The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-12-10
Flight Of Daring Army Aviators to
Alaska Means the Dawn
Of New Day.
GREAT REJOICING IN WRANGEll
Thrilling Story Of Their Arrival In the
Land Of Ice and Snow 10 Told
Alaskans Hold Celebration
In Honor Of Event.

In Honor OF Event.
New YOrk.-When, In 1876, President
Polk signed with Great Britain com
promise treaty which extended the Ca
madam border line from the Rocky
mountains to the Pacific ocean on par
allel 40, he settled the long-drawn-out
controversy over the Oregon boundary
and hushed for all time the campaign
slogan. "54-40 or fight" which had
rome to be very inslstent one during
the middle fOrties.
There was q wait Of twenty-One
years before more prophetic imagi-
nation, wider vision, flung our coast
line to the farthest limit of the CONT
nent by the purchase from Russia of
that vast storehouse of mineral, agri.
cultural and timber wealth, the Won
Ter world of Alaska.
A new era In the history Of our fur
aOrthland, says Aid Service News Let.
ter, began on August IA. 1920. the date
on which the four army airplanes
biloted by those daring ayiators. Capt.
St. Clair Street and Lieuts. Clifford G.
Mutt. G. ii. Crumrine and Ross Kirk
patrick, with observers and mechani-
clans, Sergt. Edmond Henriques
Lieut.. Eric Fl. Nelson and Sergts
James Long and Joseph e. English. In
| the 90O0-mile transcontinental flight
from New York to Nome and return,
made the jump from Hazleton, Do
ninion of Canada. to Wrangell. terri
tory of Alaska.
A Dav Of Joy.
We can picture what the scene was
like when the fliers first reached Alas
kan soil. II was Saturday. and. when
1t became known that the fliers were
expected that afternoon, the mayor of
Wrangell declared holiday. Flags
| were hOlsted over the principal build
lngs Of the town. Mil whistles blew
and bells rang that all might set out
for the landing field at Sergef island,
mnfle rently for the arrival and In
charge Of Sergt. w. w. Mclaughlin
All during the afternoon small boats
we're leaving. loaded with passengers
AT noon the Darlington Transporta,
ti0n comrany's Hazel B. No. 3" left
the dock, floating a big scow. both boat
and scow loaded to the limit with
sight-seers. Meanwhile no news had
come from Hnzelton sayin- inst wher
fe tl!ers had left for Wrangell. There
was no way Of guessing the hour wher
they would arrive. All eyes scanned
the sky The hands Of the CLOCK
turned relentlessly. cutting away thu
afternoon. One o'clock, 2. 3. 4. Som,
discouraged spectators turred their
faces homeward. making ready Ia
take the boat brrk to Wrnngell.
Suddenly there was a shout ether,
they come" And the -four planes cam,
humming overhead, circling the land
Ing field. With dip and whirr thu
thrilled the spectators. Lieut.. Kirk
patrick came to earth nj sixty mile,
an hour The three other planes fol
lowed In quick succession. plane Ma
II, with Capt. Street. commander Of IN,
squadron. heing the last to leave TIL
air. In seven minutes from the tim
the FIRST plane landed. all four IN,
come to earth. and In spite Of recen
. rains that had caused a wet field, al
were happy landings
No One Worked That Day.
So the great deed WIS done. Tn
work was accomplished. The 400
miles between New York ana Alask
hnd hoap ont n ooca than 0ft,, ATT.