Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-19
NAVY DEPARTMENT
BEGINS HUNT FOR
THE MISSING NC-3
Crew of NC-1 Rescued and
Safe on Board
Cruiser.
COMMANDER READ PLANS
TO START ON NEXT LEG
Scores Of Destroyers and Other
Craft Searching for Lost
Men.
GALE STIRS UP ANGRY WATERS
Official Report Indicates Recovered
Scaplanc Was Badly Damaged
In Rough Weather.
COM MANOER READ PLANS
TO START ON NEXT LEG
GALE sTlRs Ur ANGRY WATERS
rBy Associated Prcss.l

W.ASilINt;TON, May lS.-Apprchen-
sion as 10 the safety of Commander
John II. Towers and his crew OF four
men, who, III the scaplanc NC-3, have
been lost at sea for more than forty
hours. had begun tonight to dispiacc
the feeling Of confidence among naval
officials that the transatlantic flyers
soon would be found by searching
vessels
No word had been received from the
NC3 since 5:l5 o'clock Yesterday
morning. when Commander Towers re-
ported that his plane, tho flagship or
the squadron. was OF her course some
500 miles from the Island OF Fayai.
azores; Dispatches from Rear: Nd
miral Jackson. aboard the t. :. =. Mel
vile, at pon,a Dclgada. azores. to-
night said gale was sweeping the
seas northwest OF the Azores. and that
high waves were running.
With the NC-4 at Horta. groomcd
and ready for the next leg OF the
transatlantic night, and the crew OF
the NC-l safely aboard the cruiser Co
lumbia at llorta. tho navy, with lis
vast force OF vessels. concentrated to
aid In the transatlantic attempt. was
bending All of It's energies to the find
improved weather conditions be-
tween the Azores and Portugal, report
ed to the Navy Department, ton light.
ond leg of the transatlantic flight,
Destroycrs Scour ocean.
=, Two blt,lcships. the Florida aud
TcNas, and nearly Il score OF destroy
area all day today and tonight.
The fog; which. it is supposed.
forced the Nc-l to the opean sea when
Headland, ;hc objective point Of tho
aerial argonauts. had been dissipatcd
oy strong westerly winds this morn
\. A. and whipped up a nasty. choppy
sea. the most menacins condition pos
sih!e for seaplanc riding on the suf-
face of the ocean.
Messages received from Rcar-Ad-
mlra Jackson late tonight telling OF
the damage to the NC-l. caused oS the
plane was found, served to increase
the apprehension felt for tho safety
or the crew Of the NC The lower
planes of the NC-i were badly dam
ricd away, the right wing was badly
broken, the left wing ri1 were dam
aged ana the elevators were smashed.
Seas Arc Running High.
Naval vessels standing by in an cf-
Tort TO salvage the hiS boat reported
10 the department that the seas were
running so high that il WAS iinpos-
sihle 10 save II At this time. 1t was
nointed out thai only good fortune
could possibly save tho NC3 from even
more serious damage. since il is handi-
".
Using Corvo Island as an operating
base the screen of battleships and de-
stroHers were sweeping westward in
catch sight OF the NC-3. or pick up
radio distress signals. The high winds
and heavy seas prevailing made the
work OF ihe rescue party most difficult,
The main element of hope in the
situation. as viewed by naval officials
tonight, was the fact that the weather
forecasts predict Diminishing winds
"a la in h. nj,
Monday morning. IT was thought that
If Commander Towers frail craft could
successfully ride out the gale until
cue would be greatly Increased. since
Ncrltaolc swarm. of destroyers and
Giher naval raft sathered from wide
over the area 10 the northwest Of the
Azores. Each of the seaplancs carried
Suihcient food and water for the six
days when the squadron left Trcuasscy
Bay.
NC-1 Considerably Damaged
The condition in which the NC-l was
message To the Navy Department from
the cruiser Columbia:
Nj right wing badly broken. pom
fabric left wing ribs badly damaged
Condition of sea too rough 10 salvage
plane. FairfaN standing by awaiting
good shape now on board Columbia.
EC-i in good condition and awaiting
favorable weather before proceeding
TO Ponta Dclgada Scouting lines scout
ing to westward for NC-3 Strong
northWeSterly wind and rough seas
prevailing"
The members of the crew OF the NC-2
IN addition 10 Commander Towers arc:
commander III. &. Richardson. I.icutcu-
ant ID. y. Mccullough. Lieutenant Com
mandcr r. y. lavender aud Machinist
l.. Il. Moore.
The crew Of the NC-l was picked up
last night ninety-fivc miles northwest
OF the Island Of Fay,l. by the Ionin
The NC-f was found 10y The destroyer
Harding thirty miles from he point
where the crew abandoned II 81 10
o'clock Sunday morning. The DESTROYER
Harding reported that the right wing
and one nontoon Of tho NC-l were dam
aged and that propeller had been
broken.