The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-05-19
NOT CONFIRMED

Washington, May 19.-Instructions
to use the seaplane NC-4 at Horta in
the search for the missing NC-3 has
been sent to Delagada by Rear Ad-'
miral Plunkett. commanding the de-
stroyer force, according to message
received today at the navy depart
ment
NAVAL MEN WORRIED
Secretary Daniels expressed con-
fidence today that Commander Tow
ers and the NC-3 would be found, but
many naval officers made no effort to
conceal their anxiety for the safety
of the flight commander and the four
men with him.
NC-1 WENT UNDER
London, May 18.-Lloyd's reports
that the steamer Iona with the crew
of the American seaplane NC-1
aboard, arrived at Horta Sunday and
that the .NC-1 sank 120 miles off the
island of Flores.
SEARCHING FOR THE LOST SEA
PLANE
Washington, May 19.-Apprehen-
sion as to the safety of Commander
John H. Towers of Rome, Ga. and
his crew of four men, who with the
seaplane NC-3, have been lost at sea
for more than forty hours, had begun
last night to displace the feeling of
confidence among naval officials that
the transatlantic fiiers soon would
be found by searching vessels.
No word had been received from
the NC-3 since SIG o'clock Saturday
morning when Commander Towers
reported that his plane, the flagship
of the squadron, was off her course
some 300 miles from the island of
Fayal, Azores Dispatches from Rear
Admiral Jackson, aboard the United
States ship Melville at Ponta Delga-
da. Azores, last night. said a gale was
sweeping the seas northwest of the
Azores and that high waves were
running.
With the NC-4 at Horta, groomed
and ready for the next leg of the
trans Atlantic flight. and the crew of
the NC-1 safely aboard the cruiser
Columbia at Horta, the navy with its
vast force of vessels concentrated to
aid in the transatlantic attempt, was
bending all of it's energies to the find
ing of the lost flyers.
Two battleships, the u. S. S. Flor
ida and the U. S. S. Texas, and nearly
a score of destroyers were securing
the sea over a wide area all day yes
terday and last night.
The fog, which it is supposed
forced the NC-1 to the open sea when
within a few miles of Corvo head
land, the objective point of the aerial
argonauts, had been dissipated by
strong westerly winds yesterday
morning which increased to gale by
9 a. m. and whipped up nasty, chop
py sea, the most menacing condition
possible for seaplane riding on the
surface of the ocean.
Messages received from Rear Ad
miral Jackson late last night telling
of the damage to the NC-1 caused by
the heavy seas, running at the time
the plane was found, served to in
crease the apprehension felt for the
safety of the crew of the NC-3. Th'
lower planes of the NC-1 were badly
damaged, one pontoon was entirel!
carried away, the right wing wa
badly broken, the left wing ribs wer'
damaged and the elevators wer
smashed.
Naval vessels standing by in an eff
fort to salvage the big boat reporte'
to the department that the seas wer
running so high that it was impossI
BILE to save it at this time. 1t wa
pointed out that only good fortun
could possibly save the NC-3 from
even more serious damage, since it
handicapped by the extra weight o
its crew.
Using Corvo island as an operating
base, the screen of battleships an
destroyers were sweeping westwar
last night in great semi-circle in a
effort to catch sight of the NC-3, O
pick up radio distress signals. Tn
high winds and choppy seas prevail
ing made the work of the rescue part
most difficult.