LONELY DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 20666, 23 April 1929, Page 7

LONELY DEATH

Anderson’s Fate

PLIGHT OF HITCHCOCK UNKNOWN CHANCES OF RESCUE SLIM SEARCH BEING CONTINUED (United Tress Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, April 22. Messages from Wave Hill this morning indicates that the body found under the Kookaburra was Anderson's. Its position is about 100 miles west of Powell’s Creek. The nature of the country makes the chances of rescuing the second man less hopeful.

A Darwin radio report states that a pack horse party with black trackers left Wave Hill this morning to join in the search.

Pilot Brain, who discovered the Kookaburra, says it will take several days for a camel party to reach the spot, and it will need to be furnished with supplies by aeroplane owing to the barren nature of the country’. A landing ground could be cleared near the stranded machine provided food and water for the workers were conveyed thereto by plane. The missing aviator, Mr Hitchcock, was formerly a hairdresser and gold miner in Western Australia. He was invalided home during the war. A message from Brisbane states that Pilot Brain reports that after flying over Anderson's plane again to-day he searched for the other missing aviator without result. The water was all dried up. It would be possible to create a landing ground about 40 miles west-north-west of Anderson’s plane. —Australian Press Association. —Australian Press Association.

ENGINE TROUBLE?

ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR RUNWAY

MACHINE WELL OFF COURSE.

Sydney, April 22.

The man thought to be Anderson under the wing of the plane has evidently been dead several days as he was black in the face.

Pilot Brain was unable to land owing to the rough nature of the country. A tire, presumably started by the airmen, caused bush fires, clearing ten miles of scrub. There are indications that the Kookaburra landed owing to engine trouble. The cowl of the engine had been removed and attempts made to clear a runway for a take-off. The place where Anderson was found is 200 miles north of the route he was supposed to take, A compass error would account for this. Brain searched for an hour for Hitchcock. The Air Board has instructed five Air Force machines to proceed in search for Hitchcock. It will take several days to organize a proper ground expedition. The Canberra with Dr. Hamilton aboard will fly to the nearest landing ground and the doctor will be motored if possible to the Kookaburra. —Australian Press Association. ANDERSON’S CAREER FLYING SERVICE DURING WAR. MARRIAGE ARRANGED FOR MAY. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, April 22. The late Keith Anderson was only 32 years of age. He was born in South Africa, but at an early age went to Australia. His father died when he was very young. Anderson was only 18 years of age when he went to the front. At the end of 1916 he joined up with the Royal Flying Corps and saw active service in France. He also did considerable flying in England. When he returned to Australia he took a position as air maib pilot on the Perth to Derby and the Perth to Kalgoorlie air mail service.

In 1925 Kingsford Smith and .Anderson flew two Bristol tourers from Perth to Sydney straight across Australia to start in the inter-State Flying Service, Ltd., with headquarters in Sydney. After they had been flying for some months Kingsford Smith and Ulm did the round Australia flight in 104 days. Anderson and Hitchcock, accompanied by Mr H. C. Vivian, publicity manager for Bond’s Hosiery, took a second bus and followed close on their heels, doing the trip in 14 days. The latter flyers did the longest non-stop flight that had been done in Australia, namely, from Wyndham to Broome, which is practically right across the spot where the Southern Cross was recently found. When they returned to Sydney, Kingsford Smith, Ulm and Anderson left for America to organize the trans-Pacific flight, but through lack of funds and personal reasons Anderson returned to Sydney, and in the meantime Kingsford Smith and Ulm completed the trans-Pacific flight. Just prior to his death Anderson had bought a Westland Widgeon and was secretly preparing a non-stop flight from Brisbane to Hobart, a distance of approximately 1300 miles. Anderson was engaged to Miss “Bon” Hilliard, of Sydney, and they were to have been married at the end of May. His mother is still in Perth. CANBERRA HELD UP SUPPLY OF PETROL EXHAUSTED. SOME ANXIETY FELT. (Rec. 12.50 a.m.) Perth, April 22 The air liner Canberra is held up at Flora Valley, Central Australia, owing to lack of petrol, which had been sent by petrol trucks. The plane is 500 miles from Wyndham. It is now repotted that the trucks are overdue, and there is some anxiety.—Australian Press Association. ' MATHESON OVERDUE NO WORD SINCE SATURDAY. FLIGHT IN MOTH AEROPLANE. (Rec. 8 p.m.) Sydney, April 22. Some concern is felt at the prolonged absence of Captain Matheson in the Goulburu Moth plane, who has not reported since he left Duchess near Cloncurry, Northern Queensland, on Saturday. He was expected to reach the overland telegraph line yesterday. Though no anxiety is felt, it is recalled that the little plane had trouble before reaching Queensland, and a telegram was sent by the Defence Department recalling Captain Matheson, but it arrived too late. —Australian Press Association. . REPORTED SAFE. (Rec. 12.50 a.m.) Sydney, April 22. A message received in Sydney to-night from Wave Hill states that Captain Math-

eson was reported safe and would reach Cloncurry to-morrow. He was then returning to his home town, Goulburn. —Australian Press Association. IN NEED OF REPAIR STATE OF SOUTHERN CROSS. (Copyright to Sydney Sun throughout the World.) Sydney, April 22. Flight-Lieutenant Ulm states that the Southern Cross is falling into a serious state of disrepair. The main tank sump valve is leaking badly as the result of exposure and the wings are in sad condition and almost dangerous. The monoplane may have to return to Sydney—Australian Press Association. FLIGHT OF FOUR HOURS. (Rec. 8 p.m.) Sydney, April 22. An Amalgamated Wireless message states that the Southern Cross was expected to take off from Wyndham this afternoon for a four hours’ flight.