LOSS OF THE ITALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 8

LOSS OF THE ITALIA

RETURN OF THE SEARCHERS. ARRIVAL AT BERGEN. MEMBERS OBSERVE RETICENCE. (Australian Press Association.) OSLO, October 6. Signor Gianni AlbciTini’s party, which has been searching in the Arctic for survivors of tlie Italia disaster, lias returned to Bergen. Strong rumours are current to the effect that the party discovered the remains of Hie seven men who were carried away in (he envelope of the airship. These reports Hie members of Hie search party refuse to either confirm or deny.

The Italia, the ill-fated airship of Ihc Nobile expedition to the Arctic, arrived at Kings Bay, Spilzbergen, on May G, 1928. After making several trips over Hie Arctic Sea she left on her last voyage on May 23. On that occasion she reached the Pole and immediately afterwards the Italia started to beat her way hack to King’s Bay against adverse winds.. At 10.30 a.in. on May 25 Hie airship suddenly plunged down and in two minutes tier gondola struck Hie ice. One man was killed, the chief engineer, Signor Ccccioni suffered a broken leg and Nebiie and others were injured. The airship thus lightened rose and drifted away carrying with her in the envelope seven men: Professor Ponlvomoli, Dr. Lago (a journalist;, and the following members of the crew: Arduino, Alcssandrini, Pomel'a, Carappi and Cioaca.. Tiie expedition under Albertini set out in May of last year in an effort to ascertain the fate of the lost men, there being an impression in some quarters that they may have survived the wreck of the airship and been marooned in tiie ice wastes.