Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-01-27


impossible as 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
tumn. Lieut.. Belvin Maynard, the winner, broke
his motor near Omaha, and had to change it en-
tirely 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 fers will agree that the
Alaskan flight is a greater feat. The Alaskan
flight a steady grind Of over three months
duration
The personnel of the expedition was as follows:
Plane No. l. Capt. st. Clair Street, in command
of expedition; Sergt. Edmund Henriques, mechani-
clan No. 2, piloted in turn by First Lieut.. Cliff
ford G. Mutt and Second Lieut.. Eric c. Nelson,
engineering officer; No. 3, Lieut.. G. II. Cumrine,
Photographic officer, Sergt. A. L Vierra; No. A,
Lieut.. R. 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 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
three hours and at Saskatoon got our first taste
of that Canadian hospitality which added so tre-
mendously to the enjoyment 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 rolling hills some Of them $500
feet high. At Edmonton, Captain Streets ma
chine had leak in the gas tank, and we were
held up there for three days. getting that patched
up. The people at Edmonton are 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, a
big stretch of arabic land wholly undevel-
oped, pack mules being the only means of trans
portaton. The transportation to mines of the
region also offered another opportunity for avt-
alton to exemplfy its usefulness
sour first attempt to leave Edmonton was un-
successful because of low-hanging clouds. Taking
off at 1000 feet, we had to drop to 3O0 and when
about 100 miles out Street motioned us 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
abounding with game and fish. Here we found
one of the best landing fields the whole route.
Colonel Rogers warden of the park, met US and
extended courteses and hospitality. Tents
provided for our accommodation with q Chinese
cook in the mess tent. Gas and oil were the
field, and after cleaning up 'busses'' and get
| decidedly if we needed a bath. We set out,
| expecting to take a dip In the Athabasca river,
| but were warned that we should find the water
too cold 50 with guide, we set out for little
| lake about half mile away, which, we were told
| was a good bathing place. When we were ready
| for the dip somebody stuck his foot in the water
| ito try the temperature. Well, all 1 can say is,
If the Athabasca river is colder than that little
lake was then it's record-breaker for temper
ature. But it was choice Of tT7o evils. We were
| ready for a bath; we either had to get In the
water and take it. cold it was, be literally
eaten up by mosquitoes We chose the water It
lis impossible to conceive the multiplicity and
ferocity of the mosquitoes in this region; and in
deed, to the very northernmost limit Of fight.
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-off at Jasper, Captain
Streets machine caught fire, caused by the oil
tanks being too full and overfowing down the
exhaust pipe. Henriques, who was driving put
| the plane into a side slip and was going to land
| in the river, but as they descended the change
l of balance stopped the flow of oil and the fire
! tinguished itself. We got into Prince George just
| ahead of a rainstorm, and without Street We
lighted flares to aid him in finding the landing
field Outline of the field was. however, of course
| indefinite; so when Street alighted he came in
with great speed and overshOt, rolling out of the
field into cut-over stretch where he struck
stump that took off about four feet Of the end of
his left wing, breaking both main spars and tear
ing all the ribs out, also the left half of his hori
zontal stabizer and the aileron. To get a wing
sent to US in the quickest possible space Of time
| would take eight days from Mather field Sacra-
mento Cal, the nearest point available. So we
got busy on the Job ourselves, with the help Of
big Swede carpenter who was a wonder and