ACROSS THE ARCTIC

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17386, 24 April 1928, Page 7

ACROSS THE ARCTIC

WILKIN'S STORY.

GOOD WEATHER: GOOD LUCK

TRIP MADE IN COMFORT

ENGINE FUNCTIONED PERFECTLY

(By Telegraph--Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.)

SVALBARD, April 20

Captain Wilkins states: "With good weather and good luck, and by careful navigation, we travelled '2200 miles above Arctic ice. from Point Barrow lo Green Harbour, Svalbard. Threequarters of this area had never been seen before by man.

"We are thankful that aeronautical and engineering skill, conscientious workmen and our accumulated Arctic experience has brought us through in comparative comfort and safety.

"Yet the trip was not without adventure. It took us two days to get into the air before we were finally able to lift the machine, which weighed 33001 b, on April 15, and we headed straight out on the great circle on a course that would change 2.2 times in 22 hours. "For the first 500 miles the air was clear. Then there were clouds, but we overcame them at an altitude of 3000 feet.

"We saw no sign of an island, but frequent leads of open water. We would have liked to make soundings but a landing would have been too hazardous owing to the possibility of broken skis.

"The engine functioned perfectly and the sun provided a clear light. We even took frequent sextant observations. The compass acted ordinarily, namely, within five degrees." The temperature was 20 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit), when we started, but it was warmer in the cabin. We saw clouds that might have been mistaken for land, but we assumed that Peary would surely have seen land if it had existed in that vicinity, namely, latitude 8-i, longitude 75. Thirteen hours after the start we caught fleeting glimpses of (lie tops of the mountains on Grant Land. The real (light of exploration was then over, but we still had 000 miles to fly to reach our goal. We headed straight for Svalbard by the sun's position and compass.. The stormy sky forbade a crossflight in that icecovered country. We edged along the storm area and three hours later the northerly end of Greenland showed up dimly. Greenland Sighted. Each hour Lieutenant Eielson swung the plane and steadily plotted the course. As the latter trended toward the south the wind swung also, speeding us over our way. It wa c then 48 degrees below freezing point in the open air. We were 300 miles from the North Pole and the temperature in the cabin dropped to zero. Coffee from a thermos flask atad chocolate and biscuits were acceptable. Within 220 miles of Svalhard high curling masses of clouds rose to heights which our now lightlyloaded plane could not reach. We climbed to 8000 ft. and selected lanes between the feathery masses. Observation for ground speed and drift were now no longer possible. We had to trust to the observed sun's position and the compass.

Thus we flew for an hour and ahalf, seeing merely a dark streak of almost ice-free water beneath us. We expected to.sec the mountains at tin north end of Svalbard. but did not dare descend for fear of running into the cloud-covered peaks. The engine had burned much gas and we knew we had only two, perhaps three, more hours' supply. There was danger that we might be. going far inland and, therefore, would probably have to journey over the mountains on foot to reach a settlement. Suddenly two sharp peaks, almost needle-pointed, appeared beneath us. Down we spun for a closer view.

Tossed Like a Cork.

The air was turbulent and our now almost empty plane was tossed about like a cork. "Loose things in the cabin tumbled and rattled. The plane bucked like a broncho, but Eielson nosed her down. The ice-strewn water and the wind were furious. Spray whipped from the sea and filled the air. Over the land the snow drifted high and thick. It was therefore impossible to judge distance. Then, dead ahead a mountain loomed. It, was avoided by a narrow margin. Wo were running short of petrol fast, but such was Eielson's consummate skill that the machine was stopped 30yds. after the skiis touched the snow. We climbed out. The machine was not damaged. There was nothing to do but beat our clothes free of snow and climb into the cabin of the machine and await, clear weather. We were not unduly tired nor anxious. King's Bay and Green Harbour could not be far away and wo might walk or construct a boat and so reach habitation.

Wo slept. When he awoke again the sun was shining and we saw houses. But it was merely an Arctic mirage. The wind, by drifting the snow, ,snon obstructed the horizon. Four-foot drifts formed about, the plane and fortunately kepi if from toppling over. Wo, made ourselves comfortable in the cabin.

We sat eating chocolates and smoking a few cigarettes. We had to wail, patiently for the weather to clear. Our flight, consumed exactly 22 hours 20 minutes, but it was not until 3 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, that the weather was again fit for flying. Wo shovollod snow for six hours lo make a runway. Would Not Budge. We had only 20 gallons of petrol with us in the machine, hut sho would not. budge. However, when 1 climbed out, and pushed her she moved. But it. was difficult to olimb in again and I foil off in Ihe attempt. Eielson throw out an emergency rope-ladder. The machine gained momentum and I struggled desperately In gain Ihe cockpit. .My hands wore .stiffened and numb. I grasped the ropes with my teeth. Then 1 slllheren off the shiny fuselage and was struck by Ihe tail of tin; machine and Hung upon the snow. As 5 sit now and write I feel that every one of my front teeth is loose. Wo tried again lo make a start. For an hour wo had boon wasting rfur precious petrol. This lime we wore successful. I piled into the cockpit in spite of my bruises. The machine rose to a height of 3000 ft., and wo saw the wireless mast, at. Green Harbour, Svalbard. Wo had boon marooned for five days on Dead Man's Island. The wireless officials al, Green Harbow treated us with bountiful hospitality. Our Norwegian friends are our friends for ever. Hero we shall stay until some boat can take us and our trusty Lockhead plane to a more southern clime.

(Continued in next column)

TO FLY THE ANTARCTIC. WILKINS' PLANS. STATEMENT CONFIRMED. (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, April 22. The Los Angeles correspondent of the Associated Press says the Los Angeles Examiner, in a copyrighted article, confirms the statement, that Captain Witkins contemplated flying over the uncharted wastes of the Antarctic. The article says Mr J. K. Northrop, aeronautical engineer #nd designer of Captain Wilkins' plane, disclosed the fact, that, the explorer told him and his friends of his plans and of his needs for the flight over the South Polar regions. Mr Northrop said the Antarctic plans were advanced so far as to make it certain that Captain Wilkins will be at Los Angeles in four or five weeks. The desolate regions of the South Pole may therefore see a race between Captain Wilkins and Commander R. Byrd. The former wishes to learn if there is an unbroken continental chain at the South Pole. He proposed to board a Norwegian whaler and sail by her into the Ross Sea, past South Victoria Land, und there to launch his seaplane and take the air toward King Edward VII. Land. Mr Northrop says the journey will then be made through Bransfleld Straits to South Shetland Island, 800 miles south of Cape Horn.

AMUNDSEN'S FELICITATIONS.

SPLENDID SPORTING FEAT. SUCCESS WELL DESERVED. OSLO, April 22. Commander Amundsen believes tnat Polar flying conditions are more, favourable now than in May, when fog is prevalent. Apparently Captain Wilkins was not troubled by ice freezing on the wings, as befell the Norgo on the Spitzbergcn-Alaska ilight in May, 1926. It was impossible to say whether the fliers crossed the Pole. They had certainly crossed the Polar basin, apparently following the same line as the Norge. It was a splendid sporting enterprise, and he hoped Captain Wilkins. whoso persistence deserved success, crossed the Polo. It was only right that this pair of heroes should have succeeded in a remarkable achiemont which, unlike trans-Atlantic flights, was unaided.

NEWS IN LONDON.

GREAT INTEREST EVINCED. MACHINE NOT DAMAGED. (Australian Press Assn. —United Service.) LONDON, April 22. The feat nf Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant. Eielson in flying over "the roof of the world" has excited the greatest interest in London. Their success would have boon known sooner but for Ihe sudden death of Ihe wireless operator at King's Bay, Spitzbergen. A message from Tromso. Norway, says the airmen landed at Croon Harbour under the best conditions. The machine was in no way damaged. It has special wooden skids fitted on it lo enable il lo land safely on the Ice or snow. Green Harbour lias a wireless station and is a centre of coalmining. ' Caplain Wilkins and his companion will be obliged lo stay at, a sma.ll village called Long Year City, near Green Harbour, until the first week or two in '.May. when there will be a general thaw in the Polar Sea. Four hundred men from the surrounding mines spend the winter at Long Year City, us the terrible conditions make work impossible. OSLO, April 2,3. It is believed (hat Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant Eielson contemplate returning to America by air. The latter lias informed his father that tie expects soon to be back. This is taken to indicate a return journey by air, possibly direct to New York,