The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-26
Mystery of the Lost Bal Ioonists Is Hidden In
 the Wi|dS of Canada
ORGANIZED SEARCH HAS
 PRODUCED NO RESULT
America IT Arc Beyond the Ex- plored District of Ontario
 and May Yet Be Found

Ottawa, Ont, October 25.-The black fastness of the north tonight still held the secret of the lost balloonists. Allan R. Hawley and Augustus Post, of New York and their sky ship, the America II. Rumors which reached the bureau estab- lshed here by Edmond P. Stratton, rep resenting the Aero Club of America, pro duced nothing that would indicate their whereabouts.
 What appeared ito be a promising clue developed early in the day when dis patch from Huntsville stated that Rich ard Cole. guide and a hunting party had seen a balloon on Thursday 20 miles north of Frisco. Ont. Later however, it was learned from pr. c. Meyers of To- ronto, a member of the hunting party, that the guide was mistaken in the day. The balloon was seen on Wednesday according to pr. Meyers and might, therefore have been either the Isle De France or the Azurea. both of which landed in that neghborhood.
 A second report that a balloon had been seen on Thursday at Chapleau, north of Georgian Bay, reached here late today from the provincial police at Toronto. 1t is figured, however, that the America on Thursday would have been several hundred miles to the north of or to the northeast of Chapleau.
 A third report came from Quebec, but it is regarded as the least promising. Peter Brown, constable of the provin- cial force, sent word that he had seen a balloon over Lake Kipawa on Wednes- day.
 Both the Germania and the Dusseldorf II passed through this territory and it is possible that it was either of them that Brown saw.
 Opinion here is divided as to the possi- kiijss Of reseHiaE the men even if they passed over Lake Huron and Georgian Bay into the vast wilderness of nothern Ontario and Quebec or the Ugava dis tricts, still further north. Professor R. W. Book director of the geological sur vey, who knows the rugged and un- peopled country like book, is outspoken in his opinion that the aeronauts will perish if they sailed into the far north- ern sections. There are parts of it, he said where Indians and half-breed hunters have gone and starved to death.
 Other officials, including Sir Wifred Laurier, who is taking a keen interest in the search for the lost men, believe they will come out all right, especially
 
 the Trans-continental railway. Except for a gap of IA miles near the border line between Quebec and northern On- tario and another of the same size di- rectly north of Lake Superior, the entire line Is in some stage of construction. South of 1t the woods are traversed by scores of hunters, bushwhackers, pros- pectors, fire wardens and Indians, any of whom would readily aid the aero nf a chance for them. North of it is regarded as death.
 The lack of means of communication with government agents in the unsettled regions of Quebec. is making 1t difficult to follow the original plan of plotting out the course of the Isle de France, Har- burg III, Azuera, Helveta, Germania and Dusseldorf from miscellaneous re- ports. As a substitute it has been de- cided to work from a map showing the courses as remembered by the balloon ists themselves.
 The reports from points distant from the territory covered by any of the six will be at once investigated and fol- lowed up If the lead proves promising.
 It .. is understood that the balloonists' map is now on the way to Ottawa. When 1t arrives. it Is said, the bureau of in- formation will be transferred to Toronto.
 SpindIer Starts for Toronto
 St. Louis, October 25.-Lewis Spindler, representative of the, Aero club of Sl. Louis, in the search for Allan R. Flaw ley and August Post the missing pilots of the America IT. which left St. Louis October IT, tonight started from Toronto to Chapleau. Ont, according to a tele- gram he sent to Aero club officers. He said that John s. Rogers, chief of the Ontario provincial police, had assured him of the authenticity of the report that the America II was seen at Chapleau Tuesday night, October IS.
 Acting on this informat ton MT. Spind- Ter will spend his time at Chapleau and Sudbury, Ont The America II was reported as passing the former town at Il o'clock Tuesday night.
 The Aero club officers do not &C., cept the statement of the Milwaukee weather bureau that there IS proba- bility that Hawley and Post were caught in contrary winds on Lake Su- 1. ,perior Tuesday night and forced to descend in the lake.
 It Is probable that the idea of hav- ing Louis Won Phul and Joseph M OReilly, crew of the Million Club bal loon, start from Saulte Ste Marie in the St. Louis III as relief party in search of the New Workers will be abandoned
 The plan was considered seriously Monday night at meeting of the Aero club
 There is wide divergence of opinion concerning the practicability of the plan to send Von Phul and O'Reilly out in another balloon to search for flaw ley and Post Some say that even should the balloonists be so extraor- dinarily lucky as to strike the precise current that would take them over the Americas course the chances would be against them seeing the balloon or its occupants even at low level if they had landed
 Won Phul tonight said that he was preparing for the trip.
 Mny Be Lost in Lake
 Milwaukee October 25.--That tho balloon America II was lost on Lake Superior is the belief of W. c. Dever- eaux, ather forecaster xof Milwau-