Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-15
Last Heard 829 Miles From
Honolulu as Liner 200 Miles
Off Speeds in Answer to
Frantic SOS.
MAITLAND'S M0N0PLANE
PREPARED TO GO TO AID
Receiving Set on City Of Oakland
Disabled, Flyers Are Unable to
Tell Whether Assistance Is on
Way-Have Food for 10 Days
and Rubber Lifeboat.


and Rubber Lifeboat.
By the Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO, July Is
The steamer Wilhelmina wire
Icssed the Matson Navigation Co.
here that she was proceeding at
full speed to the rescue OF the
monoplane City of Oakland. The
ships officers believed they were
% miles from the spot where the
plane alighted on the water.
By the Associated Press
HONOLULU. July 15.-The
steamer Wihelmina. going TO the
aid of the distressed plane. City of
Oakland. reported at 7:50 am,
Pacific time, to the Wahiawa
Radio Station as follows:
The plane called US few min
utes ago. Did not give position.
We have heard nothing further"
By the Associated Press.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii,
July 15.-The minesweeper Peli-
can left here at s 8:55 am, Pacific
time, going to the rescue of the
monoplane City of Oakland.
By the Associated Press.
HONOLULU. July 1s.-Short of
fuel and more than 600 miles from
land, Ernest L. Smith, civilian avia-
tor, and Emory B. Bronte, navigator,
faced an undetermined fate today as
radio report was received that
their monoplane, City of Oakland,
flying to Honolulu, had made a land
ing on the surface of the Pacific.
That the plane still was in the air
when its last radio report was heard
was indicated when it became known
that it's wireless was not able to op-
crate after landing
Say They Are Landing.
A radio message direct from the
monoplane, saying they were land
ing in the water" and to rush help
was intercepted by the Navy at San
Francisco.
The plane hit the water at SIS
o'clock, Honolulu time.
The last known position of the plane
was about $40 miles east and north
of Paia, Island of Maui, and S29 miles
1,als no n
Pacific time, when the liner Wilhelma,
about zoo miles from the plane and
steaming to her rescue. intercepted a
message saying the plane was still
begging for help.
Equipped with provisions enough
to last 10 days, pneumatic life raft
and facilities for distilling water, the
f1vers had the consolation that they
might remain adrift if they could
make q safe landing in the open, but
they knew nothing OF the help that
was rushing toward them because
their receiving set broke down shortly
after leaving San Francisco yester'
day.
500 Miles From Goal.
How long the little plane could
remain in the air was matter OF
conjecture when the first SOS call
came. Bronte then reported they had
a one-hour supply of fuel. A te"
minutes later he reported the 1uel sup
nIv would hold out four hours, but
asked that help be sent. There was
little possibility that they could ny
another 600 miles or more 10 Iaho with
the gasoline left.
When the first call was received
thew had been in the air 19 hours and
"a minutes and apparently had traV'
eIed about 1000 miles. They were
shout 500 miles from Honolulu, their
Their speed for the last two hours
before the SOS call averaged more
+han 103 miles per hour, according
IN combinations made from their posi-
tion reuorrs. At that rate four
hour supply of gasoline would nave
taken them to within 400 miles OF land.
Refueling of the Fokker monopIahe
in which Maitland and HenSenberseI
crossed the Pacific was completed al
$40 am. Pacific Coast TIME, but Oh,
4icers on the field pointed out that
there would be little use in sending il
oI,t unless the steamships located the
nlane. Orders for sending the Aloha
souadron-a group of four SINAI
pIanes, which were to escort smith
5nfo Honolulu-Were Cancelled.
Besides the rubber life raft, similar
10 the type Comdr. Byrd and his crew
used after being forced down off the
L,rencb coast. Smith had tire pump
rubber patches. two dozen flares anc
q signal pistol.
Two small water stills were pro
Nided to render sea water drinkabie.
Breaking through the dawn with
feeble peep, the monoplane's radit
called for help shortly after $50 a m.
Pacific time, announcing the plane
was 700 miles northeast Of Pal3
Island of Maui, with only enough
gasoline TO stay in the air an hour.
+ Three Ships Go TO Aid.
several ships caught the message
and al least three of them rushed io
her aid.
Shortly afterward, dispatch re
] ceived by the Navy here from the City
of Oakland said the plane had four
hours supply of gasoline instead oil
one, as previously reported.
An Army message. timed 6:S6 a m,
Pacific time, confirmed the report that
the monoplane had only a fourhoui
gasoline supply
With all ships and shore stations
sn the western Pacific area aware oi
~ =.