Scour Each Inch of Bush at Kap for Missing Man

KAPUSKASING – For any small town the story of one of its men missing for days in the bush becomes the main topic.

The busy pulp and paper town of Kapuskasing is no exception and today the name of James Breckon was on the lips of most of its citizens.

In the back of stores, on the street corners and in the homes, stories of the fate and stories of signs of the whereabouts of the missing surveying chief filled the air.

However, according to Provincial Police, they are merely stories, with no truth attached.

One of the stories that had been circulating about the town had Breckon falling from his canoe and drowning in a small lake. Another indicated that signs had been found, revealing that he had spent one night sleeping under a tree. Both tales have been tabbed as “absolutely untrue” by the police.

Meanwhile, the large scale, ground and air search party went into its 14th day in the extensive hunt for Breckon. Fifty bushmen and eight planes are conducting the search.

Breckon, chief of a four man survey gang became separated from the rest of his party on June 24th.

Although the search party intends to comb every inch of a 40-square-mile-area, it was disclosed today that the hunt is being mainly concentrated on a small creek and marsh land.

There is some fear held, that Breckon may have perished in this marsh.

According to Provincial Police, Breckon and three other Kapuskasing men were flown into the heavy bushland in mid-June to survey the southern limits of Wadsworth Township. Breckon was acting as chief surveyor of the party, which consisted of E. Marrison, C. McCarthy and D. McPhail.

On June 24, McCarthy and McPhail were left in the bush to complete the timber crew, while Breckon and Marrison started out with some camping equipment from their canoe, which was at a small lake a short distance away.

When about a mile from the small lake, Breckon is said to have decided to follow a small creek that flows to the lake through the marsh land.

The two men continued along beside the stream, with Marrison walking a few yards ahead of Breckon.

After the pair had walked for a short distance, Marrison shouted to Breckon and reported later that the surveying chief replied to his yell.

That was the las time that Breckon’s voice was heard.

Marrison continued to the canoe and waited for awhile, but Breckon failed to turn up.

Marrison then retreated his steps along the small creek that winds its way through the marsh land, calling out the name of his friend as he went. But it was to no avail. Breckon did not answer, nor did Marrison see any sign of him.

The plane that flew the men to the bush was supposed to return for them June 27th, but failed to do so because of poor flying conditions.

The plane finally showed up on June 29, but in the meantime, the other three men in the survey party had conducted a five day search of their own.

The plane and the men brought the first news of the missing man to the town of Kapuskasing and on June 29, a full scale search was launched. Since then, the size of the searching party has grown and today 50 experienced bushmen and eight bush planes are working hand in hand, night and day in the hunt.

Provincial Police point out, that as yeat, there has been absolutely no trace of Breckon.