Search for Lost Aviatrix

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 143, 5 July 1937, Page 5

Search for Lost Aviatrix

-Presa AsBn,-

RESCUERS HOLD OUT LITTLE HOPE Terrific Storms Rage in Vicinity FAINT RADIO SIGNALS

( Bv Telecranh-

— Gjoyright.)

(Received 5, 11 a.m.) HONOLULU, July 4. The coastguard of Pan- American Airways reported the reeeption of t'aint radio carrier signals at 7.10 a.m., Eastern Standard time, probably from Mrs. Amelia Earhart Putnam, but they could not be identified. A Howland Island message states that the Itasca departed in order to investigate the missing aviatrix 's position reported by Los Angeles amateurs. The Itasca had previously made a search based on the theory that Mrs. Putnam. had overshot Howland. Island. Although the skies were overcast and the Itasca 's progress is hindered by rain squalls and choppy seas, the crew are confident that they would find the fliers. They are expected to Teach the new search area before daylight. A later message states that the Itasca pioke d up a strong carrier signal and

wireless dashes on Mrs. Putnam 's frequeney. Captain I. T. Harvey, commander of the searching seaplane, was t'orced to turn back after battling witk a welrd tropical storm for two bours, four hundred miles east of Howland Island. He said "There is little hope that Mrs. Putnam and Captain Noonan would have survived if they were forced down under such conditions as I and my crew of seven encountered. I have been flying eleven years, but I have never faced such adverse weather. It was most amazing. We were near the equator, yet the snow and sleet was terrihc. We were forced ciff our course by 250 miles in our attehipt to get to Howland Island. The controls i'roze and once we feared we would be forced down."