SOUTHWARD BOUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22367, 14 September 1934, Page 3

SOUTHWARD BOUND

MR ELLSWORTH’S LAST TRIP ARRIVAL IN DUNEDIN WYATT EARP TO SAIL ON MONDAY “Yes, I think this will he my last trip to the polar regions,” said Mr Lincoln Ellsworth, who arrived In Dunedin yesterday afternoon by aeroplane from the National Park to join the Wyatt .Earp before she sails at the beginning of next week for Deception Island, from which he will hop off on his flight across the continent of Antarctica. “When I have completed this flight that will be the last of the real pioneering work, and I don’t think I would care to go back after that. I always like to go on ahead of the others. I have flown across the North Pole, and if I succeed on this flight I will be content. Besides, I want a homo. When a man reaches my age he becomes tired of wandering, and wants somewhere to settle down. It is becoming increasingly difficult to raise money tor exploring work like this, and even if I wanted to go back again I doubt whether I would bo able to raise sufficient funds. I think I’m through with polar exploration after ■this.”

Some doubt was expressed by the reporter whether one who had spent so adventurous a life would find it easy to settle down, “Would you not like another trip such as the one you took to the Andes of South America to study the different breeds of wild sheep!” he was asked. r The explorer’s face brightened. “Yes,” he said, “I would like something like that fine. I didn’t mean that I was going to give up travelling altogether, but I’m through with the polar regions. I think I would like to make another trip across Labrador such as the one I made three years ago, when another white man and I with two Indians, in two canoes, went right across Labrador. We carried 12001 b over more than 60 portages. But it was a great trip.” There seems to be little doubt that even if he does give up polar exploration —and the flight which is now about to commence will be his fifth into polar regions—Mr Ellsworth still has a vigorous life ahead of him. Tanned by sun and wind and free from all superfluous flesh, on arrival yesterday he looked in good condition for what will probably be the hardest trip he has yet made. Mr Ellsworth said he hoped that the Wyatt Earp would be able to leave Dunedin next Monday; if possible, he would sail before that. The boat would be headed direct for Deception Island, which it was hoped to reach about the beginning of November, though this would depend on the ice. From Deception Island the Polar Star, carrying Mr Ellsworth and Mr Bernt Balchen, would set off on the flight of 2800 miles as soon as the weather was favourable. It was expected that the flight to the Bay of Whales would take approximately 20 hours. The Wyatt Earp would keep in touch with the plane by wireless, and when the flight was completed she would sail for the Bay of Whales. The two airmen will carry with them a tent and two and a-half months’ provisions, and Mr Ellsworth assured the reporter that they had no fears as to their comfort during the wait for the vessel. If everything goes as expected, the explorers anticipate that the Wyatt Earp will be hack in Dunedin early in January. With his back turned Anally on the regions of ice and snow, Mr Ellsworth will leave the vessel at Dunedin, and' return to Los Angeles by the regular steamer service. The Wyatt Earp, with her Norwegian crew, will later sail for Norway, although Mr Ellsworth indicated yesterday that if it were possible to sell the ship in New Zealand he would he glad to do so. At present, however, all his thoughts are concentrated upon reaching Deception Island ns soon as possible. “ Now that I’m definitely started,” he said, “I want to get there and take off for the Bay of Whales immediately. If X could I would sail to-morrow.”