ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 9

ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

ELLSWORTH SETS OUT. MISHAP EN ROUTE. “LAST GREAT ADVENTURE.” (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 21, 9.15 a.m. NEW YORK, Nov. 20. A copyright message to the North American Newspaper Alliance from the Wyatt Earp states that Mr Lincoln Ellsworth and Mr H. Hollick Kenyon took off from Dundee Island at 7.50 on Wednesday evening (New Zealand time) for their attempted flight across the Antarctic to Byrd’s former base at Little America, in the ’plane Polar Star. At 11 o’clock on Wednesday night the ’plane wirelessed: “Back fuel flow; gauge broke.” This message is interpreted that Mr Ellsworth is turning back. The ’plane had sent only one previous wireless message, 48 minutes after the start, reporting that it had progressively passed over snow and James Ross Island, and was then flying at a speed of 170 miles an hour. The Polar Star, after passing Ross Island, had left the open water behind it and was flying along the eastern edge of Graham Land when it reported the broken guage in the last message. Before leaving Mr Ellsworth said: — “Soon we will be on what has been called the last great adventure in the history of Antarctic exploration. With faith in the reward of perseverance we are bound on a flight of 2140 miles, 1300 of which will be over territory inot yet sepn by human eyes. We will pass over unclaimed areas .for 600 miles and that segment of the Antarctic is thought to be fringed by coast line for about 900 miles. “Six hours out, and after crossing the 18th Meridian, which we expect to cross at latitude 77, we will be in unclaimed territory. With the permission of the State Department of the United States 1 will then drop tbe Stars and Stripes and so far as that act will suffice to claim the area we discover even up to the 120th meridian for the United States I will name the area James Ellsworth Land after my father, who was himself a pioneer.” AN EARLIER MESSAGE. DELAYED FOR A DAY. NEW YORK, Nov. 19. A North American Newspaper Assocciation message from Mr Lincoln Ellsworth states: The attempt to start on the Antarctic flight this morning failed as an unusually bright sun from 1 until 8 a.m. made the snow too soft and sticky for a take-off. As the flight was definitely scheduled for eight o’clock no attempt was made to hurry preparations, although the sun was up early. At the last minute there was half an hour’s delay clearing the fuel-line, which had accumulated water that froze. We taxied across the island in an attempt to start, but it was soon apparent that it was impossible. We now plan io leave at four tomorrow morning.

For his third attempt to span the Antarctic continent, from the \\ eddell Sea to the Ross Sea, some 2800 miles, Lincoln Ellsworth will not have Bernt Balchen, the famous American pilot, for the Northrop monoplane. Polar Star. Instead, two Canadian pilots have joined the expedition. These are Mr H Hollick-Kenyon, who will be chief pilot, and Mr J. H. Lymburner, second pilot and engineer. Neither has had any experience of Arctic or Antarctic aviation, nor any ocean flying experience, but come from Canada. Grahamlaiul is situated due south of Cape Horn (in the Weddell Quadrant) and is in latitude 65 to 69 south. Slightly to the eastward of this dependency "of the Falklands is Dundee Islnnd, where Mr Ellsworth established his base prior to setting out by air. He traversed Snow Hill Island and Ross Island shortly after the start of his flight across the continent to the Ross Sea and the Bay of Whales. The Wvatt Earp will later meet him on this - ' coast after a 3000 mile journey from Dundee Island.