ANDERSON’S DIARY

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2219, 28 May 1929, Page 7

ANDERSON’S DIARY

DESERT TRAGEDY

SLOW DEATH FROM THIRST

WAS 01 YEN £SOO TO SEARCH FOR SOUTHERN CROSS EYI DENCE AT INQUIRY (Aust. and N.Z. Cable) Melbourne, May 27. The Soutborn Cross inquiry was continued to-day. Joint Hart, editor of Aircraft Magazine, said be unreservedly withdrew all published statements suggesting that the Southern Cross forced landing laid been prearranged. LITTLE TO LEARN Horace Rrinsmead, controller of civil aviation, gave evidence that Smith and XJIm had little to learn about liong-distinujo Hiving and the aviation authorities were at no time anxious about their safety. He regarded Kingston! Smith a.s quite n;n exceptional pilot. Witness had m statutory power to stop the flights of either the Southern Cross or Kookaburra. lie was convinced, however, that the safety of machines carrying passengers and mail goods should be protected by every means in the department’s power. Responsibility lor purely spectacular experimental flights and lor rescue operations should be upon those who undertook or encouraged them. When the Tasman flight was announced lie sought statutory power to stop it. in the lx'lief that it was suicidal, but that power was not granted. It was believed that the flight could ho stopped by indirect means. He believed that when aviators were .embarking on a- flight, to portli-western Australia, they should carry not only an axe, hut also oilier things, ! yet not, loading themselves with all mariner of things. The fliers

should also 'have carried more emergency rations. He admitted the preparations for the Southern Cross flight showed the greatest cure a.nd competence in organisation. Flight.-Lieut. Charles Eaton told the story of the finding of Anderson’s body and miscellaneous papers round flie Kookaburra, also Anderson’s .diary on “the fuselage. One document found on Anderson’s body was a contract between Anderson and John Cantor, 'hotelkeeper, of Sydney,' who agreed to pay him £SOO to search for the Southern Cross, progress reports to go to Cantor with the utmost secrecy.

Eaton submitted scraps of Anderson’s'diary. revealing the story of tlio forced landing and their inability to prepare a. take~ofl\ owing to increasing debility duo to thirst, with other and unintelligible entries.

Anderson's machine seemed all right, but the compass was completely wrecked. There was plenty of petrol. The inquiry was adjourned.