New-York tribune., 1921-01-07
Canadian Mounted Police
Expeditions Are Ready
at Clute, a Rest Post;
Await Order to Start
Tribune Reporter
Hits Ahitibi Trail
Uncertainty of Course of
Balloonists Will Cause
Relief Groups to Delay
Y-or, a star Co-respondent


COCHRANE, Ont. Jan. (By Indian
,unner from Clute, last outpost on
tAs Abitibi River traiD Two fully
organized relief expeditions are ready
70 start up the main trails toward
Moose Factory to-day to meet and
ruecor the three American airmen who
are slowly making their way back to
civilization after their thrilling bal
loon flight over the northern wilder
ness to the shores of James Bay.
Each Of the expeditions is in charge
u Canadian mounted policeman and
d equipped with dog teams and d.
rscted by two half-breed guides. One
relief party Is to proceed up the Mis-
sanabi River Valley from Mattice, and
the other is to press forward over the
trail that follows the valley of the
Abitibi River from Clute.
II is still . gamble as to which Of
the two trails Lieutenants A. L. Kloor,
Walter Hinton and Stephen A. Farrell
will travel over, and because of the
uncertainty that prevails Commander
A. B. Perry, of Ottawa, ordered both
relief expeditions to be ready to start.
Tribune Party Hits Trail
The opinion prevails with the old
trappers and guides. however. that the
trail of the Abitbi will be used-frst.
because it IS eighty miles shorter than
that of the Missanabl. and. second, be-
cause the Revi.lon Freres mai packet
vas scheduled to leave Moose Facto "
oa December 27 for Clute. Using the
i,dgment of these men. a New York
Fri rna correspor dent left Cochrane
t5-day to mush over the Abitibi trail
T--night his party is CHARTERED in =
ssaisl. room over the Revi!lon Freres
-rading post in Clute, waiting for day
break to start the fficult trail which.
So far this year, has BEEN unbroken.
Three feet of freshly fallen snow cov-
ers the ground. and the temperature s
20 degrees below zero.
heavy snow storm swept over the
territory north cf Ciute last Sunday
aad Monday. and it IS just possible the
party which is bringing the three aic-
men 20 the railhead may have been
compelled to camp and await better
travelling conditions Should they be
coming over the Abitibi r YER trail
there is every possibility that they 81
ready have reached New Post, which IS
situated shout eighty miles north ot
this place.
1t is the purpose Of The Tribune's ex-
pedition, which starts tom arrow m rn
ing out OF Clute. to proceed along the
trail until the airmen are met. How-
ever, it viii go no further than Nc,v
Post. because it is argued that il the
balloonists are not met before that time
they will surely BE- coming in over tMe
Missanabi River valley.
Clute Only Resting Place
sClute is a settlement of four houses
aad twenty-five inhabitants It's sole
excuse for being lies in the facilities
Of rest 1t affords the runners who ply
between the outposts of civilization
Ard the isolated posts around the
shores Of James Bay.
Little information can be gained Of
the condition Of the trail. Sufficient
has been obtained. however, to show
hat it s more difficult Of negotiation
ais year than in many decades, due
70 the unusual mildness OF the present
"'o'eI. II is te4laoIy reported tnat az
On: point along the trail. about thirty
miles north Ct Clute, a stretch of rap
Ms seven miles long remains urfrc7en
neeessisating a dangerous ano difficult
detour.
Seen from this place the trail is
Aoshing but white stretch of virgin
NOW, nanAed on either side by snow
covered trees. So heavy lies the snow
opon the trees that not ray Of light
nissrs through to the tangled under
brush Of the forest.
Wen Toward New Post by Night
The trail runs for four miles from
e's place before the Abitibi Vallev IL
xsachsd; thence It runs due north to
sae frederick House River six miles
turner The Tribpne's party expects
70 cross thi. river and be well on