The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-09

in
Everglades
Party Defeating New Trail
Across Florida Long Over
due at Miami-Fear All
Have Perished.
Indians Join in Search
By Universal Service.

By Universal Service.
Washington. April 8.--Airplanes Of
the naval air service may be enlisted
TO aid IN the search for the party
of missing motorists who were lost
on the way from Fort Meyer to
Miami. Admiral William A. Moffett.
chief OF the aeronautic bureau Of the
navy. wired instructions tonight to
Capt c. o. Christy. commanding Of
ficer OF the air station Of Pensacola,
to act according to his own judgment
in the matter of sending out planes to
help in the search.
The station is amply equipped with
planes and men. it was stated.
Miami. Fla, April s.-Frandc at
tempts were being made today to find
some trace of the "a motorists lost
in the everglades during the storm
Thursday night. The party consisted
Of 19 men and five women. Il is
feared all have persisted.
The party left Fort Meyer Wednes.
day to blaze a new trail through the
famous swamp to Miami. They were
due here Friday morning. A terrific
dar.
When an automobile reception com
nittee headed by W. S. Maxwell. sec
retary Of the Miami Motor club.
started out on the trail Thursday 10
meet the Fort Meyer caravan. they
found the road had been washed
away. The road was merely an en-
bankment thrown up by contractors
draining the swamp.
Indians Join Search.
For three days the search has been
/ carried on without success. More than
a hundred Seminole Indians. men
who have spent their lives in the
swamp, penetrated the Jungle Satur-
day night and today and reported
they could find no trace OF the miss
ing autoists.
An attempt % use canoes eajled.
ow.ng % the tangled vegetation and
overhanging vines in the dense forest.
II is only possible 10 make headway
3 by cutting a path, and his IS SLOW
work Il would require = week to
reach the heart of the swamp.
4 dispatch from Fort Meyer said
parties at that end q the trail had
been no more successful than ths
Miami rescuers. The dispatch ex-
pressed fear that none OF the sur
vivors would be found.
A faint hope was held that the party
might have found refuge on n solid
hank Of coral rock midway between
Miami and Fort Meyer. But they
would not be able to hold out long.
as they we're without food or shel-
ter.
Fear Autos Swept Away.
Engineers familiar with the trail
fear The automobiles were swept away
hv the porren;ial rain that changed
the swamp into a hugel axe. The In
dian scouts reported that the drain
age canal ernhankment used as a read
had entirely disappeared IN many
] places.
Miami IS deeply affected by the
tragedy. Hundreds OF tourists hockec
to where the trail merges into the
water and waited today for word from
the Indian scouts.
Among those anxiously awaiting
news OF the lost motorists was WI
liam Jennings Bryan. lie was 70 have
presided al reception 70 be given
I the :-ail finders from Fort Meyer.
/ The trail WAS To mark a new highway
between the two Florida cities one ON
the east and the other on the west
coas; OF the peninsula
Russell Kay. business manager of
the Florida Fruit Growers sssocia-
I ton ar Tampa. was one Of the lost
party bearing bottle OF Faorids
grape juice 10 Mr.. Bryan with The
compliments Of Henry Ford and,
Thomas A. Edison. who are vacation
ing at Fort Meyer.
First Aid Station Opened.
I A first aid station has been opened
at the Miami end u the trail with n
doctor and nurses Ia charge. IL the
Indians rescue any OF the party alive
they VIII be given first aid AZ this
station and then rushed 10 Niavai
1 hospitals.
The road 10 the swamp was 1smnlec
with autoisfs today awaiting news
from the Indian runners. The crowd
became SO dense that the authorities
planned 10 order the road cleared 10
leave free passage for survivors x
they are brought out.
The narty that left Fort Meyer
Travelled in four autos ard consisted
OF the following.
Mr and Mrs. Ora E. Ghapln. Fost
Meyer.
Mir. and Mrs, Frank Whitman. l>sre
Never.
Mr.. and Mrs. Russell kay. Tampa.
a -
Meyer.
Mr.. and Mrs. George ". nunah.
Henry Colau:tt, c. Shaweross. +. c.
Garinan. Fred +. Hough. Joseph w.
nm. L. J. Nanduyle, X. w. Giles. {.
T. Corfington. Hoiton Il, ThensrSea.
Grover Hackney. Stanley Hanson.
Clark Taylor. A. n. Andrews and
Charles Hunt. all ~ EStero