Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1921-01-06
NAVY BALLOON|STs
|MUSH|NC BACK TO
RAILROAD station
EXPECTED TO END LONG AND
WEARY JOURNEY NEXT
SUNDAY
MATTICE FOLKS
WATCHING TRAIL
Even Now Three Intrepid Americans
Are Not Out of Danger Of An
Arctic Blizzard
By James r. Kelly.

United Press Staff Correspondent.
Copyright 1921 by the United Press.
Matticce Ont. Jan. 6-From where
| SIT, the frozen ice sheathed Mis-
sinabi river stretches away to the
north-the white highway down
which the three American navy bal
loonists are expected to come with
their dog teams on their return to
civilization, following theirnarrow
escape from death by starvation and
freezing.
Somewhere out beyond the horizon
the intrepid Americans-Lieut's Hin
ton, Farrell and Kloor-were mush-
ing along today on their southwark
journey. Alert Indians here in
Mattice kept their eyes fixed on the
white highway for a first glimpse of
the aeronauts. The American are
expected to arrive Sunday but may
be delayed because a thaw has made
the going harder.
No Reception Party.
As the hours pass the tension here
increases. The idea of sending out
an expedition to meet the navy men
was abandoned when the natives
pointed out that the dogs of such an
expedition would be unable to make
the round trip to the meeting place
and back and keep up with the dogs
being used by Farrell Hinton, and
Kloor. Their dogs are said to be
some of the fastest in the north.
The Americans are travelling with
three or four dog sleds and four In
dian guides. According to George
Mcleod, the Cree Indian who made
the trip here from Moose Factory
with word of the airmen's safe arri-
val, they started with nearly 400
pounds of food. In addition, the
dogs eat pound and half daily Of
oatmeal, boile in tallow or grease
The sledges are of birch, shaped
like toboggans, ten feet long and i6
inches across bent up at the front.
The tale of the "star of the east
heard at his mothers knee is res
ponsible for the safety of Lieuten-
ant Farrell and his two companions
according to the story told me by
Mcleod, backed up by his Cree COM
panions, Sinclair Martin and Har-
land Vincent.
Guided By Eastern Star.
"The balloon came down on the
western side of Moose river miles
directly west of the river and nine
miles north of Moose Factory" said
Mcleod who speaks perfect English
"With the compass as the only ar
t:ccle salvaged from the basket
they mapped out a southerly course
But after following the route for
some time and reaching no trails or
river bottomss only snow covered
country with ma landmarks of any
kind, they halted and held lengthy
conferences.
each man had a different opinion
as to which way they should go to
reach help. Each man backed ur
his contention with all kinds of ar
guments. There appeared to be nc
prospect of agreeing and for while
it looked as if they might separate
"Then Farrell drove home his ar
gument by saying: "We should pro-
ceed toward the east, following the
eastern stars, like sailors in the OLD
days when they were lost at sea-"
''This made a great impression
on the other two men. They dropp'
ed every weighty ARTICLE they coulc
do without for one last effort, headed
east and came upon the frozen Moose
River. After proceeding down this
stream four miles about two hours
travelling at their top speed, they
came upon Tom Mark, trapper who
was going over his line to pick up
Continued on Page 6.)