BEFORE ROCKET MAN ELON MUSK WAS BORN, DEL MAR BEACH WAS SCENE OF BOCA CHICA ROCKET MAN'S DISAPPEARANCE

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

The Brownsville Herald 

 In the evening of Tuesday, April 7, 1933, Floyd "Slats" Rodgers, who was working for Robert N. Clarke of the Valley Aero Dusting Service in Edingburg, received a call from Clarke who asked him to fly a parachute jumper (W.G. Swan) at Boca Chica on Sunday, April 12. 

Rodgers called W. F. Fullwood at the McAllen airport who had a plane. Fullwood had one,  but had no experience in flying a parachute jumper. Fullwood and asked him to come Saturday morning and synchronize his motor. Rodgers asked Mr. Fullwood if he had the regulation parachutes and if he had the regulation parachutes for himself and the jumper. All was settled and on April 8 the Brownsville Herald telegraphed Clarke, thanking him for accepting.

On Saturday, 11 September, Swan had a long talk with Col. Sam A Robertson, owner of Del Mar Beach, on the beach. He said he was "down on his luck" and wanted to settle down with his family back in Maryland. Swan asked Robertson for an advance of $20 to tide him over. Colonel Robertson was impressed with Swan's open countenance and attitude. Robertson made out a bank draft to him for that amount.

Meanwhile, while Fullwood tuned Rodger's engine, W. E. Elwing of the Brownsville Herald,  gave him a letter of agreement that Ellwood had signed with him and Swan. The letter would serve as a formal introduction to Swan the next day.

When Sunday came, just before the jump, Swan applied to Clarke for a job as a crop duster. He told him he wanted to remain in the Valley and settle down.

Swan was never seen after disappearing into the mist at 6,000 feet. Two cars were parked against the water on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, their occupants anxiously watched the skies. 

A Coast Guard boat searched the Gulf for a while Sunday night. Lack of funds prevented Slats Rodgers from flying over the Gulf in an effort to locate the body. Elwing refused at first to believe that Swan was in the water. 

It was said that Swan planned to land, cut off his chute, go into hiding, and remain there. Arrangements had been made for someone to pick up the chute, cut it into neckerchiefs, and sell them for souvenirs. Expenses and fees spent in advertising were to be deducted. If anything was left, Swan was to get it.

Colonel Robertson called Cameron County Sheriff W.F. Brown and asked him for an inquiry. The inquiry convened on the afternoon of Monday, April 13, 1931. At the inquiry Robertson stated that he believed Swan was dead, either because something went wrong with his parachute or he had been despondent. 

Robertson posted a $50 reward for the body of Swan or information leading to his return to Cameron County. The Valley Morning Star Newspaper added another $50 to the award.

Elwing made an effort to have Rodgers and Clarke sign papers releasing the Herald of any liability in Swan's death in the event he was dead. Clarke went to Colonel Robertson for his money for the airplane. Robertson referred him to the Herald and said he would give $25 from the gate receipts if Ralph Buell, editor and publisher of the Herald would OK a draft. Robertson wrote the draft for $25, payable to the Brownsville Herald. 

In turn it was signed given over  to Clarke who endorsed it. Colonel Robertson cashed it from the receipts.

On Saturday, April 15, Rodgers pilot's license was revoked by E. E. Hughes, department of Commerce inspector. Hughes forwarded his report to Robert I. Hazen, supervising aeronautical inspector for the Department of Commerce in Houston.

Swan was never found.