HOPE ABANDONED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 6

HOPE ABANDONED

THE MISSING AIR LINER. *

DISCOVERY OF WRECKAGE United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) MELBOURNE, October 2. The authorities have abandoned hope of finding the occupants of the airliner Loina alive, but it is believed they have located the spot where the ’plane sank.

The occupants of the ’plane were: — Mr G. S. Anderson, a Sydney business man, Mr Gw Garlick, a Sydney business mail, Mr A. N. Evans, aged 34, the pilot, Mr M. Brown, co-pilot, Mr E. Best, Airways engineer. Mr Anderson, who leaves a widow and son, was ail insurance inspector, and was formerly superintendent of the Mutual Life Citizens Company at Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mr Garlick was a traveller for shearing material and diesel engines, he was a widower, and had no relatives in Australia.

During the search yesterday a large patch of oil and- what appears to be part of the wing of an aeroplane were disco.vered half a mile off Flinders Island. A pilot’s uniform as worn by Mr Evans, the pilot, and various light articles, including three more lilebelts and a rubber cushion were found on the beach.

There was also much wreckage including the top of the cabin, on another part of the beach. So far there is no’ sign of any of the occupants of the Loina. Some of the wreckage found yesterday has been identified'. Late to-day the police found the crushed petrol tank of the machine floating at a spot where . the water was 50 feet deep. It is now believed that the Loina, when close to Flinders Island, developed engine trouble, and the occupants had insufficient time to clear the machine before it crashed and was smashed to nieces.

The discovery of a pilot’s suit indicates that either Mr Evans or MiBrown discarded his clothes, intending to swim if he survived the crash. A pilot’s cap and a right glove were discovered among the shattered spars and twisted fuselage which were rapidly drifting towards the shore.