THE SOUTHERN CROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1929, Page 6

THE SOUTHERN CROSS

FIRST MESSAGES.

FROM SMITH AND ULM.

SYDNEY, April 14

The Sydney . “ Sun ” states:—The first message ifroin the stranded fliers arrived at Sydney late on Saturday night from Lieut. Ulm. This message said : “ Smith said that he thought he could take off from the mud flats as soon as petrol and oil had been procured. They proposed to bring the Southern Cross back to Sydney for reconditioning before starting again on the flight to England. The party are still feeling weak from starvation.” Lieut. Ulm also telegraphed to his wife and to the Chief Civic Commissioner, Mr Carlick, extending the thanks of the party for what the Sydney citizens had done for them. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith also sent a message to his parents, announcing that all were well, and that they were returning to Sydney for an overhaul.

The foregoing messages were lodged at Derby (a coastal town on King Sound, 145 miles south of the Glenelg Liver and about 300 m.iles south-west of Wyndliam). Apparently the messages were taken there by the plane which landed alongside the Southern Cross yesterday. This was the Westralian ' Airways machine, which' the air line/ Canberra found there when she made her second trip to the Glenelg River yesterday with food for the marooned men.

STORY OF FINDING.

’PLANE UNDAMAGED.

SYDNEY, April 12.

A newspaperman, Mr Davidson, who was on the air liner •“ Canberra yesterday reported that the Southern Cross was located on a bend on the Glenelg River, not far 'from Mount Grey. • . Mr Davidson says: “Just previous to the ’plane being sighted, we came down to about two hundred . feet to investigate strange white marks that were on the ground in the vicinity ot a sheet of water. These white marks proved to lie only rocks. Immediately afterwards, while we were endeavouring to locate the marks, we saw, some miles off.’ a white mark which was so svmmetrical in shape that we flew over to investigate, and then discovered that it was the Southern Cross. Two men were then seen at the top oi a small hill a few hundred yards away, keeping a fire going. This fife was a very small one, and it might easily have escaped notice from any distance. The other two men had another small fire burning near the machine. Replying'to a note that we dropped from the Canberra, the men below signalled that they ’could get off if they were supplied with petrol and oil. “ Although the tracks made by the Southern Cross in landing seem to indicate the presence of a marsh there had been no rain for ten days. The ground may therefore he dry. - s seen from the air, the plane appears to have run up a slight slope, but afterwards its tail was shifted into the wind. The two men on the lull were down at the place like greased lightning and apparently they got into tli shade to eat. as they were not seen for some time. Wo dropped a note telling them that we had been trying to call them by wireless hut as they did not respond, we presumed that our messages had not been received, lhey wrote cm the ground something that looked wireless operator considered, meant they had received or could receive from Sydney. We then returned to \\ynclhnm where the whole population greeted us with intense excitement.”

the discovery,

THE MEN ON THE CANBERRA

The men aboard the Canberra when the ’plane made the memorable discovery on Friday, were the pilot, Captain Holden; Doctor Hamilton ; \Wrcless Operator Stannage; two residents of Wyndliam, Messrs Lyall and Dunn; and an, “Evening News” reporter Mr Davidson, who yesterday 11 world the first coherent account of the event. Not since the Armistice has any item of news stirred Austiali.i as did the brief announcement that the Southern Cross had been found <>•• Friday.

THE MACHINE UNDAMAGED o PREPARATIONS FOR RELIEF Q ULM’S STORY □ OF GREAT AIR DIFFICULTIES D MEN WITHOUT FOOD — ■ — AGONIES FROM MOSQUITOES — ■ — (Australian Press Association)

CHATER’S REPORT

BOOM TO RISE

A MYSTERY

SMITH’S SILENCE

‘•CANBERRA’S” return to ... GLENELc.,

SYDNEY, April 13.

The air liner Canberra left Wyndham to-day (Saturday) to take more food to the Southern Cross. She wirelessed at 1.50: ‘‘On the way to marooned airmen. Afterwards going to Derby if the landing ground is suitable there.”

Advices from Derby, however, indicate that there was a very high spring tide there yesterday, which had saturated the landing ground.

ROUNDABOUT RADIO

ONLY SYDNEY MESSAGES REACH SOUTHERN CROSS.

SYDNEY, April 14

The wireless experts believe that the Southern Cross has been able to receive messages from Sydney, and that therefore it knows the steps being taken for their rescue, hut that they are finable to speak in reply. A message from Wyndliam to the Amalgamated Wireless Coy. states: “Holden yesterday dropped a note to the Southern Cross asking: “Can you hear our wireless?” The reply was “no.”

It is suggested that the Sydney, stations should keep him fully advised of the latest news, the message adding: “Presuni.* ii is your short wave he can hear, as ho gave no indication that Wyndham’s six hundred metres signals were being received.” Pilot Holden further suggested: “You transmit the following for the Southern Cross: ‘Endeavouring to have the Koolinda sail for Port George to drop petrol, and also to arrange for Derby planes to supply food and blankets, also clothes. In case a land party should be unable to reach the Southern Cross for a few days, I have advised the Port George Mission of the rough position of the Southern Cross.’ ”

A NOTH ER. HELPER GOING

SYDNEY, April 14

Pilot Woods, of the newspaper “Sun’s” plane, which has done great work in searching during the past ton days, has telegraphed from Broome (north of Derby) that he knows that spot where the Southern Cross landed, and that when his machine is overhauled. he will fly there and will attempt to land alongside and help the Smith-Ulm party.

SYDNEY. April 14

Pilot Cliater, of the Australian Airways Service, says that lie flew five times over the locality where the Southern Cross is. chasing native smoke signals, but a landing was impossible, and therefore lie was unable to act their news.

Captain Cliater telegraphs from Wyndliam: “It will he a matter of days before the Smith-Ulm party will be able to return to civilisation. Meantime they have ample food.”

SYDNEY, April 14

According to messages received through Amalgam ted Wireless, the Canberra landed at Derby yesterday afernoon and Pilot Holden reported that in answer to questions to the Southern Cross, it had been learned that the latter was undamaged, and she has room to take off. This moans that all that they need is petrol, oil and good luck.

SYDNEY, April 14

Messages from Derby, north Westtralia, state that the Westralian pilots a r<> astonished that Smith and Ulm did not signal to any oi them, as they had flown several times over the spot where the Southern Cross landed. Captain Sliiulfortii, who is in charge of the Mission Schooner. says that lie was at the Port George Mission on the day that Smith’s plane circled overhead, and Smith dropped a note, lie received directions from the Mission, and he then flew off over the ranges. The- day was dear. Captain Shadfortli considers that it

would li’nvo broil :in awkward proposition for the Southern Cross crew t«i

walk to the mission across the ranges. On the other hand. Air Pauli, who formerly was for eight, years the Manager of the Port George Mission, says that he knows the country thoroughly, ami if the airmen had known the country they could easily have walked to the Mission in one day. He thinks that they are able to hear tile Sydney wireles, and that they knew that the rescue planes were searching, and that they considered it best to stav bv the machine.

NO NEWS OF ANDERSON

SYDNEY. April 13. Keith Anderson’s plane, the “lvookoohurra” is still missing.

The two It.A.K. planes which have gone in search for the “Kookooburra” have not yet rejxirtcd from Marco (South Australia) or from Alice Springs.

Private advices from \Aave Hill indicate that there is no news of Anderson there.

Police assistance for the search for Anderson is now being sought. SYDNEY, April 14. There was no further news this afternoon regarding Anderson.

SEARCH FOR ANDERSON

SYDNEY. April 13

Mr J. Cantor, the backer of Keitli Anderson, who left in the “Kookooburni” aeroplane to participate in the search for the Southern Cross, and who has not been reported since Wednesday. urges that measures should be taken to smirch for him. The Citizens Committee which organised the fund for the Smith-l lm search, has informed Mr Cantor it is unable to deal with the matter.

R.A.A.E. planes from Point Cook left Miklufa this morning for Maree (in Smith Australia) to look for Anderson. Neither is fitted with wireless.

Captain Matheson. in the Goiilburn Moth plane, was forced down at Duchess, sixty miles from Cloncurry. yesterday, owing to engine trouble.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S MESSAGE

WELLINGTON. April 13

The Prime Minister has forwarded the following cablegram to the Prime Minister of Australia “The news of the discovery of the Southern Cross and of the safety of the missing aviators has been received with the keenest pleasure in New Zealand, and lias been a source of relief from the grave anxiety which we all have shared regarding their welfare.” A cablegram has also been forwarded to the Premier of N.S.W., Air ’l'. Bavin, as follows: “New Zealand shares with New South Wales and the other portions of the Commonwealth in the feelings of universal satisfaction in connection with the discovery of the Southern Cross and the safety of 'Squadron Leader Tvingsford Smith and his companions. May I ask you to 'lie good enough to convey to the 'relatives of the aviators in your Sta{e, an expression of our congratulations upon the happy termination of our common anxiety as to the welfare of the missing men.” A telegram has also been forwarded by the Prime Minister to the uncle of Mr McWilliams, living in Auckland.

ULM’S STORY

OF THE GREAT ADVENTURE.

TOLD BY THE LOC.

A WONDERFUL LANDING.

(Received this day at 9. a.m.) SYDNEY, April 15. Ulm’s account of the Southern Cross flight finishes a thrilling story. Extracts from the log after covering the early hours of the journey, which are already known, describes their running into rain on Sunday, 31st March, at 3.45 a.in., which continued off and on for the next two hours. When dawn was hr,axing at 7.50 it was wet and cold, and they did not know if the coast were n U'hed as there were thick clouds below, hut all thought so. At six o'clock they seemed approaching Wyndliam. At 9.15 the log states the last hour had been spent at about fifty, in thick rain and very low clouds along a very broken coast line, looking for WvndJiam.

At 10.30 they thought they had found the entrance, but an hour later the log says there was nothing to report. The log continues:—ll.3o, Been lost in a rainstorm for eight hours. Now on the coast at the river mouth. Clouds all about. 12.20, Just passed over some rapids; heading west; getting over the coast again. 1.50, Have about one and a-balf hours of gas.

2.10, Passed over mission, threw down note and a chap gave us direction. All hands tired. Been in the air twentv-seven hours.

2.44, Been hopelessly lost in a rainstorm for ten hours. Now going to make a forced landing at a place we believe to be 150 miles from Wyndliam in rotten country.

3.20. Have made a forced landing. The rain had forced us right down to the hill tops and we were unable to locate the mission, so eventually landed on the edge o'! a mangrove swamp.

Smithy made a wonderiul effort, and the Southern Cross is undamaged, hut the only food on hoard is seven sandwiches, all about to putrefy. We have lit a lire. All are tired out after 28-4 hours in the air.

Mac rigged a long-wave aerial to an aileron from the kingpost .and listened in. All are very deaf hut we heard Perth calling Darwin about us. Before dark we trudged through about 24 miles of laid swamp grass to nn :,djacent hill top, hut saw nothing, so returned to the bus before dark. It was very heavy going.

.Smithy and Litchfield got in 5 to 0 hours sleep the first night. .Mac and J had barely an hour. Mosquitoes and flies make sleep impossible. On Monday. Ist April, Smithy and 1 spent practically the whole day improving the belt drive for the radio generator. We had no tools and flies were awful. In the evening we listened in again. Our food had given out but we have plenty of water. All arc very weak. Mac and 1 were the worst because we had no sleep. We got Sydney oil the radio. They say a launch left WyiHlhani to search Drsdale river and a ’plane was to leave Derby on the search.

Litchfield fixed our position about 120 miles from Derby and 180 miles west from Wvndham.

The ’plane is our main hope. W’o turned to about 8.20, after hard physical work by Smithy and myself, trying to turn the radio just enough to get out a message. Jt is doubtful if it did us an good.

Smithy and latch had loss than an hour’s sleep, Mac half an hour and myself none.

Our mosquitoe bites are swelling and all are much weakened. We named this place Coffee Royal. Smithy and I searched the swamp for oysters hut found none. We saw a small kangaroo on Sunday but nothing since. We turned the ’plane round in the afternoon to slightly dryer ground.

Tuesday, April 2nd.—All are visibly weaker this morning and any exertion tires us altogether. Smithy and Litchfield went to the hill-top to light a fire. Mac and 1 have one going near the Southern Cross. We will stay here to-night and listen in again. 9.40 a.m. The ’plane coining is our host hope, but it has not sighted us. We feel we can last a week if flies and mosquitoes don’t devour us,- but the main tiling is the Southern Cross is undamaged and we can take off in a 'few days, if there is no more rain and may see the mission again. We will he able to stay about fifteen minutes only, hut will he able to send a radio on a short-wave from the air. though another landing here will he perilous. Even writing is an effort.

Smithy and Litcli returned from the hilltop at noon. They could not stick the heat without protection. Got Sydney at night, but though we are reported missing in the press there is no direct message to us. A thundershower just before sundown and another at 1.30 a.m. All had about three hours sleep. Mac is a scream, making jokes and sometimes playing a mouth organ. Food is all we need. We are weak for lack of it and sleep. Tried to shoot birds with an automatic but had no success.

UNBEARABLE ELY NUISANCE,

Wednesday, April 3rd.—All are weaker now. hut mentally alert. I feel gone in the legs and arms. We corrected our longitude position. Collected wood and kept the lire going all the morning. Had gruel for lunch and feel slightly better. The flies are unbearable and mosquitoes damnable. Another small shower about 2 p.m.

Flies hamper our work. For instance when taking a shot Litchfield uses a sextant with Mac- swishing him, while Smithy and I read the chronometer and swish each other. Then one or other swishes Litchfield while he works up his sights, which confirm our latitude. All are cheerful hut hungry. Litchfield and 1 tried stalking doves but had no success. A small dove is hard to Hit with an automatic.

Mac Williams got La Rerouse on the radio reporting the Canberra was leaving to look for us. He then got Broome who sent us a message to light triangle fires, five hundred yards apart. This was impossible in our weakened condir tion. I wonder where the Airways ’plane with Chateau is. 2 F.C. Sydney reported Chateau flew to Drvsdele and will search again to-morrow. We feel chirpy to-night, hut damned hungry.

THE MEN STARVING

Thursday, April 4th.—At daylight, an awful march up Darlinglmrst hill to light a lire, then stoking in hah hour shifts and the heat unmerciful'. We are really starving, keeping alive on one and a-lialt cups of gruel per day. Mac Williams nearly out to it today, hut is still working. All are feeling gnawing hunger pains. Smithy’s super energy is wonderful, hut even his strength is failing. The flies take half our energy in the daytime and sleep is impossible owing to mosquitoes at night. y

Friday, April 5t.1i.-—We decided to cross the mud clay pan and light a fire there, as none wore capable of climbing the hill. All slept better last night, but are weaker. The sky. is cloudless and the heat terrible. We found some,mud snails in a mangrove swamp which we ate. They were awful Hut we feel, stronger. Smithy and 1 had a shot at cutting a tree down. Our tools were two screwdrivers and rocks lor hammers, but we had to give it up. When we returned to the shade ol the wing, all were just on a collapse.

A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT

WHEN AEROPLANE PASSES BY.

Saturday, April 6th.—Our worst day. A plane passed within ifour miles of us. This after nearly killing ourselves marching up the hill keeping the fire alight. Just after we had returned from Darlinglmrst Hill and had lit Coffee Royal fire, Smithy heard a plane. All worked furiously stoking up a big smoke fire. He passed us, hut not more than five miles away at 2.50. This decided us to have the tree down to jack up a wheel to work the radio generator. Smith and l worked without rest for two hours at the wheel. Litchfield kept the flies off and we won. We got the great tree down hut it knocked us up. That ’plane passing was terribly disappointing and , we cursed the pilot. J

•Sunday, April 7tli. —Got the wheel jacked up by noon. This has been Smithy’s big day. He excelled himself and never stopped working, making a 'friction wheel on which to run the generator and finished it with a penknife only, m the blazing sun tormented by flies. Then Smithy rigged an engine starter handle in the outer end of the axle, making wooden bearings with his knife. Wo took off the generator and .Mac Williams spent an hour wiring it

up. Smithy mounted his little wooden drive on the generator and we had a practice run with Mac Williams in the cabin at the set, Smithy and Litchfield turning a forty-ffour inch wheel and myself holding the generator on tlie wdieel, making the friction drive. We generated nearly one hall amp and there were loud cheers from old Mac. He says we can transmit, but the trouble is we can’t keep it running more than ten seconds at a time, so we worked for hours to-night winding the wheel while Mac sent S.O.S. and other signals. Our best hope is that someone picked it up and reported to La Perouse, which we receive excellently here.

ANOTHER ’PLANE PASSES BY.

THE MEN CET WEAKER.

Monday, April Bth.—Had a good sleep last night as it came up co d and drove the mosquitoes away. Smithv and I got two hundred snails on a mud flat to the south. We had half for lunch. Last night Mac heard all stations again, but there was no news for us. Smithy is knocked out but most of our heavy work is done and we are all resting. Then we have to expend more strength in turning the generator. Each turns ten to fifteen seconds ; then all rest for a quarter of an hour. Tobacco ran out to-day. We tried to smoke leaves but they weie awful.

Tuesday, April 9th.-This was the day of our greatest hardship yet. A ’plane passed us twice this morning, the second time within four miles at a height of four thousand feet, the day being clear and cloudless. We discussed the possibility of build ing a rafft and taking it to what we believe is Glenelg river; three miles south and drifting down to the coast with the tide, hut lack of water to drink is dangerous. We ate more snails to-day, hut we are all failing, though Smithy and Litchfield have more energy than .Mack and T. On the radio to-night, we heard oi Holden, Anderson, Clutter, Heath and Woods activities, also that aborigines were searching. We wish they would come down here. We pray that Lo Perouse will send out the exact position of Port George mission and then we would try to walk there. Only two and a half tins off gruel are left and twenty-two matches. Worst ot all, the water hole is droying up.Wednesday, April 10th—We have been ten days lost hut are still alive. Mac and I tried to walk to a new hill called Disappointment Hill, but broke down alter a mile and a half. We were two weak to move, hut we lit a fire and Smithy and Liteh., joined us with snails and water.

further Planes pass by.

CAUSING GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.

(Received this day at 10.30. a.m.) We discovered a tiny long bean weed and cooked and ate some. We don’t like them hut there is some nourishment m them. Coming hack Mac and 1 were cut off by tidal waters and had to make a detour of an extra mile through the mangrove swamp. T

collapsed live times and staggered to Royal Coffee a beaten man. For tin. past lew days we have all been getting mental mirages of wonderful dishes of food. It may sound childish, but it is true. Heat, flies, mosquitoes and the lighting of lires, the pulling down of trees and the pulling up of grass for smoke, a walk for water, eat a tew snails, drink water and a very thin cup of gruel, listen to the radio and then lie down to be eaten by mosquitoes, that is our day. When will it end?

Smithy found a new waterhole, hut high tides make it impossible to get snails. Saw emu and dingo tracks, but we can’t shoot them with a .22 automatic. We discussed making a raft out of two wing tanks, hut there are too many difficulties in the way.

After being passed by three planes, we are hopeless off their finding us, and hope they send alxxs (aborigines) out. Thursday, April 11th.—Smithy and Liteh went to Darlinghurst Hill where they will start a fire and stay the night,, while Mac and I keep the fire going here.

A pair of planes passed northward at 9 a.m. and one passed southward at 2 p.m., ten to twelve miles off. Each time Smithy collapsed on Darlinghurst, so Litchfield did the bulk of the work. He is splendid and looks good for a few days yet.

The* radio tolls us the planes searched Roe River, Avon Valley, north of us. That is disappointing. We hoped they would search south of Regent River.

THE FINDING,

THE MEN’S THANKFULNESS.

Friday, April 12th.—Smithy and Litchfield stayed the night at Darlinghurst. -MacWilliams and I could not sleep down here. We are on the last of the gruel and taking almost pure hot water. 0.00 a.m.—Saved. Holden’s Canberra appears from south-east. 1(1 a.m.—The Canberra came low for well over an hour, dropping four packages of rations.

God ! It’s all too wonderful! Food !

Smithy and Litchfield rushed down from Sariingliurst with tears in their

eyes and whoops. Say. we are all in, hut, gee, the old Southern Cross is in one piece, and- eventually we will liy out.

We just tore open two tins of bully beef and ate it like animals. Holden returned to Wyndham dropping a message that lie would come again with more food. God bless Holden. G<>d bless everybody.

Litchfield and Mac Williams . refused to leave us though we' bad intended they .'should go out in the rescue planes, so we have to agree to their mutinous request, and all will leave together in the .Southern Cross. Saturday. April 13th.—All hands greet the day. rejoicing, knowing we will agiiin make contact with'-'our fellows. ■ "‘TheCanberra has arrived'with (food and Heath’s ’plane has landed.