Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-01-20

~ flight ranks with any aerial event
q attempted anywhere. The bird
flew over at least 1000 miles
81 of virgin territory, without land
w marks landing fields They
landed fifty times strange fields, often almost
impossible landing places.
The British last spring attempted to fly from
Egypt to the cape over the wilds of Africa. One
pilot reached the destination, but only after he
had replaced his machine and motors, and after
much delay and inconvenience.
In the transcOntinental reliability test last au-
tumn. Lieut. BeIvin Maynard, the winner, broke
his motor near Omaha, and had to change it en-
urely before proceeding. Only one Liberty motor
succeeded in making the journey both ways.
Compared to the nonstop flight made by the
Englishman John Alcock, which gained for him
recognition from the British government in the
form of knighthood most fiiers will agree that the
Alaskan flight is a greater feat. The Alaskan
Hight was a steady grind of three months
duration.
The personnel of the expedition was as follows:
Plane No. 1, Capt. ST. Clair Street, in command
of expedition Sergt. Edmund Henrques, mechani-
clan; No. 2, piloted in turn by First Lieut.. Cliff
ford {. Mutt and Second Lieut. Erie c. Nelson,
engineering officer; No. 3, Lieut.. c. H. Cumrine,
Photographic officer Sergt. A. l. Vierra No 4,
Lieut.. 4. G. Kirkpatrick, information officer JO-
seph E. English. Capt. Howard T. Douglas, went
ahead of the flyers, making preliminary arrange
ments and blazing the trail
Here are some closeup" pen pictures secured
from Lieutenant Mutt:
"We cut across the International line when we
landed at Portal, From Portal to Saskatoon was
the only leg of the Journey. in which we had
the wind with us. We made the 80 miles in
three hours, and at Saskatoon goteour first taste
of that Canadian hospitality which added so ire
mendousy to the enioyment Of the long journey.
Almost one,third of the POPULATION though Ameri-
can born, are now Canadians in. spirit
"AbOut 100 miles from SASKATOON we left the
prairie country, and got into "a region of forests
and lakes, with rofling hills, some of them $500
feet high. At Edmonton Captain Streets
chine had leak in the gas tank, and
held up there for three days getting that patched
up. The people at Edmonton intensely in
terested in aviation as means. of developing the
country They talked of getting planes to survey
the Peace river country to the north of them,
big stretch Of arabic land wholly undeve-
oped, pack mules being the only means of trans
portation The transportation to mines Of the
region also offered another opportunity for avi-
alton to exemplify its usefulness
"Our first attempt to leave Edmonton was I'M
successful because of low-hanging clouds. Taking
off at 1000 feet, had to drop to 300, and when
about 100 miles out, Street motioned to re-
turn. The next day. In spite of a stiff wind, we
made the jump to Jasper park. This is a Cana
dian national park, 400 miles long by 100 wide
Astounding with game and fish, Here we found
one of the best landing fields on the whole route
Colonel Rogers; warden of the park met us and
extended courtesies and hospitality. Tents
provided for our accommodation with Chinese
cook In the mess tent Gas and oil were on the
field and after cleaning up "busses" and get
ting everything in shape for the next day, we felt
decidedly as If needed BATH We set out,
expecting to take dip in the Athabasca river,
but warned that we should find the water
too cold 80 with guide set out for little
lolyo OH half pliln Npb nj
was Il good bathing place When ready
for the dip somebody stuck his foot in the water
to try the temperature. Well, all l can say is,
If the Athabasca river is colder than that little
lake was, then it's record-breaker for temper
AZURE But 1t was choice of two evils We were
ready for n bath; we either had to get In the
water and take it, cold 1t was, or he literally
eaten up by mosquitoes. We chose the water. 1t
is impossible to conceive the multiplicity and
ferocity of the mosquitoes in this region and, in
deed to the very northernmost limit of our flight.
They almost block traffic. they are so numerous,
and they certainly block progress, preventing work
at some seasons of the year.
"Soon after the hop-on at Jasper Captain
Streets machine caught on fire, caused by the oil
tanks being too full and overlooking down the
exhaust pipe. Henriques, who driving, put
the plane into side slip and going to land
in the river, but as they descended, the change
Of balance stopped the flow of oil and the fire ex
tinguished itself We got into Prince George just
ahead of "a ruinstorm, and without Street We
lighted flares to aid him IN finding the landing
field Outline of the field was, however of course
ndefnite when Street alighted he came In
With great speed and overshot, rolling out Of the
field into n cutover stretch where he struck
stump that took Off about four feet of the end Of
,ls left wing, breaking both main spars and tear
ng all the ribs out also the left half of his hori-
ontal stabzer and the aeron. To get wing
ent to MS in the quickest possible space OF time.
would take eight days from Mather field, Sacra-
nento Cal, the nearest point available. SO
ot busy the Job ourselves, with the help OF
big Swede carpenter who was wonder and