Evening star., 1927-08-20

would continue on its course.
The position of the West Sequana
at midnight, Pacific standard time,
when it sighted the flare, was given
as 81 degrees 80 minutes north lati-
tude. 127 degrees % minutes west
longitude.
The flare was not repeated, the
message from the West Sequana said:
The West Sequana is a United
States Shipping Board vessel fitted to
carry oil. 1t was en- route from San
Francisco to Shanghai.
Flare Declared Distinct.
A second message from the West
Sequana added the information that
the flare was distinct, and was seen
by both the mate and the lookout.
about three miles off the starboard
bow.
The Federal Telegraph Co. main
fained communication throughout the
night with the West Sequana.
The broad expanse of the Pacific
Ocean today cloaked the disappearance
of three airplanes and their crews OF
six men and one woman as approx.
',nately 25 ships cruised at full speed
over the great circle route on mis-
sions of rescue.
The Dallas Spirit, piloted by Capt.
William p. Erwin Of Dallas, with A.
D. Eichwaldt of Alameda, Calf, as
navigator, radioed two frantic sos
calls shortly after o'clock last night
and added that the plane had gone
into two successive tail spins. Then
the planes radio was silent.
United States destroyers and mer.
camille vessels answered the call for
help and steamed under forced draught
toward the Dallas Spirits last known
position, about 592 miles west of San
Francisco.
SOS Call Received.
An errand of mercy and rescue ap
parently at dramatic and sudden
end. vast reaches of the Pacific were
combed today for Capt. Erwin and
Capt Eichwaldt, pilot and navigator
respectively, of the rescue plane Dal
las Spirit.
The plucky pair started from Oak.
land yesterday TO wing their way over
unused lanes of the water between
here and Hawaii in an effort to spot
the missing Dole fight planes-Golden
Iagle and Miss Doran--or their five
occupants.
Whether fate interviewed or their
radio equipment went out of order Is
not known, but at 902 o'clock last
night the following message flashed
into the offices here Of the Associated
Press: SOS. Tail spin" Then si
lence.
AS swiftly as the lightning cleaves
the sky came the cry for help from
Erwin and Eichwaldt. Lulled into Sc
curity by the pleasant greeting re
cefved over many hours, the Associ
ola af,
tled into action, began writing furious
lv. Here is what poured into his ears
Went into tail Spin-came ou'
q. X. but sure scared. Sure was
close call. = Bill H1rwinl thought il
was all off, but we came out of it
The lights on the instrument boar(
' went out and it was so dark that Bill
couldn't see the SOS Tai
spin"
He heard no more.
IT was "A stunning climax 70 n noble
undertaking. The 4. j. operator
.asped handed his copy TO an editol
and turned back to his instruments
Feyerishlv he twirled the dials of thu
radio. listened for some further sign
IIom the air. There was no response
Many Messages Sent.
The little monoplane. equipped Will
? sending but no receiving set, ha'
been in constant communication witi
the Associated. Press offices here. Al
through the afternoon and well int
the night. the operator had copied mes
sages from the flyers, as they sDet
along seeking the missing flyers
-1Iss Mildred Doran. John Auggy Ped
lar, her pilot: Lieut.. V. II. knope, he
navigator, and Jack Frost, pilot. an'
Gordon Scott, navigator Of the Colder
LaEle.
Naval radio headquarters here est
mated the Dallas Spirit was about 81
nautical miles from San Francisc'
when IL encountered trouble. Thl
was based on location messages sen
before the distress call.
Travelling along at speed estimate
OF approximately 100 miles an houl
Erwin and Eichwaldt had experience