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SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING IN C. N. A. C. CRASH Badly Wrecked Plane Now Anchored To Rock
THRILLING STORY OF
DISASTER GIVEN
IN OFFICIAL REPORT
An intensive search is still going on for the three missing members of the crew of the ill-fated C.N.A.C. liner, Chekiang, which overturned in a forced landing within a hundred yards of Chilang Point Lighthouse yesterday morning, but it is fear- ed that they lost their lives in the mishap.
The plane, badly wrecked, has been towed in- shore and anchored to a large rock.
Captain Ed Smith, the pilot, and seven passen- gers, including Mr. E. M. Walsh, employee of the Kwangtung Government, were brought back to Hong Kong this morning in H.M.S. Thracian, (Lt- Commander Tancock), which made full speed for Chilang yesterday, but found that the Chinese cus- toms cruiser, Hohsing, warned by wireless from Kai Tack had reached the point first, to find that the majority of the persons aboard the Chekiang had been picked up by sampan and conveyed to Chilang Lighthouse.
Five of them were injured, but that the weather had closed in be- only three were detained on behind. It was impossible to proceed ing sent to Queen Mary Hospital in any direction, and therefore It is feared that Captain Smith, necessary to land. After instruct- most seriously injured, may be ing the passengers to fasten their suffering from internal injuries. safety belts, the pilot circled over Mr. Chia, who had a badly cut Chilang Light House in heavy rain hand, is believed to have receiv-preparatory in landing.
When the ship was landed, it ed the injury in smashing a win- dow to enable escape from the bounced over several ground swells and was caught in a trough be cabin of the Chekiang, which was kept afloat for some time by thetween two waves and overturned. closure of the bulkhead separat- ing the passenger compartment from the cIEW.
Pilot's Courage
The nose of the ship was broken and the Pilot, although injured, was able to extricate himself and Little hope is held out for the attempted to save the Radio Opera- safety of the three missing men, tor, who was unconscious, but, in he himself lost though it is thought to be just pos-his efforts to do so, sible that they were picked up by consciousness and was picked up in sampan and landed elsewhere than this condition by a sampan.
As is customary with planes of Chilang Point where the survivors
brought here by the Thracian were this type, the bulkhead
cared for
They were borne by small boat to the Hohsing from the lighthouse and from the customs cruiser to the Thracian.
THREE IN HOSPITAL Of the three detained in hospital, Capt. Ed. Smith is suffering from a cut hand and bruises, Mr. Wong in- Tan-pao, from cuts and head juries and Mr. Hsia Ten-pa from a bruised and cut arm which is pos sibly sprained
Mr. Chen Yi and Mr. Chai Kien- fum received medical
arrival were but attentions on
detained
Official Story
he full story of the ted in an officiat issued by the China National Avia- tion Corporation, as follows:
The CNA.C. plane, "Chekiang," took off from Hong Kong at 9.05 am. with Captain Smith in corn
ninety miles orth-east of
off Chilang
door
between the crew was
pasengers and
This kept the cabin afloat a suffi- clent length of time to enable the passengers to unfasten their safety belts, obtain their life preservers from their seats, and leave the cabin through the windows
As the ship remained afloat, the passengers were able to cling to the bottom of the hull, from which they were picked up by fishing sampans and sampans sent out by the Chilang Point Lighthouse, close by.
Taken To Lighthouse
and
the
The ken to the Lighthou keeper, Mr. MEM vided hot coffee, dry clothing, foo and shelter until the Customs Patrol boat took them aboard at 7.30 p.m. The British Destroyer HMS. "Thracian" which had been dispatched from Hong Kong sho ly after contact had been lost with the plane, Point about ight and the pas
from the
rain condi
Customs
Thracia
where
and Tushedi
he
Bare-footed and coatless, our picture shows Mz Dayu Doon attired just as he arrived in Hong Kong this morning in the Thracian. He was uninjured in the crash of the Chekiang, but lost all his be lengings, (Mail photo).
Queen Mary Hospital for immediate
Search Continuing search is being continued by Customs cruiser for the miss members of the crew, Co-Pilot Ohrnberger, Radio Operator N. 4. Chen,
eward H. Chen
The Customs Patrol is also aintaining a guard over the ked plane, which has been ged close to the shore line Clashed down to a rock. Most of the mail has been salvaged and is being returned to Hong Kong
nder the
vision of the Customs Patrol authorities. An attempt is being made to recover all of the
gers baggage. profuse in their praise of Captain Smith's skill in avoiding more serious, accident, and were also grateful to Mr. E. M. Walsh, Curtiss-Wright representa- tive, and Mr. Wong Pao-shin, CNA 6. Radio Operator, who travelling as a passenger, as these two gentlemen were instrumental in getting life preservers on most of the passengers and getting them out of the plane.
They are also extremely thankful for the courtesy and services ren- dered them by the Chilang Light- house Keeper, Mr. M. L. MacKenzie and his aides.
Hohsing's Aid
The efficiency of Kai Tak Airport officials and Communications De- partment when locating the Chin- ese Customs cruiser "Hohsing"
scene of the accident, and the re- and advising it to proceed to the
markable speed with which the
treatment.
HMS. Thracian" proceeded to Chilang Point to transfer the pas- The passengers were uninjured, sengers for their return to Hong with the exception of three, who Kong, are a credit to the Colony of received minor cuts and bruises Hong Kong and the Chinese Gus and are being treated at the Hostoms service, and their work in pital
this incident should go down in the Captain Smith received an injurannals of Hong Kong's history
lunder the category of heroism.
ed hand and bruises.
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