Imperial Valley press., 1933-07-07
RADIO REPORT
SAYS MISSING
AVIATOR SAFE
Backers Of Jimmy Mattern Get
Message From Him At Anadir,
Chukota, Siberia.
NO DETAILS FORWARDED
First Word Heard From Flyer
Since Making Attempt To Get
Across Pacific.

CHICAGO, July 7. tU.Pt-James
Mattern, around the world flyer,
who became lost over the desolatc
wastes of Siberia, radioed his back
ers here today that he was safe.
A cryptic message here said:
Safe Anadir, Chukotka, Siberia.
"(SignedD Gemmie Mattern."
Mattern's hackers attributed the
misspelling of the aviator's name to
errors in transmission.
Matterr, who took off from
America in a bold attempt to make
solo flight around the world was
last heard from June IA when he
wired his headquarters here from
Khabarovsk, Siberia.
At that time he said he had
flown 1400 miles toward Nome, Al
aSka, but was forced to turn back.
will try again tomorrow" his mes
sage ended. That Was the last word,
save for news dispatches indicating
he had taken off in this new eff
| fort.
Days and weeks went by with no
word. I'VE were franticf said
Samuel j. Sackett, one of the
hackers, today.
Il never have known such relief
as this message today gives me.
Rescue attempts were being made of
course, but in the wastes of the
country they seem feeble and hope
less
The radiogram from Siberia con-
tanned just one word and the name
of city but to Mattern's friends it
spelled a story replete with de
termination, courage and persever-
ance in the face of ill-fortune.
Misfortunes Many
After crossing the Atlantic and
reaching Russia Mattern was ahead
of the round the world record set
by Post and Gatty. The whole
world watched the news of his at
tempt. But setting out across the
sparsely populated areas of Siberia,
misfortune atterded the aviator.
Once he got off his course. Again
he took off for Nome from Khab-
arovsk but was forced back.
Again he started and this time no
word was heard for weeks. Avia-
tors conjectured that Mattern was
| forced down in the desolate Arc
tic region, possibly damaging his
plane, or perhaps running out of
fuel.
oIn Il
patched from Anodyria and bore
the code numbers 10 $4,000. 1t was
sent urgent rate and addressed to
Harry Jameson. Hayden r. Mills,
John Clark and Sackett.
Sacket voiced the thanksgiving of
the group. I'VE felt such tremen-
dous responsibility" he said, "hav-
ing sent Jimmy away on this ven-
ture. For the first week that he
was missing we held high hopes
that he had landed safely but in
some isolated spot. Recently, how
ever, our hopes turned to fears and
we had almost diSpaired."
WALLA WALLA, Wash, July 7.
U.Pj-Mrs. Della Mattern, wife of
the round the world flyer, was
overjoyed today when she learned
Mattern'S hackers had received
message saying he was safe in ST.
beria.
Il am very happy, and tremen-
dously relieved" Mrs. Mattern told
the United Press. II have not had
any word myself, but I have every
hope that the message is authen-
tic. l never had given up hope at
any time that he was safe. He has
such way of turning up when you
least expect him"
Mrs. Matterr came here to visit
her sister, shortly before the Texas
flyer took off from New York June
3 on his fateful trip.
WASHINGTON, July 7. up
Coast guard officials today in
Structed the cutter Northland,
which is 300 miles off the coast OF
Siberia. to cooperate with Soviet
authorities in bringing back Jimmy
Mattern. world flyer.
The Northland cannot go into
Soviet waters without permission
and at present is communicating
by wireless with Soviet officials in
Siberia.
The Northland is on its annual
trip througr. the Bering Sea and
is the nearest United States vessel
to the Siberian coast and the town
where Mattern has been found.
The navy vessel Argonne is at
present in the Aleutian Island area
engaged in a photographic survey.