THE SOUTHERN CLOUD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 13

THE SOUTHERN CLOUD

MYSTERY CONTINUES

MULTITUDE OF RUMOURS

MELBOURNE, 25th March. A police report from Albury state 3 that residents at Tintaldra, near the border, saw a fire yesterday afternoon, and evening, and flashes every fifteea minutes in the ranges in the direction. . of Kiandra and Kosciusko. In the hope that these may be signals from the Southern Cloud, AirCommodoro Kingsford-Smith in the Southern Sun left Melbourne this morning to search the Kosciusko district. Other reports investigated by him yesterday proved unfounded. The objects seen by Spargo, the Mount Hothani ranger, turned out to be snow. "if the 'plane made a safe landing in some inaccessible spot, we will find them alive," said Kingsford Smith. "The Southern Cloud carried a big supply of water, and the passengers could hang out for a week. "It -would, have been, possible for. CapTafn Shortridge to bring down the 'plane in the most thickly wooded, country without injuring anyone. H© could have either pancaked, on the trees or dipped down a wing which absorbed most of the shock." STKANGE PHENOMENON, Two youths carried the aewa of tlwj i flashes seen at Tintaldra by. motorcycle to Holbrook, 60 miles away. Smoke was seen at 5 o'clock ye&tei* day afternoon, and when darkness felltwo spears of light were visible. A resident in telephone communication said: "We watched the phenomenon for a while. The flashes went out .and in for several minutes, then there was a pause, followed again by; flashes. . "By this time half the population of 60 was in the street watching the signs. It was decided to try te answer the calls. The headlights of motor-cycles were turned on. "When we started, the signalling ceased, and when we stopped, it was quickly repeated. Then came two long rays. At 9 p.m. these went out." The signals appeared to Vje not more than 20 miles away in the direction of Kosciusko. POSTMISTRESS SEES SMOKE. The postmistress at Tintaldra said tnat smoke was seen coming from the same place in the morning. Apparently, the flames were under control, as they; appeared periodically, and came to- \ gether. ~ <j ! The Tolong ranges are heavily timbered and almost inaccessible. The postmistress said that it was unusual for fire to be seen there. She had never heard of anyone camping there. The point was high up on the range in the direct route taken by the Australian National Airways 'planes. In the Flowerdale district, where if is reported residents heard terrific crashes in the hills, huge trees have been found brought down by the storm. The Southern Cloud carried no flares, Verey pistol, firearms, or medical equipment.