WELLINGTON WIND

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144360, 26 March 1914, Page 3

WELLINGTON WIND

AN AIRMAN’S EXPERIENCE. SAVED BY A TREE. PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, March 25. Wollingtoji saw for th© # ffrst time a local a-aroplano flight this afternoon, and those who witnessed its brief course and thrilling termination will not soon forget it. l«'or tliree days J. W. H. Scotland, the young Now Zealand aviator, had bwju ioilod by the weather and provenLcd from essaying a flight. To-day the conditions ®6em©d bettor. The weather was line, though overcast, and only a light wind blew, but it was apparently tricky, coming up the valley from Island Bay to Athletic Park, where the aeroplane was to start its journey. A fair crowd gathered soon after three o’clock, when Scotland decided to start. The engine was speeded up and the word given, and the Cauldron biplane started quickly along the ground. When half-way across tho park it began to rise gently and evenly, amidst much auplause. In a few seconds, as tho airman got above Berhampbro, it was noticed that the machine seemed to rook and jolt about in a manner which was alarming to the people used only to solid earth. Then Scotland, as he approached higher ground on the western aide of Newtown Park, turned to tho left with a steep “bank,” as if intending to return to the starting point. The wind caught his machine, threatening t-o drive it oil to the houses on tho rising ground immediately ahead. The aviator endeavoured to rise higher, and succeeded in part. He was able to avoid the houses, but could not shako o/F the grip of th© gusty wind enough to let him get a good elevation, and the aeroplane crashed with a resounding noise into tho top of a big pine tree, on the edge of Nowi/owu Park, facing Russell Terrace. Soon the streets leading to the scene of the accident wore turongedArrived at Russell Terrace, however, Scotland was scon coming down tH© road with some friends. He had grasped a branch of tho tree when the smash came, and so saved himself from harm beyond a sprained thumb and a bit of a shaking. .The machine framework was smashed and tho canvas of the plapcs badly ripi>ed and torn. Both blades of tho propollor were broken off short, and the wire-work was twisted and tangled in the tree-top. Tho motor was apparently undamaged, and in the circumstances tho airman must be congratulated on his lucky escape.