Smithy to have to do this. There were times when the plane was so perilously close to the water that the greatest difficulty was experienced in getting it to rise again. NEARLY FORCED DOWN. The crew having gone to bed it was impossible to obtain interviews. It can bo stated, however, that there were occasions to-day when the Southern Cross might have had to descend into the. water. Both engines were intern, itently spluttering and making ominius noises as though threatening the worst. Also, there were many tense moments when tho crew completely dspaired of getting back safely, but the people of the .city felt, that if anybody could bring home the old crock it would be

Smithy as he eventually did. Tt presented a sorry spectacle when it landed at Mascot. The freight dumped into the sea weighed about 2001hs. It included a case of stout, a box ot' hats and other merchandise, and a quantity of newspapers. VALUABLES LOST. Postal officials stated to-night that of 21 bags of mails (not 15 as cabled earlier) 14 were jettisoned, including seven from Sydney, comprising 17,000 letters including those from New Zealand, four bags from Melbourne, on<> each from Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while seven (not eight as cabled) were brought hack intact, comprising three from Brisbane, two from Melbourne and one each, from Adelaide and Launceston. There were 800 registered! articles in the mall, most, of which are believd to have been lost. There will be a liability on the Post Office, but the Post Office is under no liability for unregistered letters and articles. It is believed the official letters and the letters addi'essed to his Majesty have been saved. The Postal Department indicated to-night that there is talk oif Smithy hopping off in the Faith of Australia to-morrow night for New Zealand with the remaining seven bags of mail, but the matter will not be discussed until to-morrow owing to the desire to afford bin complete rest to-night. Tile Cruiser Sussex was preparing to leave harbour to take part in the search when the news was received of the safe arrival of the Southern Cross this afternoon. A MAGNIFICENT FEAT. SYDNEY, May 15. Smithy told his friends before retiring that the end of the exhaust pipe of the centre engine started to crack about 7 a.m. “AVe watched it cracking and then it went. It flew- into the starboard propeller and the impact-smashed the end off. If we had not switched the engine off immediately the terrific vibration from, the damaged unbalanced blade would have shaken the engine from the wing. Smithy paid a tribute to Captain Taylor’s pluck. He said: “No other man in the world would or could have done what he did.” Aviators opine that Taylor must have had to face a gale of 100 miles an hour, sufficient to wreck buildings, when he crawled out to the port engine. RADIO FROM THE ’PLANE. MAIN ENGINE KNOCKING. Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, May 15. The Director-General advises the receipt of further messages from the Southern Cross. Sydney has requested Awarua radio to infoi-m Kingsford Smith that the Australian Post Office authorities desired Smithy to use his own discretion in the matter of dumping the, mail as human life comes first. At 12.2 a.m.: Message received states wind rising and sea nasty from west. Hate to go down but in hope, they hold up. Wish we knew if there wax a ship we could laud alongside. At 10.19 a.m. : Sen getting worse and wind blowing hard. Knocking noise in centre motor. \\ T e are all listening to each beat, of those other two motors. Guess the boss will take the Faith in Australia across with mails to-morrow if we make the .Australian coast. EXPECTED TO FLOAT. 10.55 a-.m. : “She still seems to be flying 0.K., holding 500 feet at just below full revolutions, hut making very poor headway against this foul headwind, and with only two motors. That port motor keeps spitting, and every time it does I feel like ( ). If she quits we go straight down. Smithy would drop her in and we should be able to float O.K. Should probably cut adrift one wing. 11.6 a.m. : “Going down I think, stand by.” 11.7 a.m. : “Right 1 Picked up again.” 11.13 a.m.: Smithy says: “Please hold this wave. He expects.the port motor to go any moment. Bad. 1 ’ CARGO DUMPED. WELLINGTON, May 15. The Director-General of the General Post Office has received the following further messages from tho Southern Cross : 11.21 a.m. • “Smithy says we will carry on in the meantime. We have had to dump all cargo. Smithy says could you please spare a boat to come out on our course with plenty of smoke. The port engine has dropped a cylinder now. Smithy says aiso to tell them, he is frightfully sorry about, it all We are averaging 500 feet high. Perhaps someone ought to fly the Faith in Australia or one of the New England Avro tens to locate us.” 11.30 a.m.: “If Fiscus (G.N.T.8.) could make a big smoke we may see 11.34 a.m. : “Smithy says could you send a message to our wives and tell them not to worry—we are not in the water yet.” 11.41 a.m. : “The following was received without call signs, “Going down to take. a. sight.” 12.14 p.m.: “Estimate our position at 00.14 G.M.T as lnt. 34 S, long. 156.18 E. Distance from land 250 miles Course 277 magnetic. Probably on strict couise north of Sydney as we are not heading into wind to allow for drift.” GOING 1 GOING ! GOING ! Latest messages received from tho Director-General <*f the General Post. Office, state:— 1.39 rvm.: “Sea. much better. Wind not So bad.”

1.20 p.m.: “This flying ten feet from the water is turning me grey ” 1.43 p.m. : “Port motor only. Phase stand-by.”

1.45 p.m. ■ “Going!—She’s Going! Going!” 1.55 p.m. “Bill is trying to get nil Out of the other tank.”

2.5 P.m • “Going in any minute now. Hope Sussex finds us.” 2.7 p.m. : Radio, had lost touch with the Southern Cross. MASCOT AT LAST. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The following messages concerning the return flight of the Southern Cross were received by the DirectorGeneral of the Post Office: 3.46 p.m. : Plane in touch with Sydney. Faith in Australia just takes off to him. Estimated Southern Cross is approximately sixty miles from coast.” 4.46 p.m. : “Southern Cross has sighted land.” 5.30 p.m. : “SioutheiTi Cross off Botany now. Will be in in ten minutes.” 5.52 p.m. : “Southern Cross landed at Mascot.”