FORCED DOWN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18865, 16 November 1935, Page 5

FORCED DOWN

NOTED GIRL FLYER MISS BATTEN'S ESCAPE SOUTH AMERICAN MISHAP PERFECT LANDING MADE ANXIOUS NIGHT SPENT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 16, 12 noon)" RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 15. Considerable anxiety was felt last night when the New Zealand, flyer, Miss Jean Ratten, who had established a new record for a flight across the South Atlantic, failed to reach Rio de Janiero from Natal. It was learned this morning, however, that although she had been forced down, and her plane was slightly damaged, Miss Ratten was safe. Miss Ratten was not hurt, and arrived hers at 10 o'clock this morning, having been found by Rrazilian army planes at Praia Secca, about 53 miles north of Rio. de Janeiro. Miss Ratten said that a leaking rear gas tank compelled her to land last night. "I made a perfect landing, but fearing that the rising tide would damage the plane," she said, "I made an effort to taxi into the high grass, but the beach was uneven, and the plane tipped over, bending the propeller. I spent the night at a house of a fishing family." The first intimation that Miss Ratten was safe came over the telegraph from Miss Ratten, saying that she had been forced down. Three Brazilian army planes flew to the rescue and brought her to Rio. Miss Batten laid claim to a world's speed record in crossing the South Atlantic. She states: "I flew from Dakar to Natal in 13hrs. 15mins." Miss Ratten said she expected to fly to Buenos Aires when the plane was repaired. PREPARATION FOR SEARCH Before Miss Batten was reported to be safo considerable anxiety was felt, as storms had' been, reported 400 miles northward, approximately in her course. It was reported several times that she had been sighted after leaving Natal, the last time at 2.10 p.m. over Victoria. The British Embassy had made preparations to institute an aerial search. A United Press despatch from Sao Paulo relayed an unconfirmed report from a nearby village that a craft which at the time was believed to be Miss Batten's crashed in the darkness. It contained no .word of the extent of the damage or the condition of the pilot. The report, if true, would have meant that she overflew Rio de Janeiro, southward by many miles. A later report, however, disclosed that the plane was not that of Miss Batten. By a coincidence a private craft crashed in that area, but the pilot was uninjured. A great throng gathered at the local airport but dispersed in disappointment at nightfall. * NEW ZEALAND MESSAGE "SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT" (Per Press Association.) OAMARU, last night. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, has sent, on behalf of the citizens of the Dominion, a cablegram, to Miss Jean Batten, congratulating her on her splendid achievement in flying alone across the South Atlantic. "IMMENSE COURAGE" LONDON PRESS EULOGY . (Reed. Nov. 16, noon) LONDON, Nov. 15. The Daily Telegraph says that Miss Jean Batten flew without a parachute, lifebelt, or boat, her technical skill and physical endurance enabling her to break records. She would be unknown if she had not immense courage.