New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
BY Robert Grassland

BY Robert Grassland
When Lieutenants Kloor, Hinton and
Farrell chopped off" at Rockaway De-
cember IA. they did not know that they
were providing the properties for one
Of the most thrilling narratives in
years. The possibility of landing in
the Big North woods north of "49"
was remote from their minds, nor did
the three balloonists realize. that they
were furnishing nearly fifty American
newspapermen with the material for
one of the most exciting trips of their
lives.
The experiences Of the three bal
loonists have been told in various ac-
counts for the last two weeks. The
public has more than likely shuddered
as it read dramatic accounts of the
bitter cold of the North. But with
all its awe, with all Its bitter cold
ness and with all its big woods and
treacherous river trails, the North is
not devoid of humor. The original
humor Of the North was increased
more than hundredfold when a spe
cial train pulled its way into Coch-
prane one night last week with about
fifty Of the tenderest "tenderfeet"
ever loosed upon an unsuspecting COM
munity.
Natives First Cross Examined
The '"tenderfoot" role was assumed
by the American newspapermen who
went northward in an attempt to OBJ
tain the first account Of the balloon
lists experiences when they finally
landed, at either Mattice or Cochrane.
Their train was sidetracked at Coch-
rane, ITO miles east Of Mattice, and no
sooner had it stopped than the whole
outfit, CARRIED in some of the most pic
turesque raiment ever seen by the ma
tives of Cochrane, piled off and started
"cross-examining" every one from the
section foreman to the president of the
Cochrane Board of Trade.
The Cochrane Board of Trade, incl
dentally, is very enterprising organi-
cation and it is hoped that member
ship Of eighteen will have been enrolled
when the present membership drive is
completed. Cochrane is typical
northern city, with a population of
possibly $50, including the station
agent, the keeper of the skating rink
and man named Gardner, who op-
crates livery stable three doors south
Of the King Edward Hotel. The livery
stable and hotel, however, are distinct.
as may be attested by huge signs dis
played across the main street. The
rest of Cochrane rambles over mile
and a half of landscape and terminates
at the edge of the big woods on all
sides.
Puzzled by Correspondents Garb
The entire population of Cochrane
was enjoying its dal Y pastimc, that of
watching the one train 81 day come in,
and it was with much amusement that
they greeted the American correspond
ents. One New York news cape man
In some fashion had procured pair of
shoe packs" which he proudly dis
played over the top of pair of brill
liant crimson stockings. Another had
all of the clothing worn by the pro-
u,
for weather at least so below zero. A
thermometer attached TO the railway
station registered 20 above. Some of the
natives, who appeared in clothing that
might have passed without comment on
HI T.. su. laidwlnter. were looked
upon with amazement by the CORE
spondents. While the correspondents
puzz 3, he p . sation grinned
After 1t had been ascertained that
the natives knew nothing more abou.
the whereabouts Of the missing bal
loonists than they had learned from
New York papers, the disappointed
vate car which had been allotted to
them by the Canadian National Rail-
way Company and started planning.
For more than two hours plans were
drawn and redrawn, and at the end of
the confer~R 1t was unanimously de-
cided that the weather was Chilly"
that the three balloonists were some
where in the north and that the natives
were chumps for not wearing Bearskin
coats. After the conference the big
gest shopping expedition ever known
IN Cochrane was started.
Storekeepers Put to Test
Cochrane storekeepers, realizing that
drift balloons do not land in the Cana
dian wilds every day. piled an extra
cord of wood ON their fires, washed
their windows and stood ready for the
avalanche. 1t came. Moccasins, snow
shoes, shoe packs, pretty beaded Indian
bags and everything that had tinge
of the north went by the board. Cor
respondents who had been unfortunate
enough to draw upper berths on the
special car wrangled for hours with
the occupant of the lower berth in an
attempt to persuade him that pair of
snowshoes and pair of evil-smelling |
Indian moccasins would repose just as
comfortably on the floor as under the |
pillow Of the upper berth. One news
oapermen appeared on the scene with |
about twenty pounds Of 'smoose meat"
obtained In some unknown way), which
he joycusly informed the crowd would !