Evening star., 1928-08-24
FIRST MESSAGES DOUBTED.
Experts Held Planes Set Too Small
for Sending.


CHICAGO. August "a LPi.-Out of the
elr early today there came a wireless
0 S signed the Rockford flyers
It said the Rockford-to-Sweden plane.
missing since early Sunday morning,
was down on small island of New
foundland and that the flyers. Bert
EGssell and Parker Cramer, were safe.
joy born Of what apparently was first
definite information OF the planes fate
quickly faded, However. when wireless
experts began casting serious doubts as
60 the messages authenticity
Il seemed certain that message pur-
porting 10 come from the plane was
actually broadcast, for two amateurs.
ore n Chicago. tts other in Toledo.
C1io, made independent reports OF
hearing IL, On the other hand it ap-
peared very improbable TO experienced
radio men that the message was sent
from the planes small set, ''KHAH."
Ask Word to Families.
Get word to the Associated Press
and cur families" said the first mes
sage received by R j. Harris. Chicago
amateur. that we are down on a small
Island 80 miles OF Newfoundland, and
are safe"
Harris, whose station is eCEJ. asked
the sender who had signed as the
Rockford flyers" 10 stand by for 10
minutes while he communicated the
fl1e1ssge TO the Associated Press. Har-
us then returned TO his set and later
reported receiving the following mes
sage
Our oil feed failed us and ne landed
on a small island. We are o. K and
safe. but food low Using generator
for power for communication. Our
position is On small island about SO
miles of Newfoundland.
Message Tonight Promised.
After receiving this, Harris said he
asked the sender to give him 'sched-
uie'' for later in the evening. that Is,
he asked the sender 10 set later hour
during which communication might be
resumed In answer 10 this request
this message was received:
we are very tired and need sleep
bedly. so can't have schedule tonight
win cau YOU tomorrow night, pm.
Central standard time, or / pm. East
ern standard time Please get word tc
or families. Best regards 10 all.
fSiZned) THE ROCKFORD
FLYERS"
Harris szid that when ne FIRST heard
the signals they we're swinging badly
= condition he compared with fading,
which is familiar 70 radio SET operators
listening 70 distant stations Very soon
however. the signals became clear ant
recept!cr thereafter was simple Harris
said
Discrepancy as to Time.
Il vas n 1915 am. Chicago day
ught-saving time. that Harris reported
hearing the signals from 'kHAH
Joseph z Williams, Toledo, ONO
radio amateur who said he also was IN
communication With the Greater ROCK
ford. gave the time ss II 80 pm. "
JI,45 pm. Eastern standard time, OF
ennroyiynateIy half an hour earlier than
TIE Chicago operator. The plane, II
A. was the plane said II had been Try
ing all evening 10 get IN touch with
some one. Williams said when he FRS
heard il IL was calling 9CEG. cal
which might have been mistaken foi
Harris 9CEJ
Among the several amateurs and
ofnsrg who doubted that the messages
originated from the Greater Rocktord'f
yet was W II Hoffman chief radio
ouerator Of the Burgess Battery CO. oi
Madison Wis which installed the set
tr9 the plane Hoffman said IT would
hare been Impossible 4of me bFEaLef
rerkfor6's SCI 70 have transmitted on a
wave length q 423 as both Harris and
Williams reported The planes equip.
u4ent. hoffman said was 50 constructed
that IL could not sefd M wave length
more than siz points removed from 81 4
tj1e wave assigned IS
Don Nlx. another operator If tht
Burgess Co pointed out as did seyera
persons IN Rockford III nome of tin
fsyers that neither Hassell nor Cramel
wag sufficiently skilled in wireless
yoeration 10 have sent lengthy mes.
sage. That either could have trans
Yn.ted in the eZpert manner Nhief
fota Harris and Williams said was en-,
moved III the messages they heard
~0lld be virtually impossible, MiX tn
sisted