BACK FROM THE ICE

Evening Star, Issue 21631, 29 January 1934, Page 7

BACK FROM THE ICE

LARGE GROWO GREETS WYATT EARP MR ELLSWORTH'S HOPES DASHED FUTURE FLAKS INDEFINITE To have bis carefully laid, plans frustrated by an uncanny disturbance on the ice barrier on the eve of his ambitious flight over the Antarctic, continent to the Weddell Sea and back, was the unhappy experience of Mr Lincoln Ellsworth, who returned to Dunedin last night on his ship, the Wyatt Karp. When seen ■by a ‘ Star ’ reporter this morning Mr Ellsworth had .overcome his disappointment in having ; his hopes of, success so suddenly dashed down, and was again the same cheery adventurer who sailed from here in December. There nothing left to tell,” he said. “ To come so near to success and to have it snatched from us at the last minute was bitter indeed. The trials of our machine had gone beautifully;

everything' was ready for the dash; then an uncanny disturbance, the ice broke, and the plane was left standing on a ,50ft rock.” Mr Ellsworth explained that the body of the plane under the fusilage was pushed out of

alignment, the skis were damaged, and one wing was crumpled, but luckily the engjne did not suffer. REPAIRS CANNOT BE DONE HERE, “ Cannot the repairs be carried out in New Zealand, or even in Australia?” Mr Ellsworth was asked, to which he replied. “No, there are no factories in New, Zealand, nor could it be done in Australia. The machine will have to be taken back to the makers in Los Angeles, where, I should say, it would be about a fourteen-day job to right the trouble. Only by the use of the right machinery can such a job

be carried out, for the alignment must lie exact to the 100th part of an inch. “ Of course, by the time I can get back to America" and have the aeroplane fixed it will be too late this summer to attempt to return to the ice, and 1 have not made any plans for the future. There is a probability, how r ever, that next year I shall start off again, this time leaving from South America and going to Weddell Sea first. I vn I might come round this way :’i, but 1 do not think so—the risk ,m this side is too great, and one .failure is enough.” ■ ' Describing the disturbance on the ice Mr Ellsworth said some form of earthquake might have caused it. Everything was in an upheaval. Without anv warning, the smooth ice surface suddenly cracked up into pieces about fourteen or' fifteen feet square, and crashed and turned' in all directions. Even as the Wyatt Earp was leaving the barrier, to return to Dunedin hugh pieces of ice could be seen being hurled about, in fifteen minutes a five mile stretch had crumbled. The, damage was done, and there was nothing for it but to return here.

“As I said before, it might have been an earthquake that caused it; I don’t know. Nothing like it has even been experienced r there before. The' currents crtninly could not have been responsible for such an upheaval. An hour or two before Sir Hubert Wilkins had gone on skis for several miles along the barrier and everything was peaceful' and quiet. Suddenly the ice

broke with a roar. It seemed as if something was bumping the whole barrier underneath. /After the, ikst 1 violent turmoil, a circujar movement was noticed, and the ice seemed to t sway eastward. In twelve hours the plane had been carried by the movement to the edge of the.barrier. She was then lifted by the crane on the Wyatt Earp, placed on board, and shortly .afterwards the ship struck out on the return journey to Dunedin. THE UNLUCKY 13. “ That was on January 13,” he said, 11 ibut I don't regard 13 as my unlucky number; in fact, 13 has been my lucky day, but it sure was unlucky this time.” MR ELLSWORTH’S DEPARTURE. To-cmoitow, Mr Ellsworth will, probably fly to National Park, where he intends' to indulge in outdoor exercise, a recreation he desires after sitting about on the ship for so long. He will then go to Wellington on February 10 to catch the Mariposa for Los Angeles. The plane will follow in about ten days’ time. Mr Bernt Balchen, the chief pilot, will travel to America with; Mr Ellsworth, . : . , Sir Hubert Wilkins will remain with the Wyatt Earp. at this port, the ship being under his command. .While.only stains of rust on Iter ironwork and, scars on her copper sheathing are visible to the eye as evidence of her trip to the barrier, the Wyatt Earp will have, to be docked at. Port Chalmers to have her engines thoroughly overhauled and her rudder readjusted, as well as minor repairs. WELCOME TO LEADER- AND PARTY. Although it was not expected that the Wyatt Earp would reach Dunedin before to-day, word quickly went round yesterday that she had made good, time, and would be in port in the evening, with the result that a large crowd gathered on the wharf to welcome the explorer and his party. The chairman of the Otago Har r oour Board (Mr H. C. Campbell) and Mr W. Begg went/to the Heaas on the pilot launch, and there boarded the Wyatt Earp. On behalf of the city and the board, they conveyed greetings, and expressed sympathy with the expedition leader in his 'disappointment. It was some minutesafter the ship had berthed before Mr Ellsworth stepped out on to the deck,, and? his appearance was. the signal for spontaneous cheering from the thousands who thronged the wharf. . , KEEN TO GO TO NORTH POLE. While he has no immediate plans for the future, Sir Hubert Wilkins will stay with the Wyatt Earp .until, Mr Ellsworth communicates with him. from Los Angeles. . Sir Hubert is keen to start on his own plans to make a trip to the North Pole by submarine.' He intends to build a new submarine for the trip, and hopes to be successful in his venture. . Also he has, his ideas regarding the chain of meteorological stations, but ho will not do anything until freed from his duties by Mr Ellsworth.