Evening star., 1928-02-29
FISHERMAN TELLS
Of HEARING PLANE
Navy Intensifies Search for
Comdr. EIIyson and Two
Companions.


NORFOLK. Va. February 29.-An
airplane with a missing engine, flying
at very low altitude. was heard over
Horn Harbor In Chesapeake Bay about
2:30 o'clock Monday morning. Navy on
i cials searching for Comdr Ellyson and
his two companions were informed to-
day by Irvine Hudgins. fisherman.
Then the planes motor picked up
and the aircraft headed northward
across the mouth of the harbor,
Hudgins reported. Suddenly. he said,
the droning of the motor seemed to
stop. He heard nothing more.
This is the first definite information
received by naval officials to bear out
their belief that the plane might have
fallen into the water.
What was described by Navy officials
as the greatest aerial search ever made
for missing men was pushed with re-
newed vigor today as Al aircraft
secured the Chesapeake Bay district for
Comdr. Eliyson and his two companionS
All regions of the Chesapeake were
being subjected to the close scrutiny
of naval, Marine and Army aviators.
The non-rigid naval dirigible the J-3.
from Lakehurst. N. j.. accompanied by
one airplane. began the search OF the
tributaries north Of Annapolis early
today.
Planes Go From Here.
Eighteen airplanes from the airplane
carrier Lexington and the scouting feet
anchored of Hampton Roads resumed
, . bat nrrH rt l4p
Virginia, North Carolina and lower re-
gions of the bay. along with nine air.
planes from the Naval Air Station at
Hampton Roads.
Eight naval planes from the Ana
costa station swept low over the
eastern side of the bay. and five Army
planes inspected the western shore.
Five Marine planes from Quantico.
Va, were searching the lower western
bank
The two Army blimps from Langley
Field, Va, cruised over the territory in
the vicinity of Old Point Comfort.
Ellyson, along with Lieut.. Comdr.
Hugo Schmidt and Lieut. Roger s..
Ransehousen. has been missing since
early Monday when he left Hampton
Roads for Annapolis 10 visit his daugh-
ter. who Is Ill.
Covers Wide Area.
Rear Admiral Coontz, commandant
At Hampton Roads Naval Air Station,
reported 70 the Navy Department to-
day that yesterdays search included
! Chesapeake Bay from Baltimore To
| Cape Henry and outside OF the Chesa-
! peake Capes as far south on the out
! side coast as Kitty Hawk, N. c.. and as
/ far north on the outside coast from
/ Cape Charles. Va. 10 Chincoteague
| Inlet. and also covered the Potomac
| River and Tangier Sound and the coun-
| try for 30 miles back from Chesapeake
| Bay on the west side and included all
i iniets on the east side OF the bay dis
j trict
| The admiral reported that from in
| formation received by the searchers the
missing amphibian plane was sighted
over Cape Charles City. Va. at 2:32
Il m. Monday and after circling the city
several times headed north. He con-
fIrned reports that q plane was heard
! near Thomas Point Light southeast ot
Annapolis. by the keepers of the light
about 4 O'Clock, but the planes direc'
ton Was not known.
The radio was brought into play last
! night 10 broadcast information about
the plane, and Admiral Hughes. chici
~ naval operations, announced re-
ward ~ 800 would he paid ~ any one
locating The ship.