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Southland Times, Issue 20786, 29 May 1929, Page 5

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Moir and Owen LANDING AT ISOLATED SPOT - TROUBLE WITH* THE ENGINE A FORTUNATE ESCAPE (United Press Assn.-—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Sydney, May 28. In a message from the Kyogle FlightLieutenant Moir briefly tells the story of the flight from Bima to Cape Don. “All went well,” he says, “until about IGO miles from Darwin, when a slight roughness in the engine ■ became evident. Later it started to miss badly. We had our lifebelts on and as we were losing height badly were prepared for the worst and ready to chop the tanks adrift immediately we hit the water. Owen had an axe and tools ready to make a raft. We thought we could at least survive several days as we had plenty of rations. The engine was running spasmodically and just gave enough power for us to keep in the air. “After an hour’s struggling in this manner we sighted Cape Don. As it was impossible to last much longer we headed for the lighthouse. Owen fired the Verey lights. The staff at the lighthouse realized our predicament and lighted several fires. These cheered us as we knew the men would come to our assistance if we did alight in the water. Little did we know that they did not even have a canoe and that the waters were infested with sharks and crocodiles. Owen Injured. 'With the aid of the fires we picked out a small clearing, shut off the petrol, and pancaked the machine into the clearing. We were both thrown clear of the machine into a crop of small mangrove stumps. Owen was hurt internally and was unable to move. The lighthouse people rendered every assistance possible. The fact that we did not reach Darwin was a terrible disappointment to us. “When we asked the lighthouse people if they could inform Darwin of our whereabouts, to our dismay they informed us that they were completely isolated w-ithout telephone, wireless or boats of any description. Every day since our arrival the natives had been burning fires in the hope of attracting the attention of anyone passing. "Though disappointed in not reaching Darwin we realize that we had a very for- I tunate escape after having ■ fought every mile of the way from England through terrific heat, sand storms and the monsoonal rains. Owen worked every night and in most cases all night to eliminate any chance of engine failure.” The Kyogle is expected at Darwin early in the morning. Pilot Brain is standing by in case urgent assistance is needed and he will take Moir and Owen to Brisbane by air if required.— Australian Press Association. AIRMEN REACH DARWIN. CIVIC RECEPTION TENDERED. (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) Darwin, May 28. Flight-Lieutenant Moir and Flying Officer Owen arrived on board the Kyogle this morning and were 'given a civic reception and will be tendered another to-night by the Victoria League. The aviators look fairly well, but are reticent. Their aeroplane struck Cape Don at a speed of 45 miles per hour;

Moir’s message reads: “We are grateful for the assistance rendereel to us; also for the shoals of telegrams from well-wishers.”

The aviators leave Darwin for Brisbane by the Atlanta to-morrow.—Australian Press Association.