PDLAR TRAGEDY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10889, 17 July 1928, Page 7

PDLAR TRAGEDY

THE ITALIA’S CASTAWAYS Advices from King’s Bay state that Captain Sora and his sledgedri\ er Vandongen, who left the B aganza some time- ago with a dog team in an endeavour to reach the Italia’s castaways, were overjoyed to be saved. Immediately they saw the aeroplane® they waved to the pilots, who after their rescue- wirelessed the captain of the Krassin, who broadcasted the good news. Both rescued men suffered great hardships and were compelled to kill five of their nine dogs and live on their flesh for a fortnight. Sora was the more exhausted.

later report states that Captain Sora and Vandongen arrived at King’ Bay by the Swedish aeroplane Uppland and the Finnish aeroplane Tarkj respectively. It appears they were rescued from Foyn island by Swedish airmen, not by the Krassin as earlier reported. It is recalled that Captain Sora and Vandongen left here with a Danish engineer. Vanning, in order to search for Malmgren, Mariano end Zappi. During the trek. Vanning became ill and remained behind while Soia and Vandongen went on. They are now lescued.

It is presumed the Krassin’s new rescued men are the chasseurs whose signals were seen when the Krassin was approaching Lieutenant Viglieri’s party. A message from Moscow is to the effect :

Tbe Russian ice-breaker Krassin, which on Wednesday rescued the survivors of the Malmgren party the Italians Zappi and Mariano, and took aboard the dead body of Professor Malmgreen, continued its voyage through the drifting, ice and at night reached the remaining members of the stranded party, from General Nobile was rescued earlier, under Lieutenant Vtgliero. All the party were taken aboard and are reported to be wll. except one- with a broken leg.

The Krassin also rescued Captain Sora and his sledge-driver Vandongen.

All the Italia’s crew except those carried away with tbe envelope of the airship ar© now accounted for. Professor Samilovitcli in command of the Krassin expedition, reports that when they were- three miles from Viglieri-’s camp, they noticed the remains o- r an airnlane, and then a red tent. The Italians replied to the defening shrieks of the Krassin’s sirens with smoke signal. “We drew close to the icefields on which were camped tbe Italians, and they heartily embraced us as we climbed down tbe ship’s ladders. They declared all their hopes were pinned on the Krassin. hut thev did not expect us so quickly. “The rescued are Ceceioni, Vilgieri and Riago. All are well exeent, Ceceioni, who has a broken leg. His case is not serious.” A later message from Moscow states : The rescued Italian Zappi states that everybodv suffered from shock when the Italia’s gondola crashed. He himself was laid up three days. Professor Maln nreu gave up tbe struggle a fortnight after the walking party The others encountered huge hummocks and patches of open water. They were unable to snake further progress. Food became exhausted three days later. They remained on one ice block ten days and had given up hope when they Ohuoknovsky’s airplane and lieaid the Krassin’s si”en. The next day they were moved to tears. Professor Malmgren entrusted Zappi with liis pocket compass to be given to bis (Calmgren’s) mother as