The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-01
STORMS KEEP
BIRDMEN FROM
REACHING GOAL
Radio Fails on Land and Fly-
ers Wander About All
Night in the Air
OBSCURED
Plane Passed Over Paris
Once, But Turned About
and Went Westward

Ver.Sur-Mer. France. July 1.
(APD-Practically all OF the
valuable scientific data collected
by Commander Byrd on his trim
across the Atlantic were lost in
the wreckage Of the plane here
today. Byrd expressed keen dis
appointment over the loss of his
records. All removable inst tru-
ments. the three engines and
parts which could be saved from
the plane America had been sal
vaged this afternoon. The plane
was practically torn to pieces In
the water and most of the instru.
ments saved
Paris, July 1.-(P)--The transat-
lant;c flight Of Commander Byrd. aft
er hard luck and tremendous diff
Guilty, ended just after dawn today in
the sea 200 yards from the beach Of
the little seaside resort Of Ver-Sur-
Mer. l7S miles west Of Paris.
The avlators swan ashore and
immediately went to sleep in little
cottage to which they were taken.
Ihe monoplane America was buddy
damaged-how badly awaited deter,
animation until the worn out flyers
should have a good sleep.
From the advices reaching Paris.
1t appeared the plane came down at
5:45 o'clock which would mean they
were in the air 43 hours 2l minutes
from the time they left Roosevelt
Field, N. T., with Paris as the goal.
Presumably the flyers facsd death
in their flight that lasted for almost
two days. For hours over the Atlantic
they were unable to see the ocean
or determine with any accuracy, ex-
cept with the aid Of the radio, Just
whefe tney were. On three occa-
slons even the tips OF the wings
were obscured from the anxious man
In the pilots seat.
Greatest Peril Over Land
but 1t was over land itself that
the greatest peril came. In the dark
ness Of rainy and stormy night,
when their compass failed to work,
they literally wandered about high
IN the air. seeking place to tome
down.. The radio guarded them over
the sea, but somehow it failed on
land. When their own signals were
heard, as they were at frequent in
tervals, the receiving stations were
unable to locate their position in the
sky.
The most critical time of all came
when IT seemed to all the observers
that they must be over Paris search
ing through clouds and fog for the
tights Of the LIE Bourget Field. Then
their signals ceased. At last, at 1925
O'Clock IN the morning, came an APP
peal for guidance. But no one knew
hal
possible. Anxious watchers aground
were forced to wait helplessly
throughout the remaining hours Of
darkness, unable even to guess where
the plane had gone.
Over Paris Once
The reports from Ver-Sur-Mer in
dlcate that they actually were over
Paris at o'clock in the morning and
that for some reason, as yet unex-
planned. they turned about and went
westward again. The last place the
plane was actually seenlwas at Brest,
about 200 miles west Of the spot
where it came down. That was at
1898 p. m., when the French Cable
company announced it had clearly
seen the distinguishing marks Of the
craft.
After that the air was filled with
all sorts of incorrect reports that the
plane had been sighted, even that it
had landed safely at Issy Les Moul-
lneaux. The landing at Issy was an
nounced by Commandant Renvoise, of
lie Bourget air field, and the prefect
of police, who later admitted that
their information was erroneous.
Worst Night of Season
The night was one of the worst of
the season in Paris. Rain fell in tor
rents. the clouds hung low and SO
pletely hidden as the earth must
Contrary winds whirled about, and
as hour after hour passed the watch
ers were sure the plane had either
been forced down or crashed at some
spot in the fields or forests that
surround Paris.
As the night wore on without def
mite news, the French ministry Of in
terror issued instructions that a COM
pletes search be ~.ade Immediately of
! all four departments to the south Of
Paris in the belief that the flyers had
been forced to alight at some isolated
spot. The search had hardly been
under way, however, when the news
came that the aviators were safe II
ver-Sur-M Mer. First it was in form
like the false reports Of the night
and was received with skepticism and
then details, meager to be sure, be.
gan arriving from point after point
and finally confederation that made
1T true beyond : doubt.
WITH OIL AND GAS GONE
THEY HAD TO SEEK LANDING
! ver-Sur- Mer, France. July 1.-(R!
An account Of how the Americu
came down and how Commander
Byrd and his three companions got
ashore was given by the commands
) himself to Max Nathey, > French
aviator and journalist, who bfongAt
an Associated Press corresponden,
here from Paris in IN airplane.
It was the arrival Of the Associat.
led Press airplane which awoke Com.
Z ~