The Air Fly.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1922, Page 1

The Air Fly.

EXPERIENCES OF AIRMEN. UJSt'RALIAN And n.z. cable association. SYDNEY, Aug. 28. A four thousand word message from Chittagong gives details of the adventures of Malins and Macmillan, After leaving Calcutta they met monsoonal storms and heavy rain and were com-

pelled to change their route from direct to Akvab towards Chittagong. I Suddenly the engine stopped and the machine landed on a heavy sea, the waves breaking right over. They smashed one of the ribs of the elevaI tors. They managed to sthrt the en- ! gine on the gravity system and started I to taxi back ill the direction of Luk-

hidigar. They ran aground on the mud a mile from the island. They had left Calcutta without breakfast, and the only supplies aboard were two gallons of water, a tin of coffee, some cigarettes, cigars and three boxes of matches. Late in the day, natives from the island brought a small jar of milk. Conversation was impossible,

neither side understanding the language of the other. Storms and heavy rain throughout the night soaked everything and every effort to get the machine off was futile. Next day the natives brought more milk and the day following they wore accompanied by an English speaking native, by whom a message was sent to Calcutta. There was no improvement in the weather aiid everything was waterlogged. They tinkered up the machine when the storm blew out on the fourth morning and at midday got off the mud on a

rising tide and restarted the flight to Chittagong, hut after fifteen minutes tlie engine again failed and they dropped easily to the sea out of sight of land. They decided to taxi to Chittagong sixteen miles away. A heavy tide delayed progress, and they were still out of sight of land when the petrol gave out. The crippled machine had a perilous^ list to starboard and fearing it would turn turtle Macmillan scrambled several times from the port wing, wlioro the aviators had taken refuge, into the cockpit and brought up the only re-

maining gallon of water, kit and cinema with the records to help balance and save the machine, if )>ossilile. They rigged a sail made from a shirt and piece of canvas, the aviators sitting twelve feet above the water. They twice saw- steamers in the distance. They finished drinking the water the same night. As it was becoming evident, the machine could not stay upright long they jettisoned everything heavy, hut it was gradually submerged, and finally turned turtle. The men scrambled on to the submerged float and shortly after another storm rose and the sea broke over them. The floats made ominous sounds as if the machine were going to pieces, the waves running ten feet high. They drifted uncontrollably throughout the night and next morning Irtnd was sighted, hut never near enough to signal or swim ashore, knowing the sea was infested by sharks and that crocodiles Aw re near the shore. Then an undercurrent caught them and they drifted out of sight of land again. They hoist-* ,ed il distress signal and continued drifting at the mercy of wind and tide, sunscorched and Mistered hv heat and exhausted by lack of food and water. Tliev encountered a tide swirl and were swung round and round, a heavy sea pouring over them. Tfiev had to hang

. on tooth and nail. Detached portions of timber from the broken backed fusilage got clear and tossed about. Throughout the night their hopes were raised, only to be again quelled hv tlv> lights of a distant vessel, and a lighthouse made distress signals without

avail. One vessel came within three quarters of a mile nnd then turned and t'he lights faded out. Drenched, shivering, and huddled close for warmth when morning broke they sighted the Island of Sandwip four miles distant. The sen calmed a little and a shower fell, somewhat relieving their thirst. They dived below and found the wreckage still holding together with the empty petrol tanks, which were the real salvation. Still buoyant they slowly drifted towards Sandwip, Suddenly they saw the sails of a windjammer nnd the aviators hoisted a distress signal. The vessel came within half a. mile, but turned and headed away again. While .they were hardly able, to stand owing to the agony of swollen limbs, exhaustion and thirst, they frantically waved and fired a pistol. The story adds that two men were on the poop of the ship. They ran forward as she came abreast of us. They saw ns undoubtedly and were possibly terrified by thoughts of ghosts and visions. In mercy never let them know what we felt when they sailed away. Three miles from Sandwip the i machine stranded on a mudshoal. After three hours waiting, the spray breaking over them nnd heat torturing

their swollen, scorcher! bodies, a river lnuneh was sighted, Malins waving a distress flap; and Macmillan his trousers, and both shouting attracted attention. Tt proved to be the launch Dorothea wherein Commander Gumming was going from Dukliidia on the •strength of a report that they were stranded there. A dingy was sent and took them aboard the Dorothea. Gumming welcomed them with the words — “Thank God I had another look at you. T thought you were fishing and the Serang said you were only native fishermen.” flic Dorothea’ tried to tow the machine off, lint the rope parted.