The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1920-09-18
LOST PLANE REPORTS
Plane That Passed Over Eu.
reka Tuesday Forced to
Land Near McCill

About half or Eureka's population
was treated to a good view of one of
the transcontinental air mail planes
Tuesday at 10:40 a. m. 1t was an un-
usually clear day, and as the plane
appeared to Je flying about $500 feet
above town. many we're able to dis
tinguish its dark blue color.
Clarence Johnson was working in
| the Cedars north of town and says
when the noise of its propeller at
tracted his attention 1t was over Dev-
lis Gate and appeared to be coming
from Austin and following the Lin
coin Highway. On reaching Eureka 1t
turned toward the east in the direc-
tion Of Pinto Creek. Marcos Legar-
ra came into Eureka that evening
from his ranch there and reported
the plane still heading east and over
Long Valley when it disappeared
from his view.
Sheriff James Mackey received
telegram Tuesday evening notifying
him of the mail planes disappearance
and asking his assistance in locating
and reporting 1t IL in this section. He
was preparing to go scouting for the
plane when Legarra came into town
and reported seeing the plane over
Long Valley.
ing near McGili at 11:05 a. m, and as
he passed over Eureka about 10:40
a. m, the distance of between so and
so miles in an air line to McGill was
made in good time.
Mail Plane Lands Near McGin
The following report of Pilot Eat
on's forced landing near McGill. in
White Pine County. is from Thurs
days Reno Gazette:
Mail Plane Pilot John L. Eaton,
missing since Tuesday, reported by
telegraph this morning from East
Ely. He wired that he had made a
forced landing in Butte Valley, about
fifty miles from Elko. He was not
injured and he reported his plane
ready to fly as soon as a supply of
gasoline and oil could be obtained.
The message received by the aerial
mail service here stated:
Forced landing at l1:05 a. m, in
Butte Valley, fifty miles south of
Elko, thirty miles northeast of Ely,
four miles west of McGill smelters.
Engine cutting on left bank and back.
Two inches oil left. Send mechanic,
tools and oil by plane. Good landing
field. Plane undamaged. can be flown
to Elko. Please notify my home of
safety. This message to Reno and
Elko. (Signed) John Eaton"
The message was received here
this morning in time to prevent the
start of two army airplanes on a
search over Northern Nevada for the
missing plane. All preparations had
been made to cover the district be-
tween here and Slko in an effort to
locate the mail carrier. which has
about 400 pounds of mail aboard.
Aid will be sent Pilot Eaton to-
day, according to the postal authori-
ties here, and the plane should be at
Elko some time this afternoon.
No explanation of how the plane
got so far off its course has been Of
fered by the service. 1t is believed
Eaton became confused in direction
by following branch railroads instead
of the main line. From the direction
of his flight he may have left the
Southern Pacific main line at Pali-
sade and followed the branch line to
Eureka, where the residents of that
city were given their first glimpse OF
a Government mail plane.
Planning Night Plane Service
Small electric lights operated by
wireless placed on the front OF the
machines will guide the planes at
night on transcontinental air mail
route between Cheyenne, Salt Lake
and San Francisco, explained Colonel
John A. Jordan, superintendent OF
the western division of the air mail
service to the Tribune at Salt Lake
Wednesday.
"The lights" Colonel Jordan said,
will be tuned to the wireless instru-
ments of the three cities in such
manner that they will shine only when
the planes are within certain radio
path about 200 feet in width. When
plane strays from this path the
lights will go out and the pilot viii
he Obliged to determine by the wind
on which side of the route he is trav-
cling. Approach to the destination
will be signified by flashing on and
off of the lights. The process has
proved a success in thorough tests
and Is owned by the Government"