The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-20

by until 'dayDreak. Inc position
1913 miles west of San Francisco
1t was conjectured that the
flare might possibly be con-
nected with the missing Dole
planes, Miss Doran and the
Golden Eagle. It was not be-
lieved that the missing Dallas
Spirit could have gone down at
that place.
Fear that Capt. William P.
Erwin's brave gesture to find the
missing Dole flight aviators had
ended in tragedy today sent war
ships scurrying to where his
monoplane, had last been reported.
Dawn found the U. S. S. Laval
lette steaming at full speed to
where sputtering radio signals had
dramatically told Of two tail spins
INTO which the monoplane had
plunged while 900 miles out at SEA
on an attempted flight from Oak
land to Honolulu.
The Lavellette is 100 miles from
the spot where Erwin is believed
to have gone down. The U. S. S.
Hazelwood was nearer, but because
of diminished fuel supply
designated the Lavellette to proceed
at full speed.
Has Rubber Life Raft
Erwin gave no position in sending
the first distress signals, Navy Of
ficials here who had been plotting
the planes course, however, esti-
mated his position 800 land miles
from the San Francisco lightship.
Ted Dealey. manager of the Spirit
of Dallas" was deeply concerned
over the reports.
"Still," Dealey said, eff they had
time to flash that last radio mes
sage they should have had time to
get out their rubber life raft,
shouldn't they?"
He requested any further infor-
nation be Immediately sent him.
The plane was equipped with
rubber life raft and pressure pumps
for dumping its gasoline, though
there was only one valve for the
fuel This may have become clogged,
it is believed
Also Carries Flares
In addition to its life raft, it car
ried safety flares for signalling ships
within possible sight. The plane,
weighed $3.50 pounds when taking
off from the Oakland airport.
Capable of making from rs to %
miles per hour the Lavallette was
to reach the Dallas Spirit"
location between 9 and 10 o'clock
this morning, Indianapolis time.
The Navy reported this morning
that it was in communication with
destroyers seeking traces of the Dali
las Spirit. 1t was said that the de-
stroyer Sumner and the airplane
carrier Langley, in addition to the
destroyer Lavallette, were proceeding
toward the position given last for
the plane.
Tell of Tail Spin
The radio distress call which led
to belief that the plane was down
came at 1850 p. M, and 11:02 p. m.
last night, indianapolis time. All
efforts to re-establish communica-
ton have been futile,
The first information that some
thing had gone wrong came in the
form of an IS. o. S." which was
almost instantly followed with:
Delay that. We came out of the
tail spin o. K, but we sure got
scared. 1t was sure a close call.
Thought it was all over, but came
out of it. The lights on the instru-
ment board went out and Bill
couldn't see the wings"
Just as those ashore were breath
ing easier after the suspense this
reaSSurlng message was IolloWeQ Dy
a brief:
"We are in another"
Since then fear the second sup
posed tail spin had resulted disas-
trously has increased with each
passing hour.
Radio operators who had copied
the planes messages throughout
yesterday afternoon and evening
were startled by the sudden termi-
nation. It meant either that the
plane had crashed into the sea or
that the radio antenna had been
ripred Of. The another" was Ia
ken OF mean another tail spin.
Meanwhile, the Radio Corporation
Of America End the Navy radio sta
tons here sent out messages to all
ships at sea advising them Of the