STORY OF EXPEDITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 13

STORY OF EXPEDITION

ILL-FATED FLIGHTS LONG WIRELESS SILENCE The records of Antarctic exploration, rich in deeds of drama and high endeavour since the days of Scott and Shackleton, have been made even more inspiring by the finding of Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth and Mr. Hollick Kenyon. The two explorers had been missing since November 23 and, although men with experience of the Antarctic maintained their belief that they would be found alive and well, the average layman could have been forgiven for thinking that they had gone to their death.

The news now flashed by wireless from the Royal Research ship Discovery 11. has ended a period of anxious waiting. The flight on which Ellsworth and Kenyon were embarked was described as "the last great adventure in the history of Antarctic exploration." For years Mr. Ellsworth has been attempting to solve the riddle of ,vast unexplored areas in the Antarctic, but his previous attempts have never been entirely successful. Plan of Expedition On his present expedition—his third to the Antarctic —Mr. Ellsworth left Montevideo on October 18, in company with the Australian explorer, Sir Hubert W ilk ins. Later a base was established at Dundee Island, with the expedition's supply ship, Wyatt Earp, in attendance. The plan was for Mr. Ellsworth and Mr. Kenyon to leave

Dundee Island in the aeroplane Polar Star on a flight of 3000 miles across the Antarctic. The actual flight was expected to take 20 hours, but the two airmen were to carry five weeks' food supplies and were to wait on the opposite side of the Antarctic continent for the Wyatt Earp, which, after their departure, was to commence a cruise encircling the ice continent. r l he first attempt at tho flight was made on November 19, but tho snow was too soft for the aeroplane to take off. Another attempt was made the following day, but it, too, was doomed to failure, as a broken fuel gauge forced the airmen to turn back. .After his return to the Wyatt Earp Mr. Ellsworth said that, although bad luck seemed to dog the expedition, the Polar Star had done remarkably well. Notwithstanding tho gritty snow surface, tho aeroplane had lifted a gross load of moie than 70001b. in a run of less than half a mile. • An Important Discovery Undeterred, the explorers set off on another flight on November 21, repairs to the aeroplane having been effected at Dundee Island. Again the attempt failed, this time owing to atmospheric conditions and heavy clouds, but in flying one-third of the distance to the Ross Sea the explorers encountered an unmapped chain of mountains at least 12.000 ft. in altitude.

On his return to Dundee Island, Mr. Ellsworth said they had made the important discovery that the mountain chain, of' which Graham Land wa» part, rose again beyond Stefansson Strait on what was probably one great Antarctic continent. The clouds had ranged for probably 70 miles ahead, but even there they had been able to see a rolling cloud mass apparently at a higher level, indicating another mountain range even higher than that which they had encountered. The Last Attempt The last attempt to cross the Antarctic by air—the attempt which was generally thought to have ended in disaster—was made on November 23. At B*3 a.m. that day, Greenwich mean time, the Polar Star, with Mr. Ellsworth and Mr. Kenyon on board, again took off from Dundee Island, but eight hours later wireless messages from tht» aeroplane suddenly ceased. Earlier messages received during the flight stated that, although there was some fog, favourable progress was being made, with the engine maintaining a speed of 125 niiles an hour. The fliers sent reports saying they had seen new mountains. Once they mentioned seeing many crevasses, but added: "There are lots of places where one could land."

The last message was received at 4 p.m. and gave the position of the aeroplane as about longitude 76, latitude 79. After this the signals became jumbled and finally ceased. It was thought that the fliers might still be on their way to the Bay of Whales, as they had sufficient fuel for 20 hours. Arrangements for Search Still the radio on the Polar Star remained silent, arid this was held to be puzzling, as the aeroplane was equipped with emergency apparatus for use in the event pf a landing. On November 26 arrangements were made for the Wyatt Earp to depart from Dundee Island, and, in accordance with prior instructions from Mr. Ellsworth, to lay depots at three determined points. The following day it was reported that Mr. Ellsworth's call sign K.H.N.I.R. had been heard by H.M.S. Dunedin in New Zealand. It was hoped that the signal was from the Polar Star, but it was not repeated With the wireless silence still unbroken preparations were put in hand to organise a search for the explorers and the British Government agreed to place the research ship Discovery 11. at the disposal of the Australian Government.