IN AN ICY POOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 7

IN AN ICY POOL

HUENEFELD S ESCAPE Atlantic Flier Almost Drowned When Flight Ends RESCUE BY MAJOR FITZMAURICE. [ By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright ] Received April 20, 10.30 p.m(A. N.Z.). NEW YORK, April 19. It is revealed, that Major. Fitzmaurice saved Baron von Hucnefeld from drowning after the IL amen landed at Greenly Island, when the machine coming down with great force upon a thin cover of ice on a small pond used as a reservoir, broke through. Thaws for several days previous to last Friday had produced pools of water several feet deep under the ice, and Baron von Hucnefeld, making his way from the machine in an exhausted condition, fell headlong into the water. Major Fitzmaurice, despite the fact that he was partially stunned by the force of the landing, leaped to the rescue. The intense cold was already freezing Baron Hucnefeld’s clothing and he was helpless. But Lieut. Kochi and Major Fitzmaurice dragged the Baron to the lighthouse, where he was able to dry out. Alajor Fitzmaurice said to-day at Murray Bay: “We know now that we should have landed not on the reservoir but on the ice i.i the bay, which was five feet thick and presented smooth stretches long enough for landing purposes. Had we come down there the damage to the Bremen would not have occurred, and we could have learned our position and taken off again.’’ The North German Lloyd representative received a message from Baron von Huenefeld stating that he .expected to arrive in New York on Tuesday, the day on which the Mayor’s reception. committee announced 'they would officially open the programme to greet the fliers.