CUPPER'S LOG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22936, 14 January 1938, Page 11

CUPPER'S LOG

A MYSTERIOUS GAP • TWO HOURS' SILENCE INTERVAL BETWEEN SIGNALS POSSIBLE ALIGHTING ON SEA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 13, 11 p.m.) PAGO PAGO, "Jan. 13 As the result of soundings, members of the Avocet's crew expressed the opinion that the Clipper sank in 1000 fathoms of water. The terrific force of the explosion is illustrated by the fact that tho ocean was strewn with fragments of debris. Meanwhile, there are several things about the disaster to solve, especially a two-hour gap in the Clipper s log. It will be recalled that the Clipper left Pago Pago Harbour at 5.30 a.m., Samoan time, and 38 minutes later Captain Musick reported that one of the motors had developed an oil leak and he was returning to Pago Pago, after which there was no news for almost two hours. However, it is known that the Clipper passed over Apia at 7.55 a.m., but with even one motor stopped it is not considered possible that the flying-boat would or could have proceeded slowly enough to take two hourß to reach Apia, seeing that she was never much over 75 miles from either Apia or Pago Pago. Therefore, it is possible that the Clipper alighted on the sea for repairs, took off again, and continued her return ft is noteworthy that the last message from the Clipper was at 8.27 a.m., Captain Musick reporting that he was dumping excess fuel prior to landing at Pago Pago. • MAIL FOR CAPTAIN Mail that will never be delivered is Jying at the Pan American Airways office in Mechanics' Bay. It is addressed to Captain Edwin C., Musick, master of the lost Samoan Clipper, and had been posted to him in care of the company, to await his expected arrival in Auckland this week. The mail is in the care of Mr. A. L. Lewis, airport manager, and will presumably be returned to the senders in due course.