Further to Tim Gard's message 24
>> By the time the Electra was swept away, exhaustion left the castaways in such state of despair that leaving markings took second priority to much needed rest. <<
Fully with you on this Tim, and further; their social atmosphere cannot have been good. AE would have nobody else to blame for missing Howland than her hired navigator. AE's fortnight previous dysentery (which she can hardly have fully recovered from), then sleepless long-haul 24hours, exhaustion, tension, danger, panic, despair would all rule. Very heated exchanges could easily have taken place. Acrimony may have dominated. It is perfectly feasible that they opted to split once beach-bound. Makes sense for one to check the lagoon perimeter and the other the ocean for any sign of life or rescue. This would reduce their social tensions and give them individual focus and allow any disrobing, injuries permitting. To hike 4 to 10 miles in their flying clobber would have been intolerably hot and riddled with abrasive shingle beach-sand and dried salt . . . MOST uncomfortable! Will any TIGHAR Niku8 missionary try this please?
A fantastic project, Roger