NO WORD FROM GOULD; MISHAP FEARED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6864, 20 March 1929, Page 7

NO WORD FROM GOULD; MISHAP FEARED

Silence For Two Days EYED ORGANISES BELIEF (By Russell Owen.—Special to the ' . “New York Times.") BAY OF WHALES, March 16. There has been two days’ silence from Larry Gould and his companions on their geological trip to the Rockefeller Mountains. _ Radio communication with them was maintained until 2.30 in the afternoon of March 14, but since then no word or signal has been received. It is probable that some failure of the radio caused them to cut off, but there is a possibility of mishap, and Commander Byrd is preparing to fly over the moment the weather shows signs of ( clearing. Dog teams aTe leaving to-morrow to back up both aeroplane parties, and will continue to the mountains, if flying continues impossible. _ Gould had rope for safety in climbing the mountains with a good tent, sleeping bags, and plenty of fuel and food for two months. The weather has been unfit for flying, and they had orders not to start back until they received word that landing conditions wore suitable, which would seem to Tule out the possibility of a crack-up in an* attempted take-off. Gould is Byrd’s second in command here, and has been on two Arctic expeditions, and “ both pilots are level-headed, experienced men, June in particular being noted for his thoroughness and caution as well as his daring when in the air. Commander Concerned. All this, however, does not mitigate the fact, that Commander Byrd is concerned at ! not hearing from them, appreciating, as he does, the many hazards of landing away from the base at this time of the year. He did not think that the trip should be made, and yielded reluctantly to persuasion when the scientific importance of the flight was emphasised. It seemed at the time that the flight could be made in safety. Even if the weather becamo bad, as it did for a week or more, patience is the supreme Antarctic virtue. All the pilots are agreed that if the aeroplane could land safely there, there should be little danger in it. Speculation at the Base. Still’ it seems incredible even to those familiar with Antarctic dangers that anything serious could have occurred. The mountain party easily weathered the worst storm we have had, and when last heard from had apparently completed their geological survey and were impatient to get back. Indeed, Byrd had urged them to be very conservative yith regard to any more visits to the mountains, where they might meet mishap in a storm. They have had only one day since they were last heard from when they might have made a short survey trip, and it is not likely that they did so. • One Other Possibility. If radio failure is not the cause of their silence, there is only one other possibility, and that is that they tried to take off without notifying the base, and cracked up, smashing their. radio set. We can hardly believe this has happened. ,as Balehon, who was piloting, had had so much experience taking off from the snorV, and it does not seem likely .that they met mishap in the mountains. There are no crevasses -there. Tho situation was not deemed serious until last night, when forty-eight hours had elapsed without word from the aeroplane. Then Commander Byrd ordered preparations for rescuing t¥em. He is now packing up his navigation instruments, getting the aeroplano ready to leave, and as the sun has been out for a short tune and the sky shows signs of clearing, it is hoped that a few hours of clear weather will permit a flight. If that cannot be done, tho dog teams will start to-morrow morning.

Byrd’s Motor Fails' and Delays Search DOG TEAMS START ON DIFFICtTLT JOURNEY. Received Tuesday, 10.40 p.m. ’(Copyright from Byrd expedition by Owen.) ■ BAY OF WHALES, March 19. With tho continued silence on the part of Gould, Balchen and June, Commander Byrd was prepared to tako off in the first fine hours we have had for many days, but the motor failed to start. This is the first time it has balked ip. all the weeks we have been here. When adjustments were made a high wind and darkness approaching prevented the flight. There is a bare chance Byrd may be able to go to-day. The dog teams therefore start in a few hours as preparations are completed for the journey which at best will be extraordinarily difficult. All still believe the silence is due to the damaged radio. None who havo flown over the mountains have seen anything resembling crevasses. The snow slopes are firm and the mountain sides are drifted smooth.