Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-12-10

wilds Of Alaska. A flight In almost
any other direction on United States
territory offers more friendly harbors
and happier landing fields.
Significance Of the Flight
But, back Of II all. the Alaskan
flight had a deep significance. II was
undertaken by the war department for
a threefold purpose and with the cor
dial cooperation of the Candisna gov
eminent. and the aid Of the weather
bureaus Of both countries. The first
great purpose I'm view Is the photo
graphing and preliminary surveying
for the opening of route to Alaska.
The second Is the establishing Of a
relay mail and commercial air route
which will cut the time from Alaska
to the states from weeks to days. The
third Is the mapping Of some $500
square miles of UNEMPLOYED country
about the flats of the upper Yukon
rivera three days task for the four
flying photographers, but a labor Of
three years and many men for a
ground surveying party.
With these three purposes In view,
therefore, II needs no prophetic vision
to see what changes are to be wrought
In Alaska's future by the coming Of
the four airplanes to Alaskan soil on
August IA last. Little wonder, a. we
have said, that their advent was hailed
with rejoicing by the far distant and
far-seeing Alaskans who had hazarded
their lives and their fortunes uphold
ing the upbuildlng Of Alaska's future.
According to the "Wrangell Senti-
nel," which gave Its whole front page
Of August 10 to a story Of the arrival
Of the airmen, Capt. Street, who had
bought at Edmonton waterproof
coat with fur collar and lined with
unclipped lamb skin, and, at Wrangell,
a pair of loggers' rubber packs and
pair of socks. that would weigh as
much as an ordinary pair Of shoes. Is
reported to have said: when / was
flying over the continuous chain of
glaciers and snow fields between here
and Hazelton. little dreamed that on
reaching Wrangell II would be my
privilege to feast on homegrown Der
ries and cream. The luxuriant growth
of vegetables and the beautiful flow
ers here are a great surprise to me-"
Incidents Of the Flight.
In its story Of this dramatic moment
in AIaskas history, the Sentinel notes
the following interesting item. In the
flight from Hazelton TO Wrangell the
aviators flew over much virgin coun-
try, which, on account of its inacces-
sibility, had never been beheld by hui
man eye. Much of the time after
leaving Saskatoon, the fiiers had to
rely for bearings upon their compasses,
thus proving their ability as aerial
navigators. The greater part of the
flying since leaving New York was
done at an altitude of 5000 feet, but
between Hazelton and Wrangell, an
altitude of 5000 to 10000 feet was
reached.
The aviators are all young men, the
oldest being q and the youngest %.
Four of the eight are southerners and
all but one have mothers living; two
are foreign born, Lieut.. Eric III. Mel
son being a native of Sweden and
Sergt. Edmond Henriques a native of
Australia.
The take-off from Wrangell for the
flight up-country was spectacular.
Swerving from their course, on invita-
ton from Mayor Robertson of Juneau,
the fliers circled over the capital city,
Lieut.. Kirkpatrick dipping low enough
to- drop a package sent by the New
York Times to Gov Riggs.
With stops at Whitehorse, Dawson,
Fairbanks, Ruby, the great flight
reached its destination, Nome, at 5 80
p. m. August 15 having made fifty-five
hours actual flying time from New
York, 1890 miles away.