Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-13
BALLOCNISTS' TRIP
ENDS IN QUARREL
OVER LETTER HOME
CONTINUED From Page u

start wet again. At night we could
not sleep, regardless of how hot our
fire was, it showed so hard and the
ground was SO wet. Snow was all
we had to drink. We lived on two
carrier pigeons, which luckily did
not send back with messages. This
misery lasted for three days, lost
and no signs of hope or habitation
in sight. Friday, after having fol
lowed a small river from where we
first landed in the balloon, discov-
set off to follow them. If we had
not found these sled tracks we would
not be living today.
I'VE followed the tracks for at
least five miles. They led into a
large lake of ice at least two miles
wide. After walking along for about
an hour on the lake, in the direc-
ton the tracks led, we spied man
about mile ahead of us. After
many wild shouts and signals Of dis
tress 1 managed to stop him and got
to him to tell him to help us find
a town or some house, food and
found he could only speak in his
native Indian tongue. but after
many signs l. made him understand
the conditions of myself and my
companions. Lieutenants Farrell
and Hinton were played out.
HE (the Indian) led me for two
hours through snow and ice, to this
place where to nv Joy I found a
settlement of white fur traders and
Indians, After dispatching rescue
nrfTy fnv f,i~
for about an hour to satisfy the
craving of my famished self We
are now doing we'll and recuperat-
ing at this port, being taken care
Of by the manager of the Hudson
Bay company post. Moose Factory.
river which runs into lower James
Bay, part OF Hudson Bay.
Plans Trip Home
-. Il figure today that by direct air
line, L was about 825 miles from
RockaWay Beach and about 1900
miles by rail. I never conceived
when lost in the woods that we were
that this is the mildest winter they
have had in twenty years, so you see
God was with us and saved us from
death, as last year at this time the
weather was twenty to thirty de-
grees below zero. We are 200 miles
H.,
Mattice, and as soon as suitable
clothes are made for us to stand
the climate we are going to start
by dog sled from here and walk to
that point.
This will probably be about Mon
Day December q, Dads birthday. 1t
Will take at least ten days TO make
the trip and then about four days
to go from Mattice to New York. I
should be in New York again jan
uary 10. my twenty-third birthday.
[ had planned to see you then but
you understand now why that is i'm
possible.
at makes me feel very sad to
think this incident in my life will
have caused you so much worry and
distress during the holidays when,
instead of enjoying yourself Elu
were sad, detected and believed me
dead and if you can realize how near
we were to death and how miracu-
lously we were snatched from death,
you would forgive and forget it all,
so pray for me and with me and give
thanks to God for me for my safe
return home.
Just as soon as it's possible after
[ get back to my station and get
everything cleared up officially 1 will
come home on leave. The station
had probably given us up as lost and
sent all of my belongings home; if
so, please arrange to send them back
to Rockaway as soon as you can and
send me any mail that may have
been forwarded to you. When 1 get
to New York 1 will write you long
letter and give you all of the news
Until then think of me. I am safe.
sound and if good health. With lots
of love to you and all the kids and all
of my friends at home,
HT OTrIcn
This letter was postmarked Mat
tice, Ont, January 3.
Copyright, 1921, By United Press)