The Omaha morning bee., 1924-05-06
Is
Sighted on
Sea
Men Tell of Machine Circling
Above Mountains Believed
to Be That of Major
Martin.
Search to Be Extended


Cordova. Alaska. MAY An er
tire new face was today given to ths
hunt for Maj. Frederick L. Martin.
whose United States army air squad
ron has gone on without him in :
flight around the earth. The change
vas effected by a report that tec
men felt certain" they had seen
plane yesterday near Port Moller o.
the Bering scaeoast Of the Alashs
PENINSULA
The squadron minus Major Martin
plane was at Atks island in the Aleu-
tisns. preparing to Depart tomorrow
for Attu island. $50 miles from Atka
and the last stop scheduled in Amei-i
can territory.
The report from Port Moller WAS
received at False Pass. and caused
immediate planning to extend
search Of the Bering sea side of the
peninsula. The hunt has been going
on since It became known that Ma
ior Martin had departed Wednesday
from Chignik, Alaska. 80 miles east
OF Atka island. but had not appeared
at Dutch Harbor, where the other
three planes of the expedition were
then waiting for him.
Plane Reported Seen.
The report said that two men at
Port Moller. which is on the opposite
side Of the peninsula from Chignik
and 100 miles west Of Chiknik, had
noticed something circling in the sky
above some hills in the Aleutian range
yesterday evening. The men thought
that they saw between the wings"
OF an airplane. although they esti.
mated it to be 10 or 15 miles aHay.
Investigation OF the south side OF
the peninsula had been considered
complete until the Port Moller story
opened a possibility that Major Mar
tin had reached the vicinity of the
eastern end OF the Aleutisn islands.
e2e miles from Chignik. The coast
guard cutter Algonquin tonight was
still enga ged in the marine search
south of the peninsula. Every cove
from Chignik TO the Shunagln Is
lands. 150 miles southvestwsrd from
Chignik. had beer entered. IL was
reported, without finding sign OF
Major Martin or his companion, STAFF
'Sarsi. Alva 7. Harvey.
4 party OF two natives Is seeking
Inc missing aViatcrs north from Chie
Xix 70 the Berine sea The cause Of
this expedition VAS the statement OF
lrapper that he had seen a plane over
Lake ChiSnik. % miles from Chignik.
an hour after Major Martin departed
for Dutch Harbor.
Weather Ideal.
Only mes ger reports had como hers
today concerning the weather T.
tween Atks snd .At;u but those fev
indicated THAI storms which hesct tie
.aviaiors and which wee believed -
nave caused MAJOR Martin "a 81
north instead Of sticking 10 lis srhcd=
ulsd route. which vas souihNeste.,f1
had been succeeded hy pleasant
weather Ideal weather Ter this
time Of year" MAS reported At Fsl>s
Pass, al The eastern end q The .Aleus
ton island chain and ar Dutch Ha1
Dor. late yesterday.
The coast guard cutter Haida -
cording 10 the latest report received
Vas speeding 10 Atka 10 see the axi
ators there hop off. and the United
States fisheries patrol boat Elder. Va
due a. Atta tomorrow Abosgd IL
Elder VAS Weather Observer BlafF-
who hoped TO reach Attu in time Il
inform Atka tomorrow whether tie
weather was suitable for Il fllshs
This communication Is possible h
cause Of emergency wireless stations
established on Atks and Attu ST =
time when It was thought that the
Algonquin would be working with tbs
Haida 10 aid the fliers.