Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-19

crew ofFthe American seaplane NC-1
aboard, arrived at Horta Sunday and
that the NC-1 sank l20 miles off
the Island of Flores.
Washington, May 49, Appre-
hension as to- the safety of Com
mander John H. Towers and his
crew of four men, who An the sea-
plane NC-3 have been lost at sea
for more than 40 hours, had begun
tonight to displace the feeling of
confidence among naval officials that
the transatlantic fiers soon would
be found by searching vessels.
No word had been received from
the NC-3 since Sis o'clock yester-
day morning, when Commander
Towers reported that his plane, the
flagship of the squadron, was off
her course. some 800 miles from the
Island of Fayal, Azores. Dis
patches from Rear Admiral Jack
son, aboard the u. S. S. Melville at
Ponta Delgada, Azores, tonight said
gale was sweeping the seas north
west of the Azores and that high
waves were running.
Search For Plane.
With the NC-4 at Horta ready for
the next leg of the transatlantic
flight and the crew of the NC-1
safely aboard the cruiser Columbia
at Horta, the navy, with its vast
inrra nf 1ynccelc fra tod fo
aid in the transatlantic attempt, was
bending its energies to the finding
of the lost fiers.
Two battleships, the Florida and
Texas, and nearly score of
destroyers were securing the sea
over wide area all day today and
tonight.
The fog, which, it is supposed,
forced the NC-1 to the, open sea
when within a few miles of Corva
headland, the objective, had been
dissipated by strong west winds this
morning, which increased to a gale
by 9 a. m. and whipped up a choppy
sea, the most menacing condition
possible for seaplane riding the
oceans surface.
Apprehension Increases.
Messages received from Rear Ad-
miral Jackson late tonight telling
of the damage to the NC-1 caused
by the heavy seas running at the
time the plane was found served to
increase apprehension felt for the
safety of the crew of the NC-3. The
lower planes of the NC-1 were bad
1y damaged, one pontoon was en-
tirely carried away, the right wing
was badly broken, the left wing ribs
were damaged and the elevators
were smashed. "
Naval vessels standing by in an
effort to salvage the big boat re-
ported to the department the seas
! were running so high that it was
impossible to save it at this time.
1t was pointed out that only good
fortune could possibly save the
NC-3 from even more serious dam
age. since it is handicapped by the
| extra weight of its crew.
Weather Forecast Favorable.
Using .Corva island as an operat-
ing base, the screen of battleships
and destroyers were sweeping west
ward in great semi-circle in an
effort to catch sight of the NC-3 OF
pick up radio distress signals. The
high winds and heavy seas prevail
ing made the work of the rescue
party most difficult.
The main element of hope in the
situation was the fact that the
weather forecasts predict diminish
ing winds and abated seas late in
the night and Monday morning. I,
| was thought that if Commander
Towers frail craft could success
fully ride out the gale until morn
ing, that the probability of rescue
would be greatly increased. Each
of the seaplanes carried sufficient
food and water for six days when
the squadron left Trepassey bay.
The members of the crew oi
NC-3, in addition to Commander
Towers, are: Com. H. C. Richard
son, 1t. D. N. Mccullough. 1t
Com. R. A. Lavender and Machin-
list L. R. Moore.
Pick Up Crew.
Washington, May 1S.-Rear
| Admiral Jackson, aboard the U. S.
is. Melville. at Ponta Delgada
Azores, cabled the Navy department
tonight that the crew of the sea-
plane NC-1 was safe on board the
cruiser Columbia at Horta. Previous
reports from Admiral Jackson had
said the steamer Ionia was bringing
Lieutenant Commander Bellinger, OF
the NC-l, and his crew to port.
Ponta Delgada, May l8-The
crew of the NC-1 was picked Up last
night o5 miles northwest of the IS
land of Fayal by the Ionia. The
NC-l was found by the destroyer
Harding 80 miles from the point
where the crew abandoned it at 10
| o'clock Sunday morning. The
destroyer Harding reported that the
right wing and one pontoon of the
NC-1 were damaged and that a
propeller had been broken.
May Resume Flight.
London, May 18.-Meterological
conditions favorable to a continual
ton of the transatlantic fight of
the American naval seaplane .NC-4
from the Azores to Lisbon are re-
ported by the air ministry in an
official statement issued today.