Imperial Valley press., 1917-01-18

| left the base of supplies at Black
Butte and started on the second days
search for Colonel Harry G. Bishop
and Lieutenant w. A. Robertson, avi-
|ators, who have been lost since jan
uary 10. The two planes went some
distance east from the supply sta
ton, but the rain was so heavy that
they were compelled to return. In
stead of landing at the Butte camp
the two machines flew direct to
Camp John H. Beacon at Calexico.
| 1t was announced this afternoon
that in the event that the skies
cleared and the heavy rains in that
section ceased, the aviators would
again ascend today and search fur
ther for the missing men.
. Several rumors were prevalent this
morning that the two men had been
found. This was erroneous, as con-
slant communication with Major Bar
ton and Camp McKinnon near Vol
.cano lake failed to substantiate any
such reports.
1t is reported that all automobile
searching parties have been compelled
to remain idle, owing to the terrible
condition of the roads across the bor-
der.
81 haven't given UP hope at all.
l firmly believe Bishop and Robert
son will be found" said Major Bar
ton at Camp John H. Beacon this
morning.
eff they are down there in the
desert" he continued, "they are
where they cannot communicate with
Gods country from anywhere. 1t is
possible they may have abandoned
their machine when it touched the
ground, and found their way to the
huts of friendly Indians, who will
assist them to find their way back
to where they can communicate with
us. 1t may be the aeroplanes will
find them, as l hope they will, and
speedily; but we have this consola-
ton: There is nothing that can pos
sibly be done for the unfortunate avi-
ators that is not being DONE"
Yesterday, cold and drear, with
clouds obscuring the sun most of the
Gay, saw no new developments in the
search for the missing army ayiators.
The hunt was pressed with vigor, and
while the three aeroplanes that ar
rived in Calexico Tuesday darted over
the desert wastes, and automobiles
and mounted men climbed the hills
and plowed their way through the
sand, anxious officials and citizens in
Mexico waited and watched for word
or sign that success had crowned the
strenuous efforts being put forth to
find the men, dead or alive.
Telephone and telegraph wires were
kept busy from morning to night in
the effort to gain some new bit OF
intelligence or CLEAN of hope. Saddest
of all the messages they bore was
that sent by Major Barton to Lieu
tenant Robertson's mother in Albu-
ouerque, N. NJ, when the falling
shadows put an end to the days ac-
tivities, to inform her that no news
had been received of her boy. A. B.
Robertson, the lieutenant's brother,
who arrived Tuesday from Salt Lake,
west yesterday to Albuquerque to give
Ibis mother such consolation and COM
fort at he was able to give
The aviators in council yesterday
: evening agreed that there was no use
of further search than had been made
up to that time on the west side of
the Colorado river. They covered ev-
, ery acre of ground over which the
lost aviators We're seen to fly, or
might have flown after they were lost
in view of those who saw them in
that section. Further efforts will be
made in the desert east of the Colo
RADIO, and these were begun yester-
day evening and continued until dark.
Captain Herbert Dargue directed
!, the flights of the two cars, and they
picked up the "trail" followed by
J Bishop and Robertson, which they
| were able to do with fair degree
: of certainty from the memoranda
furnished by Frank Leon, the Indian,
Governor Cantu's cavalrymen, and
l Robertson and Hickson, the surveyors
4 interviewed by w. w. Hayes, Captain
e Funcke and others who were in the
field last week. They have the posi-