HINCHCLIFFE’S FATE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 March 1928, Page 5

HINCHCLIFFE’S FATE

HOPE ALMOST LOST SECRECY OF FLIGHT. PREVENTS EFFORTS AT RESCUE. BY CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT SAINT JOHN, March 15. A New Brunwick newspaper correspondent wires from Moncton that the crew of the Canadian National Railway freight train early on Thursday morning distinctly saw on aeroplane flying low from the coast at Anagance, near Moncton. A red and white light was visible. Presumably it was Hinchcliffe’s craft. Many reports were received at New York late on Wednesday night from the coast districts on hearing an aeroplane, believed to be heading for Philadelphia. 9'ne report stated that the ’plane landed at Menlo Park, New Jersey.. It was investigated by the State police, but was found to he untrue. With an apparently creditable report from London that Hinchcliffe carried petrol sufficient for a 50-hour flight, there was a slight hope that he may arrive at New York on Wednesday night. Towns along the coast reported hearing, but not peeing a ’plane moving towards New York. The Boston airport lighted flares when a ’plane was heard, ft did not alight there, hov ?ver. No other news of the flier has been received. 1 nless lie appears immediately there is no hope for his safety. Received 9.55 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, March 15. Captain Hinchcliffe is more than twentv-four hours overdue, and virtually all hope has been given up, despite the rumours which are still coming in of the plane being seen and heard at isolated points. The secrecy under which the flight was attempted defeats the calculations of those who might have gone to the rescue. So little is known of the proposed route that aviators expressed doubt that any relief planes could be sent out to search.

ON STRATTON ISLAND

UNCONFIRMED REPORT BEING

INVESTIGATED

Received 9.55 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK -March 15. - A message trom Portland, Maine, states: Coastguards at Biddelordpool station this afternoon are investigating an unconfirmed report that a yellow object and two persons, possibly the “Endeavour,” with Captain Hinchcliffe and Miss Mackay, are safe on Stratton Island, off Old Orchard beach. One report stated that watchers could unmistakably see a yellow object and two persons, who seemed to be waving through the mist. —A.P.A. and “Sun.”

XO TRACE ON STRATTON ISLAND

Received 11 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, March 15. A message from Biddeford, Maine, states that the coastgunrdsmen have leturned from Stratton Island and report no trace of the aeroplane F.hdeavour

MISS MACKAY A PASSKNCFJR

A LAST MINUTE DECISION. SINCLAIR'S STORY OF THE START. LONDON, Match 14. Sinclair has arrived at Mrs. Hincheliffe’s house, thus iinally disposing; of the rumour that- there were three persons in the aeroplane. He says it was only two hours before the .departure of the “Endeavour” that Miss Mackay decided to fly with Hincheliffe. “My job had been superintending the equipment and preparation of the machine in which 1 originally thought .1 should be flying,” be said in an interview. “1 have been working for a fortnight to get ready and have not sleyt during the last four or five nights. “The rest of the party arrived on Monday. 1 was so busy getting the stuff aboard that 1 did not notice the repeated talks between Miss Mackay and Hincheliffe. L only know that suddenly, at 2 o’clock on Tuesday morning, V L was told 1 was not to- fly. We had been up all night long making preparations. We went to the aerodrome in Miss Mackay’s car. There everything was in readiness. I shook hands with them and the next thing I. remember was waving good-bye to the “.Endeavour,” which had started. “Now I am waiting anxiously, but I am full of hope. Hincheliffe mentioned many times, that he would, if possible, .push on to Philadelphia. I think it 'likely the “Endeavour” slipped through the watchers at Newfoundland in a slight fog. They have from 4-5 to 50 hours’ petrol, so can still keep going We found it impossible to make any rtdculation.s as to the time the trip would take. That depends on the strength and variation of the wind. Hincheliffe was confident he would be able to pick out a landing place at Saint Johns bv lights of the town. Tf that were impossible he would push further on.

“There was no night on Monday for onr party. We staved im talking and preparing rations until the decision was come to suddenlv at 2 o’clock. That is the whole story.”