On Mudbank Forty Miles South of Port George

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6884, 13 April 1929, Page 9

On Mudbank Forty Miles South of Port George

Twelve Days’ Isolation Canberra Drops Food and Sees Four Walking About

After most people had given up all hope of hearing of the safety of the storied Southern CroM and its intrepid crew and just when even the most optimistic were beginning to waver, news came dramatically at 3 o’clock yesterday aftsmon that the air liner Canberra had found the missing ‘plane and its crew, all welL They were discovered on a mud bank. 40 miles south from Port George, on the day when they estimated, barring accidents, they would arrive at Croydon. In every quarter, advice of their safety was heard with the greatest delight,

Australian Press Association. I Received Friday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, April 12. ' “ Southern Grow round, All Well ” This news spread like wildfire just before one o’clock to-day, but people, mindful of the many false rumours current for the past week, were for a time incredulous. When the appearance of newspaper notices confirmed the glad tidings, a great sigh of content and thankfulness arose that the intrepid adventurers had survived 12 days’ isolation in the wilds of a country, the desolate and rugged character of which had made the continuance of hope seem almost impious. The first message came from Darwin wireless station to the Amalgamated wireless station at La Perouse and was timed 11.31 a.m., Darwin time, equal to 12.1 p.m. Sydney time, and read as follows; “ Canberra signals that she has found S oulhem Cross. All O.K. All alive. Have dropped food. Details later.” The finding of the men who have become national heroes was the sole topic of conversation and when various editions of the newspapers appeared, they were eacrerly onaDped up for such additional derails as they possessed. A special message to the New Zealand Press Association from Perth at 10.45 a.m., or 12.45 Sydney time, briefly confirmed the report, adding: “The missing men were found 40 miles from Fort George, all well,” and that food was being dropped to them. Other messages stated that the air liner Canberra left Wyndham at 8.38 this morning, local time and not quite two and a-half hours' later, having followed the course determined upon yester-day,-signalled that she had found Southern Crosa Canberra’s pilot, Captain Holden, having failed to find the missing party to the northward of the Prince Regent river, had decided it was possible they were lost in the country south-west of Port George mission. ■ - CRYPTIC SIGNATURE “ANDERSON” TO MESSAGE. \) . The Amalgamated wireless supplies the latest information, intercepted from the air liner Canberra at 12.9, Darwin time: “Canberra is still flying around Southern Cross. (Signed.) Anderson.” This signature raises the query: is Anderson safe? Or did he find Southern Cross and Canberra, radioing his information, as he had no wireless ? 9.45 a.m.: From aeroplane Canberra to Southern Cross: “After visiting Port George mission. We will search all bays, inlets and as far as Cape Londonderry. 11.33 am (Darwin time): Canberra confirms the finding of Southern Cross. All alive. Have dropped foodstuffs. 11.38, by wireless from Canberra to Southern Cross: “If you can hear us, walk out into the open ground, Mac. . 11.34, from Canberra to Darwin radio: “They have just begun eating have not seen them for a few minutes. Dropping more food. 11.47, Darwin time: “ Found alive, all well. Position south of Port George mission on mud flat v 11.58: “ Can see whole crew now; ail safe.” Canberra climbed higher in order to pin-point the Southern Cross position and si 12.20 p.m., radioed: “It is approximately Glenelg river, about 20 miles from George Waters.” GOOD WATER SUPPLY AT SCENE. At 12.10, Canberra radioed: “Advise Smith, Ulm, Litchfield and McWilliams’ families that these airmen are well and have plenty of water, as they have a good creek running near them.” .The Amalgamated wireless supplies the following earlier reports from the Canberra:— Half-an-hour after leaving Wyndham the plane wirelessed: “We have just sighted Mount Trafalgar and Mount Waterloo to the north. St. George’s basin still about 50 miles away.” 9.22 a.m.: “We are now crossing over Princess Mary’s ranges. Should be at Prince Regent liver shortly.” 9.37: “In five minutes will cross Prince Regent river at tjhe point where it runs into St. George’s basin. .We are on the way to Port George mission to see if they can give more definite information.” The story, as at present available, is marked by a hiatus at this point, as the next message Is the one timed 9.45: “Canberra to Southern Cross, after visiting Port George, etc. Thus far, there is no actual description of the finding of the Southern Cross men, but a message timed 11.15 says: “We have now left Southern Cross and are about to pass over St. George’s basin, near Patrick Island.”