Evening star., 1927-09-02
PRINCESS PLANE
FELL IN ATLANTIC,
OFFICIALS BELIEVE
Ship and Wireless Reports
Indicate Flyers Never
Reached America.
CANADA PREPARING
TO HUNT LOST AVIAT0RS
Craft May Have Landed Near
Fishing Fleet on Grand Banks
or Hit Forests.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Sep
tember 2.-The wireless station at
Cape Grace, Newfoundland, ad-
vised the naval dockyard here this
afternoon of a message received
from the Dutch steamer Bljden-
dix stating that am, s. m. t.,
yesterday the vessel sighted
white light, probably belonging to
en- sirplane. in latitude 1929 north,
longitude 64.43 west. The light was
proceeding in an eastery direction.
~ the Associated Press.
OTTAWA, Ontario, September D.
Negative reports from ships and
wireless stations today convinced Off
cial circles that tragedy has befaller
Princess Lowenstein- Wertheim and
her attendants, Col. Minchin and
Capt. Hamilton. in their England to-
Canada plane, the st. Raphael.
The opinion prevails that the
monoplane never reached the shores
of the North American continent.
Wireless Keeps Busy.
Government wireless stations, how
ever are continuing to broadcast for
information in the hope that the
fiyers fell into the ocean and were
rescued by a vessel unequipped with
wireless.
The Belle Isle station reported to
the government that the weather this
morning was fine and CLEAR with light
north winds, adding, No Information
on plane so far"
Lindbergh Field, on the outskirts
of the city, was deserted today after
n night i'm which the Royal Canadian
air officials remained on duty ana
kept searchlights on the field.
Mrs. Leslie Hamilton. wife of the
aviator, refused to abandon hope, ana
spent sleepless night in her hotel.
She made no plans to leave the
capital.
The most generous estimates of the
planes fuel supply gave 1t a flying
period of A hours, barring accident,
but at 1882 o'clock, Eastern standard
time, last night-the expiration OF the
estimated fuel limit-no word had
been received. from the craft. The
plane hoped off at 1892 o'clock, East
ern standard time. Wednesday morn
ing. Capt. Hamilton had estimated
he would make the trip in 81 hours.
Flares Light Fields.
Flares penetrated the darkness about
flying fields to guide the plane to a
landing In case it reached Newfound-
land behind schedule.
Constant vigil through the day in
Newfoundland was ended at midnight.
local time, the signal station above
st. Johns being closed in the belief
that further watch was hopeless.
Mrs. Hamilton sat through the long
night, eagerly snatching every bit OF
news furnished by the Canadian gov
ernment air force and the newspapers.
Late at night, accompanied by j. A
Wilson, controller of civil aviation,
abe visited the air port where the
plane was to have landed.
Crowds formed in the street outside
her hotel awaiting news of the flyers
while newspaper bulletins were eager
ly scanned. Hundreds waited for
hours at the air field in hope of seeing
the plane arrive.
Anxiety for the safety of the plane
increased with the passing hours. The
provincial government prepared TO
send airplanes in search of the st
Raphael, on the first report indicating
It may have descended anywhere be
tween the Labrador and Quebec-On
tar1O D0unQarleS. capt. RODlnSon, VIII
piloted the plane sent in search of
Nungesser and Coli, was one of those
ready to start on the hunt.
May Land Near Boat.
The conviction was general at Har
Dor Grace that the plane had gone
down, probably near one of the GranC
Banks fishing fleet, unequipped with
radio. Another theory was that The
craft might have gone off it's course
and landed on some barren and un
settled part of the thousands of mile.
of wilderness in Newfoundland, whert
means of communication were no
available. The flyers carried a four
day food supply.
Although weather reports indicated
that the st. Raphael did not face un
usually bad weather over the ocean
II met head winds most of the wa!
and some rain and fog. Showers ant
head winds prevailed over midocean
with northerly and fresh winds from
the Grand Banks to Newfoundland
Conditions were cloudy.
The North Atlantic under the bes
conditions, however, is regarded a
dangerous for a westward flight
LONDON'S ANXIETY DEEPENS.