Ice

It looked like a quiet night for the Newark radio operator of Transcontinental & Western Air. Bad weather had cancelled passenger service. Only two mail planes were in the air between Newark and Pittsburgh, approaching each other through a fierce snowstorm over the Alleghenies. At 2:26 a. m. the Newark radioman heard in his earphones:

"Burford calling Newark. Weather is getting bad. Heavy snowstorms at 3,000 ft. Will try to climb above it." That was Pilot Dean Burford, eastbound. A minute later:

"Andrews calling Newark. Weather thick. At 1,800 ft. but I'm going upstairs." That was Pilot Harold Gay Andrews. In the next 15 minutes each spoke in turn.

Burjord: Don't look so good. Ice on wings. Maybe I can get above it.

Andrews: I've got ice too.

Burford: Losing altitude. She won't stay with me any more. I'm going over the side now. So long.

Andrews: The ice is kind of tough on the old plane. I'm falling 500 ft. a minute. Guess I'll go over the side. So long.

Few hours later both pilots turned up, 50 mi. from each other. Each retrieved the mail from the wreck of his ship. Pilot Burford's registered mail included a consignment of diamonds worth $73,000.

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