Lost & Found

Airmen missing in remote regions, or searching for persons lost there, make international news. Last week there were three such news stories:

Green Hell. About a month ago Count Edmondo di Robilant and Mechanic Mauranta Quaranta left Sao Paulo, Brazil in a fast Fiat pursuit plane, to reconnoitre a prospective air line to Bolivia. Forced down on a tiny clearing in a green hell of jungle, near the bank of the Paranapanema River, the two men set out on foot. They lost their map and compass. A box of crackers, their only food besides a jar of marmalade, was consumed by red ants while they slept. Bitten raw by insects, torn by thickets, nearly starved, the men pushed on through the swamps until, on the eighth day, Quaranta collapsed, out of his head with fever and suffering. Di Robilant struggled on, was found on the twelfth day by an Indian and four white fugitives from justice. Next day di Robilant was strong enough to lead his benefactors to the rescue of Quaranta. The latter, to escape further torture, had hung himself with his belt.

White Silence. To Greenland last July went a party of 15 youthful English scientists headed by H. G. Watkins, 23, to chart part of a prospective Arctic air route between England and Canada (TIME, July 14). One of the party was Augustine Courtauld, 27, son of rich Tycoon Samuel Augustine Courtauld (artificial silk). He volunteered to remain alone through the winter on the Greenland ice cap to make meteorological observations. According to their agreement, Watkins led a party from the base camp near Angmagsalik in March to relieve Courtauld. They searched in vain for his hut in the snow, finally had to return for more supplies. Once again Watkins went to get his friend (who had provisions to last only until May 1) and failed again. (The expedition's two little Moth planes were out of commission.) Then in London, great activity began. Capt. Ralph Raynor of the British Royal Signal Corps, who is engaged to marry young Courtauld's sister, organized a relief expedition with the unlimited backing of the elder Courtauld. He hired Capt. Albin Ahrenberg, Swedish flyer who last year attempted an Arctic flight to the U. S., to fly to the rescue in a big Junkers seaplane. Last week Capt. Ahrenberg flew over the Greenland ice cap, saw below him a sturdy party of four men following a dog team. Leader Watkins had succeeded on his third attempt, was already leading Courtauld back to the base. Ahrenberg dropped supplies and mail, returned to civilization with the good news.

Wegener. Capt. Ahrenberg then planned to fly in search of Professor Alfred Wegener, head of a German expedition farther north in Greenland, whose mission was similar to that of the British party. Professor Wegener set out from his base last September to take supplies to two men who, like Courtauld, were stationed at a central observation camp on the ice cap. Professor Wegener never returned. Just as Capt. Ahrenberg was about to join the search last week, word was received from a relief expedition which had penetrated to the camp with a powerful portable radio. The occupants of the camp were alive and well--but Professor Wegener had started back to the base on Nov. 1. Hope for him was abandoned.

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