THE GREAT FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 76, 23 December 1919, Page 7

THE GREAT FLIGHT

MISHAP TO ROSS-SMITH'S MACHINE PROPELIER SPLIT BY A HAWK (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Brisbane, December 22. Captain Ross-Smith, interviewed at Cloncurry, said the trouble on the journey from Darwin was caused by a hawk striking and cracking the propeller when ho was leaving Calcutta. The crack gradually grew worse, but he hoped it would sec him through to Sydney. When he was Hearing Anthony's Lagoon, after it had been mended with wire, the propeller suddenly split. Ho mnnagoiMo make a good landing near an nrtesian boro. He thought, the case was hopeless, as two of the blades were badly split. With the assistance or police officers and the men engaged on Ihe bore, with no other tools thnn pocket-knives and pieces of, glass, they managed, after three and a. half days of hard work, to make tho propeller serviceable again. Ho travelled by short singes to Cloncurry, staying at" nights at various station-, and replenishing his supplies of petrol. They encountered thunderstorms and high. wmkls, which severely tested tho damaged -iropeller. The crew were almost worn out by tho continuous work. —Press Ksn, ARRIVAL AT LONGREACIT. (Roc. December 22, 10.5 p.m.) Brisbane, December 22. Captain Ross-Smith has reached Longn ach.—Press Assn. SIR JOHN ALCOLTS FATAL FALL London. December 20. Sir ,Tohr Alcock sustained his fatal (-.11 near Rouen.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.