Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-26
DISTRESS MESSAGE
IS RECEIVED FROM
GRAySON A|RPLANE
"Something Gone Wrong."
Says Radio FIash-Craft's
Position Not Given.
SEARCHING EXPEDITIONS
AWAITING DEFINITE NEWS
Missing Plane Is Believed in
Vicinity of Sable Is
land Coast.

Frances Wilson GraySon's plane, the
Dawn, flashed something gone
wrong" to the Canadian government
radio station at Sable Island at 9:45
last night, they advised the Asso-
ciated Press today.
a broken message with the single
tragic phrase inielligihle. ending with
the letters "NCE" and signed w. NJ.
L. was the slender thread upon which
hope hung today that the four oc'
cupants OF the plane might still be
alive.
The Canadian radio station said
that the strength of the signals led
them TO Judge the distance at so 10
400 miles.
Several ships listened for her sig.
mails, but no report of any kind was
received, the station declared.
Gale Delays Rescuers.
While forces in American waters
and points along the New England
Coast watched for trace of the plane.
Canadian government agencies ana
Newfoundland authorities prepared 10
send rescue craft on search. A
Winter gale, however, delayed the
The messages from Sable Island
were the first direct word from the
plane since it took of from Roosevelt
Field at 5.o7 pm. Friday on its LOO
mile flight.
The plane passed over Orleans,
Mass. on Cape Cod, at 7:25 pm. FRI
day, the radio station OF the French
Cahe Co. said, and then vanished into
a silence that was unbroken until the
messages were heard from Sable
Island
A difference developed. however.
whether the wireless station talked
with the Dawn on Friday or yesler-
Gay.
The chief wireless officer at Sable
Island, in messages to c. II. Harvey,
local agent of the marine and fisheries
denaxtmenf, and 10 the chief wireless
offlcer OF the naval dockyard at Han
fax. insisted he heard the signal last
night The Sable Island operator mas
heen repeatedly checked on his In
formation. but IL was thought there
was something wrong with MS ad'
vices. Accounts Of receipt OF lhe
,Y1essa ges Sunday were regarded as
-,uzziing, as the plane was long over
due al Earbor Grace at the houf
given.
Reports Message FRIDAY.
The ofncer in charge. however. OF
the Sable Island station told the CHIEF
wireless operator here that ne aeard
.ha Tlawn al s:45 pm. Friday. Based
On the fast speed at which the plane
Travelled ia its early stages, compnlh'
slows indicated the craft couio nave
~eached the region Of Nova Scotia or
sable Island al the hour the message
was reported received.
The message from Sable Island said:
"At s:45 pm. eastern standard
+srre, heard airship Dawn saying tnat
something had gone wrong. out coun
rot get her, owing 10 storm inter
ference.
THE fact that the message was re-
~etved a. the sable Island station was
@al,en 70 indicate the plane must nave
Seen in the vicinity Of the island 10
ynake it's signal heard through inc
..ovr,a. which the operator reported
Eventually interrupted the plane =
signal. x..sa
.ha Dawn IL IL had followed direct
nne frx,gsl Cape Cod TO Newfoundland.
s-te FIRST hop out Of sight Of land was
80 ~ $50 miles from the cape TO
Syoxa Scotia and one of $50 miles from
Noya Scotia 70 Newfoundland.
Gasoline Believed Exhausted.
Tae piane carried SIS gallons Of
.,ssnifne when IL took of, supply es-
ffuaated as sufficient for ~ houfs OF
e~ing. This period would have ex,
yjred al I07 pm. Saturday. about
~ hours after the time Mrs. Grayson
hsd expected 10 reach Harbor Grace
"a prepsrs for a 2.50onniie fight TO
croydon. England. -
. WIN Mrs. Grsyson were Lieut..
oxkar Onodai, pilot: Brice Colds
t,Groi,gI1, navigator and ra6Io opera
,ny and Fred Kohler, motor expert.
Al bot Kohler comprised fns pro
1ec.ed transatlantic fying group.
Friends and relatives % the mIlss,
,,1 eveys spurred searching efforts
from New York.