WIFE’S INTUITION SAVES CAMPBELL BLACK.

Western Star, 29 November 1935, Page 4

WIFE’S INTUITION SAVES CAMPBELL BLACK.

PARACHUTE TAKEN AS LASTMINUTE PRECAUTION. If Captain Tom Campbell Black lives' to b c a hundred h e will always insist that a woman’s intuition —the intuition of his beautiful wife —once saved him: from a terrible death in the African' desert. >

That escape, and the providential precaution which made it possible, are the! most dramatic episodes in the glorious failure of Campbell Black and his co-’ pilot, J. H. G McArthur, in their sec-' ond attempt to make a record flight from England to Capetown and back.. The first attempt, it will be remember.) ed, ended at Cairo because of engine failure over the Mediterranean Sea.

The Boomerang, a s Captain Black’s' beautiful little Comet was called, was) flown back to Hatpeld, overhauled and reconditioned. Presently she was ready for the hazard Campbell Black regarded a s no more than an everyday job. He contemplated reaching Cairo, roughly 2300 miles, in 12 hours; "Kisumu, the) next stop and a similar distance away, in the same time ; and then dashing on’ non-stop to Capetown. He thought it possible to land at Capetown i n something like 40 hours 1 after leaving England, and, having! snatched a short- rest, make the return! journey in the same time: or, jn other; words. South Africa Sind hack in four) and a-half days. The start was distinctly encouraging.' Among the privileged little gathering at Hatfield to see Boomerang go was Miss. Florence Desmond—Campbell Black’s 1 actress wife. She climbed into the cockpit* and installed two mascots —a p irtrait and a silver horseshoe. Then, “Where is your parachute, Tom?” she asked. “I’m not taking one this trip, myj dear,” said Black. “There’s no room,” "But you must take it,” urged Miss Desmond, “I should never rest if you had n 0 parachute.” Again Campbell Black objected. “No,” he said. “I had no overcoat last time, and McArthur and I were perished I’m taking a coat to-day.” “Better be cold and safe,” sagely advised Miss Desmond. The aviator recognised the commonsense of her point of view.”

“All right,” he said “let’s have the parachutes,” and overboard went the .overcoats

TEARS AT PARTING. Before half the journey was completed Black and McArthur were to bless the last-minute inspiration of a woman. When all was ready for the take-off Miss Desmond climbed to the cockpit again, kissed her husband goodbye, and then hurried back in tears to a little knot of friends. Ihe engines of the monoplane roared, quickly Boomerang taxied across the aerodrome, then rose gracefully and was away. There was no news of Boomerang then until word w.as sent from Cairo that Black and McArthur had landed safely and wore rapidly refuelling the monoplane for the next stage to Kisumu. They had flown from Hatfield to Cairo in the astonishing time of 11 hours 10 minutes, an average of over 200 miles per hour. Again they made a perfect take-off, and were supremely confident of reach-! ins Capetown within the next 24 hours. However, there came an ominous sil-/ once. Kisumu waited in vai n for thef Boomerang to show as a speck on the) horizon. Interminable hours passed without word or sign of the fliers. The nation became anxious, especially when almost a complete day elapsed! without tidings. Then came the sensational news that Boomerang had been destroyed, but tha t Black and McAithur hail escaped with their lives by the parachutes ! It transpired that west of the railway station of Kabushia, 130 miles norLh of .Khartoum, something went wrong with the monoplane—something so serious that the eo-pilots decided to, jump for it. With paivicnutes fixed they leapt from the falling machine and landed safely on the west bank of the, Nile, and at no great distance front tile battlefield at Abu Klea. Meanwhile the Boomerang went crashing earthward. The monoplane caught fire as it struck, and soon was a heap of smoking and twisted wreck-' ago. While the world waited in fear and apprehension for news of their safety, Black and MeAithur were riding into Kabushia on cample hired from the qativps.

At Kabushia they left th© camels, because a goods train was about to depart for Atbara, one of the hottest places in the world. They were provided with much-needed food on the train, and, reaching Atbara by nightfall, were able to send out messages of their well-being and providential escape,