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Clipper Crew Perishes asHuge Plane BuCrashesWreckage Found14 Miles fromPago Pago[Continued irom Fan One]moorings and sent the huge alrboat spinning into the ocean out of control.MEMBERS OF CREWWith Mustek aboard the ill-fated Clipper were Captain C. G. Sellers, first officer, Honolulu; P. S. Brunk, Junior flight officer, Berkeley; P. J. McLean, navigator, Alameda; J. W. Stockrod, first engineering officer, Honolulu; J. A. Brooks, assistant engineering officer, Honolulu, and T. J. Findley, radio operator, Honolulu.The Clipper returned northward as far as Apia Harbor, on the north coast of Upolu, approximately 75 miles from Pago Pago. It passed over Apia and radioed it was dumping excess gasoline. It expected to reach Pago Pago in a few minutes. It never arrived. In those few minutes the big ship crashed.The plane letf Pago Pago at 9:30 a. m. PST. yesterday. At 11:50 a. m. PST. one of the motors developed an oil leak and Captain Mustek turned around and headed back to Pago Pago.FIRST TROUBLEIt was shortly after 8 o’clock Tuesday morning Samoan time (1 p. m. Tuesday, EST.) that the flying boat ran into trouble. But because of the remoteness of the islands, the difficulties of communication and the difference in time, nothing was learned of the trouble in the United States until last night.An unconfirmed report, late lastnight, that the Clipper had been sighted floating in the sea 74 miles west of the island, raised hopes for a brief time, until the source of theBelieved DeadThree of CrewMade Home inS. F. Bay Area.1 -.I,- r[Continued from P*f» One]a man who never took a chance. Friends said he looked after every detali of his planes himself, never forgot anything.Mustek pioneered most of the commercial air routes over the Atlantic acc Pacific for his company. He carried America’s first international air mall, across the Florida Straits to Havana, Cuba.He was in command of the Pan American clipper—the same boat now anxiously hunted in the South Pacific, later named the Hong Kong Clipper and the Samoan Clipper—on its first hop from Alameda to Honolulu. That was the first transpacific night of a transport plane.Few mishaps, even of a minor nature, marred Mustek’s perfect record, and those reported merely added to his stature as a pilot who could be depended upon in any emergency.EARLIER EMERGENCYIn 1922, piloting a seaplane between Key West and Nassau, Musick was unreported for some time, but later was found by Navy seaplane. When headwinds slowed the plane and the gas supply diminished, Musick set the plane and its passengers tfftely down in the lee of Andros Islanam the Bahamas, to await aid and ride out the storm.On another occasion, on a flight for Pan-American in the Brazilian Clipper, the same route on which he had flown as co-pilot with Col. Charles Lindbergh, he once came down because of heavy weather, thus delaying a Presidential reception, but later delivered a passenger list of notables safely.OTHER VETERANSNavigator McLean, 39, was a veteran in Pan-American service. His wife, Mrs. Marian MacLean, who re-mmThe Samoan Clipper—then known as the Pan-American Clipper—which was wrecked in South Seas on a flight to New Zealand is shown above just as she was about to land at Ala-|ma]meda following the conclusion of an early flight to Honolulu and return.Stocks ShowSlight Gain[Continued from Pare One]trial 133.22, off 1.13; rail 32.21 0.04; utility 21,86 up 0.08.off. ___ , . .. , Sales approximated 1,210,000 shares,8*des at 508 Lincoln Avenue, Alameda. compared wlth i(5l0,000 yesterday.Oil AllowablesMay Be AdvancedBombers totoday said that her husband has been Curh stock. aa]es 'ere '23 „„„ ^in the islands for the past five wjeta a48i000 Bhares ln the previous session.and she last heard from him when the Philippine Clipper came in last(•Thursday.The MacLeans have two childrenS. F. TRANSACTIONSOf 10 issues traded on both boards today, one was above the New Yorkrumor was traced to a private radio , _ . _ , .__. . Georgia, 11, and Beryl, 6. MacLean] close in final San Francisco quota -operator who had only seen a plane huS fivi™ ttS' 18 “ld to he a member of a prominent tions. Nine issues were unchangedunloading gasoline in the harbor of 1*™** ^ 25? New TamUy. I prices as received through local of-Apia, British Samoa.The Pan-American Airways Station here had relayed the report to company headquarters in Alameda, Calif., where the hopes were later dashed.The Clipper was carrying the first load of air express from the United States to Australia. It was a new route, pioneered last month by Capt. Musick, and the operators had not yet obtained authority to carry passengers or mail.slty of California and was a member of the Berkeley police force for twoyears before he took up aviation as a career.First Engineer J. W. Stickrod, 22, fices of William Cavalier Companyof Los Angeles, had been employed revealed.Urges BoostIn Rail Rates[Continued from Pore One]CREW MEMBERSThe others aboard were:Capt. C. Q. Sellers, first officer; P. S. Brunk, Junior flight officer; F. J. McLean, navigftator; J. W. Stickrod, first engineering officer; J. A. Brooks,provide funds in good years to carry them through depression years.5. Amend the Railroad Retirement Act to provide compulsory retirement at 70, optional retirementat 65.Trippe Tellsby Pan American Airways for the past Southern Pacific added 3-4. Un-two years and saw service ln the (changed were; California Packing, Hongkong-Manila area. He made the Crown Zellerbach, General Motors,Of Incidentpioneering flight from Honolulu to Radio, American Telephone, Pacific Auckland, New Zealand, with Capt. Gas, Southern California Edison, Un-CHARGE8 PLOT^ ^ ffi ar ftnH t ( WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UP) —assistant engineering officer, and T. Chairman Burton K. Wheeler,Dem,J. Findley, radio operator.All were veterans in the service, and Capt. Musick was considered the ablest pilot of them all. He had flown more than 1,000,000 miles, thousands of them over unexplored and dangerous ocean routes Into which Pan-American extended its far-reaching service.The Samoan Clipper was one of the newer Pan-American flying boats, and was regarded by all airmen as a flying laboratory.It was a Sikorsky monoplane, with four motors, each generating 800 horsepower. Larger than the original Clippers, sharp-bowed with a deep V-bottomed hull, it was particularly adapted to landing and rising from from the sea. It could carry 224 tons of cargo 163 miles an hour for 3500 miles without stopping. It could be lifted off the open sea ln less than 20 seconds with a full load.of the Senate Railroad Investigating Committee, charged today that Pennroad Corporation spent millions of dollars in 1929 to “defeat the aims of the United States Government. ”Wheeler made his charge as Frank E. Taplin, president of the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway, told the rail inquiry that sale of 73 per cent of the road’s stock to Pennroad in 1929 for approximately §37,323,240 brought a net profit of §12,909,030.Taplin defended Pennroad’s purchase on the grounds that the Pennsylvania was trying to defend its stockholders against “raids’' by competing companies.ALLEGES OBSTRUCTION“Yes,” Wheeler replied, “per-- x. .. i haps, but in violation of the aims of The wing spread was 118 feet, the Qongregg afc that time to createhull 66 feet long and divided into seven foilr great nyaiWB of rails ^ re_compartments each an independent duce needless competition. Penn-bulkhead section and any two of them could keep the entire plane afloat.FOUR BASESThere are four bases on the Oali-road spent millions of dollars to defeat the ends of the United States Government and Congress.”Taplin told the Senate Commit-fomia to Auckland route, and Pago tee that, failing to negotiate thePago Is the third and last stop before the eastern terminal. Leaving Honolulu, the planes stop first at Kingman Reef, 1086 miles away; then at Pago Pago, 1562 miles beyond Kingman. It Is 1806 miles from here to Auckland.Pan-American had been operating on the northern route, between Honolulu and Manila, for two years without a mishap. That route has been extended on to Hong Kong, on the coast of Asia. Capt. Musick surveyed thosesale of 222,930 shares of Pennroad at §200 a share, he finally negotiated a sale at §170. The stock originally cost approximately §52.40 a share, he said. He said he and hiB family personally owned between75,000 and 100,000 shares of the stock.Carrying charges and incidental cost brought the average price of the stock to Pennroad to $212.26 per share, the committee brought out. It is now selling at §16 to §17routes before the service was Inaugurated, and it was on that course,] a share, evidence showed, somewhere beyond Howland Island, one of the bases, that Amelia Ear-hart was lost.Inform Musick1sSTEAMSHIP AGENTPAGO PAGO, Tutuila Island, Samoa, Jan. 12 CUP)—B. F. Kneubuhl,Wife of TragedyBy United PreuSAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 12.—Mrs.the United Press correspondent who a Muslckj ^ of the corn-reported the loss and search for the mftn(jer 0, the wrecked Samoan Ollp-Pan-American Airways Samoan Clip- ^ ''bearing up well today at per today, has been stationed on this her apartaient after she was informed South Sea Island several years as her husband was feared dead In theagent for the Matson Steamship Line. wrec^He lias long been serving the UniteditShe Is bearing up well,” friendsThe complete statement of Juan T. Trippe, president of Pan American Airways, on the crash of the Samoan Clipper follows :“I am distressed to state that on the basis of a radio just received through the kind cooperation of theNavy Department from the United States Naval Station at Samoa, it has been definitely established that Captain Edwin C. Musick and six other members of his crew met death Tuesday morning at approximately 8:30 o’clock (Samoan time), when the Samoan Clipper was destroyed by fire of unknown origin. It is apparent from the facts now available that the fire developed incidental to the discharge of fuel necessary to trim the ship to proper landing weight, which was in linewith conservative and normal practice.“The Samoan Clipper left Pago Pago, Samoan Islands, Tuesday morning for New Zealand on its second scheduled flight carrying only air express, the new service to Australasia not yet being open to passenger traffic.“About one hoqr out, Captain Musick reported an oil leak on his Number 4 motor and that he was turning back to Pago Pago. At 8 :27, local time, approximately two hours after his departure from Pago Pago, Captain Musick radioed to the Pan American Airways station at Pago Pago that he expected to land at that point in about ten minutes and was signing off preparatory to dumping sufficient gas to trim the sMp to proper landing weight. No further word was received from the ship.ENTIRELY BLAMELESS“I feel that Captain Musick and his flight crew are entirely blameless. Radio reports from the plane prove that on this flight as on all of his previous flights he carefully followed the most conservative operating technique possible.“Needless to say, everyone connected with Pan American Airways is grieved beyond expression at the untimely fate of Captain Musick and his Bplendid crew. At this time, with, all details yet unknown, we can only express the belief that after a thorough analysis of the possible causes of the fire, a way will be found to prevent a recurrence.“The death of Captain Musick and his crew is an irreparable blow to our company and will be a distinct loss to American aviation. Captain Musick contributed much to American prestige in the air.”Musick two weeks ago.The young aviator received his fcech-ion and TYansamerica.Prices were irregular ln the trans-nical training in the Douglas Air- trading as compared with yester-craft factory at Los Angeles. His day’s quotations.parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Stick- California Packing at 23% was offroa. Sr. reside with another son, ^ and Crown Zellerbach dipped toRobert, in Los Angeles.Wreckage ofPlane Found[Continued Iron? Page One]“mystery” bomber in which Lieut.Arthur H. Skaer disappeared whlle^Transamerica at 12%. on a test flight from Long Beach in August 1935.No trace of Lieut. Bkaer’s plane was ever found after he roared away from the Long Beach field.Army officers at Rockwell Field in San Diego refused to comment on11%, off %. General Motors at 36% was off 1% while Southern Pacific gained % at 22.Radio at 7 closed off % and American Telephone remained unchanged at 149. Pacific Gas at 27% was off %. Southern California Edison remained unchanged at 24 as did Fireman’s Fund at 71%.Union at 21 was up % as warBy United PressNEW ORLEANS, Jan. 12.—A possible advance in Louisiana oil allowables early in 1938 was predicted today by William G. Rankin, commissioner of the State Department of Conservation.“There has been a slight decreaseFly Pacific£porpilefro;pecplilt;byBy United PressSAN DIEGO, Jan. 12.—The Navy’s most ambitious mass, non-stop flight, in which 18 huge 14-ton PBY-type patrol bombers will be flown from San Diego to Hawaii gets under wayin our allowables for the past three one week from today.months,” Rankin said, “but I hope we will be justified ln granting an increase in the near future.”He pointed out that 13 new fields were discovered in Louisiana during 1937, together with many rich deep sands in old shallow fields. In addition, Rankin said that the “entireA total of 127 officers and men will comprise the personnel of the flight over the 1570 statute mile* of the Pacific. Lieut. Comdr. s. H. Warner will be in command of the flights.Twelve of the planes of VP-10 and six planes of VP-9 squadron have been assigned to the venture. Thearea of Louisiana” will no doubt be m(m ^found productive with the deeper nently stationed at Pearldrilling program now under way.The commissioner said Louisianapermanently Harbor where Lieut. Comdr. W. G.had not been negligent in enforcement Tomliaon will bring the officer, andof regulations to prevent waatage and J6 of ^ squadron Onited Statesexhaustion of crude oil and natural | ** Nav? transport after delivering Maplanes to VP-6 and VP-8 squadrons.Officers on the staff of Rear Ad-gas.ii'But we have to bear in mind,” he said, “that the surface barely has been scratched, that we are in the process of a comparatively new development calling for capital and enterprise which should not be discouraged.”Rankin saw no reason why further Federal control should be extended over oil production at this time.Face ExhaustionOf Relief FundsItaly's Stand Maymiral Ernest J. King, commander of aircraft scouting force, revealed that three surface craft will be stationed along the route of the flight to provide weather information and to act as guard ships.The U. S. 8. Langley will be stationed midway between Ban Diego and Pearl Harbor with the U. 8. S. Reid and U. 8. 8. Litchfield stationed 500 miles on either side of her.“The estimated time of the flight is 18 hours,” a bulletin from Admiraln *1 T ^ I . n _ is 18 hours, a bulletin from Admiral r © 1*11 I rdQ© ia CTI King’s headquarters said “The planeswill follow the Great Circle route.** Exact time of the take-off has notBy United PressROME, Jan. 12—Premier Benito Mussolini’s insistence that King been set, it was said, but It is as-By United PressSACRAMENTO. Jan. 12—Chairman the possibility the plane might be I Archibald Young of the State Reliefthat flown by Lieut. Skaer. They said Commission informed an Assembly they would not send investigators social Welfare Interim Committee to-here because they have no record of day the present rate of relief expen-a plane “missing over a period of ditures may exhaust the $48,000,000years.” They added any identifica- allocated for the 1937-38 biennium.tion of the plane as that of Lieut. citing a 53 per cent increase forSkaer’s would have to come from the perlod of July , 1937i to o^em.March Field.ber 31 against the corresponding period of 1936, Young traced the rise to the business recession. He said plantsWILKINS LEAVESPOINT BARROW, Alaska, Jan. 12. (which were forced to suspend opera-(UP)—Sir Hubert Wilkins left here tions have swelled the relief rolls, last night for Aklavik, N.W.T., in his particularly in Los Angeles.ski-mounted airplane, determined to Young said he remains hopeful,return ln March with the sun to con- however, an upswing in employment tinue his search for the six missing obviate necessity for a special ap-Soviet filers, lost since last Aug. 13. proDriation from the legislatureWhen Sir Hubert took off, the temperature was 25 below zero.The chairman said the number of Californians employed on Federal relief projects was “far below” the approximate 60,000 quota. He furnishedGROUND PLANESST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 12. (UP) I n0 estimate, but committee membersA11 ai5planes of the model which at lea5t 7000 more persons couldcrashed near Bozeman, Montana, ^ placed op Federal roUa provldedMonday killing 10 men, have been U t quallflcatlons for ..claas A-i . I workers, Insisted upon by Works Pro-pending the final report of investi-,_ ... . . .gators, the company announced today. Administration officials.Seven IndictedFor CounterfeitingPress ln his spare time, reporting the sald They had ten cheerl heroccasional news events of his vicinity through ^ ordea, of walt, forthat were of Interest to the outside world.Wilson Scott WillHead Gavel Groupdefinite word from the Clipper since it disappeared yesterday.Previously Mrs. Musick said she was confident her husband would be found safe.“Thank you,” said Mrs. F. J. Mac-m)1 a . . i ui Lean, wife of the Clipper’s navigator,Wilson Scott was last night unanl-1 when Pap AmericJ officlals Btele.mously elected president of the. ,__. .. _ . _ . ,Oavel Club, young men's public speak- Ph™ed ne™ ^ home In Ala-ing group ’at the Berkeley YM.C.A. meda- Her. volc« h^oke « lt;*e hu,nK He will hold office for the current UD rec0Iver.— — — ™Student Riote rsPunished lay U. C.Penalties inflicted upon the 14 University of California students idenr tified by Berkeley police and reported to the University administration as having participated in the pre-Big Game rioting last November, were announced today by Prof. Thomas M. Putnam, dean of the undergraduate division.[Continued from Page One]$1000, then “raised the ante” $1500.toConcerning proposed abandonment of Federal sewing projects, Young said only 50 per cent of the women engaged in the work would return to the State Relief Administration for aid.Experience has demonstrated that number can be placed in private employment, he said.The commission Is opposed to add-Victor Emmanuel be recognized as “Emperor of Ethiopia” may provesumed it will be between 8 a. m., and 10 a. m., as has been the practice onanobstacle to final conclusion of a each qf the four previous mass longUnited States-Italian commercial treaty, Italian and American officials admitted today.Reports that negotiations already have collapsed were denied. But it was admitted that actual agreement may prove impossible.The preamble of Buch a treaty would say that it was between the President of the United States and the King or President of the otherdistance hops within the last 12 months.SETS SPEED MARKSAN DIEGO, Jan. 12.—Capt, John H. Towners, rated the Navy’s No. X flier, established what may be a new speed record for an air trip from Long Beach to San Diego, It waa revealed today.Flying one of the Navy’s new fight-signatory state. In the present in- I fog craft Capt. Townera, who com-stance the Italian view iB that the mands the U. fl. S. Saratoga, arrivedpreamble should call King Victor Emmanuel “King of Italy and Emperor of Ethiopia.”It was understood here that the American Government felt that the inclusion of the title Emperor would be equivalent to recognition of Italy’s annexation by force of Ethiopia.Will Open Damaged Highway to Trafficat the North Island naval air station Just 38 minutes after he left the carrier’s decks late yesterday.It was stressed no effort was being made to attain a high speed and that no record was being claimed by the Navy.Aviation officials here, however, said there is no official record for the 100 mile course flown by Capt. Townera.James Murphy of Humboldt County was named ln two counts of making | ing State funds to Federal money forand passing counterfeit 50-cent pieces, continuance of the work; he said, in William Albert Meador and Michael the belief both agencies now performBy United PretsSACRAMENTO, Jan. 12.—California's $8,000,000 Feather River highway scenic low level route across the Sierra, will be reopened to passenger traffic tomorrow, the State Divisionof Highways announced today. Theroad has been closed since the December floods.Passenger traffic will be allowed tomorrow under control and thereafter only during daylight until restoration work is finished.HIKING CLUB The Berkeley Hiking Club will enjoy a hike in the Berkeley Hills Sunday under the leadership of Ivan ^Dickson, leaving from the Campanile *base at 9 o'clock. All congenial hikers are invited to join ln the trip, 1t is announced. Several members of the club will be ln the high Sierras on a snow trip. Tonight the club will go ice skating at the Oakland rink.Water from underground sources is generally clear but contains more minerals than surface water.Patrick O’Brien were indicted on four | equal relief work ln California, counts of counterfeiting. They were accused of possessing molds, manufacture and possession of bogusCALIFORNIA STILL GROWING SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 12. (U. P.) twenty-five cent coins and with con-1 ’~'Ulifornia led the nation ln popu-spiracy.H. O. McAninich, Loleta bank robber, meantime, appeared before Federal Judge Harold Louderback for trial on his plea of not guilty. The case was set for tomorrow, when the youth will present his own defense. He rejected services of an attorney today. His alleged companion in the holdup, Ralph Johns, has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced after the trial.THREE INDICTEDSAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 12 (UP) — Three men today were under indict-latlon increase during 1937. The State’s increase, estimated at 95,000, was 10 per cent of the nation’s entire total increase of 828,000.WEEKLY EDITOR, 13, AMBITIOUSST. LOUIS, Jan. 12. — (U. P.) — Meredith C. Jones, 13-year-old editor and publisher of the Clermont Times, mimeographed weekly newspaper, wants to live 112 years so he can be a journalist for 100 years.J. IGassy StomachsCut MOYour Share
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Berkeley Daily Gazette
Berkeley, California, US
Wed, Jan 12, 1938
Page 11
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USA 30 May 2019
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