Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-01
Commander Byrd
(Continued from Isage One)


partment of Seine Et Oise, which sur
rounds Paris. The search was ordered
to get under way as soon as was
humanity possible. /.
just where the false report OF thc
landing at IsSy-Les- Moulin Faux came
from it was impossible to determine
1T was first spread as runlor, was
then made official at the command
ants office at Lie BOurget and few
minutes later Havre reported that the
naval signal station there had been
advised officially that the aviators had
landed safely at Issy.
The senni-official Havas news agency
carried the landing" as soon as it was
received at Lie Bourget, and the sub
pfeeect of police at LIE Bourget in
formed the snewspapermen that it was
correct.
In the meantime half of the reporters
at LIE Bourget and many from Paris
started out in any sort of conveyance
that could be obtained to get details
from the aviators themselves.
AT dawn rain was pouring down, with
stiff wind. 1T was no kind Of flying
weather even in broad daylight.
ISSy Les MOulineaux is an isolated
place difficult to reach by bad roads,
and much time elapsed before a per-
sonal investigation by the newspaper
men revealed the falSity of the report.
But at first so certain did it seem
that the plane had come down that
III. A. Gibbons, representative of Rod
man Wanamaker, backer of the trans
Atlantic flight, started for the place.
Some time before 3 o'clock, however,
someone reported the Wllirr Of pro-
pe1lers over LIE Bourget, and Com
mandant Renvoise started the flares
going again to be sure. Soon after
that the lack of confirmation of the
alleged landing made the situation
serious, and eventually it was discov-
cred to be without foundation
Despite this, rural gendarmes and
others searched the Issy section for
any trace of the plane. The search
proved fruitless and was abandoned at
5 a. m.
For the reporters it was haro job
to get to IsSy, which lies at the far
end of Paris outside Porte de Yer
sailles. 1t was a long rue- by car
over slippery pavements from the heart
of the city and even a longer and more
trying run from LIE Bourget
Then at Porte De Versailles there
was an annoying stop for a checkup of
the "Octroi," or local taxis, which are
charged on gasoline, and another run
along a dark road to the field. There
was not telephone available out there
at that time of night, and the same
long ride back to Paris was necessary
before central offices could be in
formed and the news authorltatively
denied.
For most of the neWspapermen the
trip took nearly an hour and fer those
who were painstaking enough to check |
up all possible sources even longer.
The commanders of gendarmerie at
Charters, EvreuX and Melun, capitals /
of the departments Eure Et Loire, Eure |
and Seine ct Marne, respectively, have
received orders to send out all avail !
able men on search, which thus will |
cover all four departments immediately |
south of Paris.
PARIS, July R-Commander
Richard E. Byrd and his comrades !
in the monoplane America are lost
somewhere in France in the early I
morning hours. Fears are felt that |
they have either crashed or have
been forced down through lack of |
fuel at some unfrequented spot.
The last authentic report was at !
1:25 a. M, when Byrd called the I
French stations and asked for help !
i'll guiding him to landing field.
From that time on rumors flew
continuously, one SO circumstantial- |
that the plane had landed at Issy Les
Moulireaux-that official quarters
accepted it.
The lights at LIE Bourget field were
darkened and the welcoming crowds
departed
1t was the most unpleasant kind |
of canard, and newspapermen who /
rushed to Issy Les Moulineuax found
the field dark and deserted, and no
trace of the aViators.