FOUND ASLEEP

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 July 1927, Page 5

FOUND ASLEEP

BYRD AND COMPANION.

THEIR LANDING IN FRANCE CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. SY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. Received 10.50 a.m. to-day. LONDON, July 1. It is reported fiom Versumer that a fisuerman, while making for tne shore as the result of finding an abandoned aeroplane, found Commander Byrd and Lieut. Neville asleep on the beach at 3.45 a.m. Most conflicting reports are pouring in as to how they reached the shore. The men are now sleeping at the lighthouse, where orders have been given that they are not to be disturbed. Their monoplane is anchored close inshore, awaiting a fair of the tide to enable it to be salvaged at 1.30 in the afternoon. The extent of the damage has not yet been ascertained. It is hoped that Byrd will personally superintend the landing, and the party will then motor to Paris after a reception at Caen.

Another account says that Bvrd and Neville are cheerful, and inquired as to their whereabouts when found. They said that they had had a terrible night, and half the time had not the slightest idea of their whereabouts. Acosta and Balchen, who were also at the lighthouse, said that they were over Paris at two o’clock in the morning, hut after that they were utterly lost.

The villagers of Yersurmer heard a ’plane, hut did not investigate. The aviators superintended the making of their machine safe before they consented to eat and sleep. Commander Byrd cleared op the conflict in the accounts of how they escaped by saying that he attempted to land on a sandy coast, but the wheels collapsed in the sand, therefore he skimmed out to sea and then, getting out a collapsible boat, made for the shore.

LONDON PRESSMEN DEPART

BYRD’S PLANE SAFE

Received 10.5 a.m. to-dav

LONDON, July 1. Six aeroplanes, chartered by pressmen and photographers, left for Le Bourget immediately the Versuirmer message was received. Am unofficial report from Cherbourg stateß that the aeroplane is still in the sea, hut is safe.—A.P.A. and “Sun.”

REACHED SHORE IN RUBBER CANOE. LONDON, July 1. Byrd and his companion used a rubber canoe to reach tlie .shore. Alter leaving tne ’plane, they woite up tlie ftghtnou-se-keeper, wlio collected sailors and then salt aged the aeroplane.

A\ i A iOlv a JJjLf t’ iCI JL i na.r>. LONDON, Juiy J. Conuiianue-r J>ynu, nying from .New Y’ont lj x ans, uesuenueu in tne .*ea near \ eiwunter aneir circling round jlc ucuige-t. ae-iouiiome and lantiig to lai.-u there owing to 'rainstorms. it was stated that tne tvew and tne plane are sate. PARIS, July 1. After Byrd passed Rennes rainstorms broke at J_.e Lo-u-rget, complicating tne problem ot lauding. At one tune Juyrd appeared quite close to Le Bourget and messages were sent uit that he was preparing to land, but apparently he inned to locate tlie aerodrome in the darkness and rain, and went off southward.

lilie searchii.glit service did its best, rockets were sent up and wireless messages also radioed, giving Byrd material for estimating his bearings. Meanwhile similar messages were being received,- asking for -indications where to land, including one from jTyrd saying lie had enough petrol to last two and a half hours, but that he was anxious to land anywhere. Another message asked that aeroplanes should be sent up tq guide him. At one o’clock in the morning the situation was regarded as so dangerous that all wireless stations in France, with the exception of that at Le Havre, were ordered to keep silence, so that Byrd’s message might ibe (received. The rain continued in torrents all night and the spectators were drenched, but waited -stoically. A story of a landing at lasy was full and circumstantial. It described the damage to the machine and was generally accepted until it proved to be untrue. It followed a rumour that Byrd had come down near Chartres, smashing his machine iat dawn. The mystery is most ooinnlete, but it is hoped an aeroplane search will quickly spire it. NEW July 1.

A message from Roosevelt Field states that a. cablegram addressed to Mrs. Richard Byrd, received here from her husband this morning, said : “Landed at" Versunnier. All well. Dick.”