BYRD HELD UP 128 MILES FROM BASE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 7

BYRD HELD UP 128 MILES FROM BASE

With Rescued Airmen REMAINING PLANE MAY MAKE FLIGHT DOG TEAMS ON THE WAY. (By Russell Owen. —Special to “New York Times.”) BAY OF WHALES, March 20. Byrd is isolated under the peaks of the mountains he discovered on his first flight. He is only 128 miles away, but if ho had to walk homo it would take him three weeks, because of tho weather. Before that becomes necessary, the remaining ’plane in commission should be able to make a flight to bring him, Hanson and Gould back to the base. Although it is necessary to reach them as soon as possible, because of tho lateness of the season, wo are not worried about the present situation, as we were about the others, for we have radio communication with them two or three times a day. Daylight Drawing In. It is a serious matter being so far from tho base without dogs at this time of the year, because the hours of daylight aro getting rapidly shorter, and in a month the sun will disappear altogether; so the pilots and weather men are watching for a break in the clouds and tho wind which will enable Smith to make another rescue trip. In the meantime the dog teams are making their way eastward, having started yesterday, so if Byrd and the others have to start back on foot, pulling the sled, they may be met by faster teams and relieved of that heartbreaking labour. It is man-hauling which wears men down in the Antarctic. With dogs it is possible to travel fast and without dangerous exertions. If in a few days tho ’plane is able to make a flight, the dog teams will bo called ba-ck. Message Prom Hanson. Word was received from Commanded Byrd this morning that all was well,; and Hanson sent me the following message: “Sad to see Fokker so cracked up. Byrd, Larry and I are very contented and getting ready to prepare for bad weather by gathering and catching equipment and food, which must be left behind when wo leave, moving temporarily the radio station out of the wrecked ’plane 300 yards down the hill, and setting it up in the. tent, so that tho weather will not interfere with communications. ’ ’ The ’plane will not go until there is some assurance that it will be able to make the round trip, as Byrd and the other pilots do not want to risk leaving it there to be exposed to another storm such as wrecked tho Fokker, but it is ready. Haines and Balchen are up at three in the morning to take advantage of the first break.