Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-22
ALASKAN FLYERS
TELL Of HARDSH|PS
Heavy Winds, Low Clouds
and Poor Landing Places
Cause Trouble.

Heavy winds, low clouds and poor
landing places formed the most seri-
GUS handicaps that the Alaskan flyers
encountered on their 9.000-mile trip.
according to an Interview today with
the aviators, in which Lieut.. Clifford
G. Mutt. pilot of plane No. 2, acted as
their spokesman.
Each plane was type used by the
American Army in France and was
modelled at the Gallaudet factory, at
Greenwich. r. l., and the only differ
ence existing between them and the
regular service plane Of the Army was
tank. Each plane was fitted with a
gasoline tank with the capacity of
ITO gallons, and an auxiliary tank Of
eight gallons. The planes in or
binary weather averaged ninety miles
an hour. consuming. on the average.
Starting Day had.
THE day we left Mineola. our start
ing point. which was July Is. was one
Of the worst days we experienced in
weather conditions,"s stated Lieut..
Mutt. 1T wasn't possible to see the
ground at all from an altitude of 1000
feet. Capt. st. Clair Street tried to
escape the dense fog. and rose to an
lost and was forced down near Scran-
ton. Pa. While landing there. he
broke an axle. but obtaining repairs,
was able to join the rest of US the
next day in Erie, Pa
Upon leaving Erie we had great
difficulty. because the field was like
a marsh. after a heavy rain. How
started out over Lake Erie for Grand
Rapids, Mich. We ran into q. strong
wind over the lake, and for more than
an hour and fifteen minutes We're
completely outside of land. The dis
lance across the lake was about
eighty-five miles.
"From Grand Rapids we few to
winona. MINI. and from there to
Minneapolis We then flew to Fargo.
N. D., getting out Of the forest and
lake country, and came into the fiat
grain regions. After leaving Fargo
the Canadian border. On our next
leg, from North Portal to Saskatoon.
Canada, lap Of $40 miles. which we
made in about three hours. was the
only time on our way north that We
had the wind with us.
dian welcome. 1t was a. town of
about 10000, one-third Of which is in
habited by former American citizens.
The mayor greeted US and we were
banqueted profusely and shown about
all over the town.
Low Clouds Stop Flyers.
1.-The next day we took off for Ed
monitor, Alberta The weather was
fine and as we gradually left the
prairie regions we again passed over
forests, lakes and rolling country
sides. At Edmunton Capt. Street
sprang leak in his gasoline tank and
we were delayed there three days.
Finally, starting out for Jasper Park.
a government reservation Of some 400
acres. we were forced to turn hack be
them being only 800 feet above the
ground.
However. we hnar reached Jasper
Park and found good landing field.
We spent the night in some tents
there and went in bathing in a near
by lake, the water Of which surely
was extremely cold. We were pes
tered by mosquitoes there and were
forced to build smudge fires to keep
Them away. Tho next day we set out
for Prince George and passed over
many high mountains. We saw Mount
Robinson. the highest mountain in
Canada, which we were told was 13. 900
feet in altitude.
Streets plane caught dre. hut luckily
1t burned itself right out and did no
damage. It was caused by the gas
tank being overhlled. causing the over
flow to lead into the exhaust pipe. I
didn't know about the incident until we
had arrived at Prince George and had
been there for about an hour. Then
noticing Capt Streets absence wired
back to Jasper Park and found he was