Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-12-22 | Page 1 | Seaplane Ng-4 Safe at Mobile

SESPLIEI-4 SIHWyilE Aircraft Reported Lost Reaches Alabama City Without Mishap. (Tly Universal Service.) MOBII.H, Ala., Dec. L'l. Tho NC-4 with her crew of five officers and four men, reached Mobile this afternoon at 2 o'clock, after having been reported lost In the Gulf of Mexico. The plane is the one which brought to tho American navy the distinction of sending tho first heavier heav-ier than air machine across the Atlantic. Commander Albert C. K' ad, who piloted her on that memorable flight, was In command. The plane was flying from Galveston to Mobile. Commander Head said four times Saturday It was necessary to light on. the water on account of losing his position posi-tion In the dense fog. After leaving Galveston Saturday morning morn-ing at 9:..; o'clock until she reached here today, the XC-4 succeeded in getting but one message to shore. This was received re-ceived shortly before her arrival here. It was picked up ,by the Battle House wireless operator and read: "leaving Grand Isle for Mobile. Spent night at Grand Isle on account of fog.'" Mrs. Read, wife of Commander Uead. was notified. She hud spent an anxious night but she was convinced her husband was sale. She bad the same confidence In her husband's ability to navigate the craft that she displayed on his flight across the Atlantic. The NU-4 landed ln the river off Mobile Mo-bile and came to her mooring place under her own power. Assistance of a , I towboat was declined. Commander Uead said during the flight I they landed at a town Indicated on the map. , ,, I "We found we were In the right place, he said, "but the town had ceased to exist twenty-six years ago. Only some j ruitfs were there." i The night was spent wllh tho light tender ten-der at Grand Isle. There was no tela- phone or telegraph communications, lhe plane's wireless apparatus had only a short sending range on water, and It, was impossible to communicate with shore stations until nearly noon today. ( Commander Read and members of the ; crew were In excellent spirits, and had not suffered greatly. After landing they took hot coffee and retired to a hotel ; to rest. lieside Commander Head there; were four other officers, A. Talbert, W. ' Hinton. 1,. It. .Moore and J. I?. Anderson. ' The NC-4 will proceed to the l-ensa- cola naval air station to remain several, weeks while undergoing repairs.