Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-12
What Befell Them
Continued from Page One)


else. Now they were lost, armed
with the balloons compass and tba I
uncertain location OF a dogs bark for
a hint of habitation.
They set out. cropping aud stum.
bling through the snow and brush ~
the Canadian woods. on what proved
to be a four day journey in which
death constantly stared them in the
face. With hope nearly spent thpy
spied the figure of Il lone Indian in
the woods ahead of them. Their
cries halted him and he led them II
his tent and then sped away over
forest trails for help.
On Dec. Is the balloonists reacho,
Moose Factory, Il northern Hudso,
Bay trading post, within Striking
distance of the Canadian trans .eon
tinental railway and the route bor,o
The nearest telegraph Office wac On
miles away. 1T took weeks for wor3
OF their rescue TO reach the outside
world.
On January Il brief report Of fhci.
safe arrival at Moose Factory w,,
announced at Rockaway when Hin
tons message-sent by an Indian RIM.
ner - rail head and fla by fol.
egraph to an anxious naval commando.
was received.
An agent of fur trading comnany
who loft Moose Factory the day aftsS
the balloonists arrived there broupbt
news of their desperate plight Al
the SAME time Il letter from anotbs,
fur trading post agent at Moosa
sketched the suffering and hardship
they had endured.
The hunger of the three men win
gnawed caribou moss to keep alive
the careful sheltcring of the last NJ
their carrier pigeons To carry dutifu
word Of their fate home if they had
to die, the suffering from the bitter
cold-all these were hut briefly
touched upon in the scant WORD which
came from Moose Factory by word Of
mouth and letter
Crowley. La. Jan. 11.-Hardshi ps q
The three navy balloonists in the Ga.
madam wilds are recounted in = letter.
N>AN HN' i>OulS lNiO'I i'll Il1up
public today by his father.
Snow was all we had to drink.
the letter said, telling of the trip To-.
Moose Factory after the balloon land
ed. "WefiVed on two carrier pigeons
which, luckily, ! did not send back
with messages. This misery lasted for
three days-loSt and no signs of hone
or habitation in sight. XII
"Fr.aay. after having followed a
small river from where We first landed
in the balloon, ! discovered sled tracks.
in the ice and We set off TO follow
them. If We had not found those
sled tracks We would not be living to.
day.
We followed the tracks for at least
I'VE miles. They led into large lake
OF ice at least two miles wide After
walking along for about an chur on.
.he iake, IN the direction the tracks
leu we spied d man about mile ahead
OF US. After many wild shouts of dis.
tress J managed to stop him and 90
TO nm to tell him to help US find
town or some house. food and clothing
Much 10 my dismay ! found that
he could only speak in his native in
dian tongue. but after many signs
made him understand the condition Of
myself and my companions. I.ieuten-
ants Farrell and Hinton were PLAYED
out. The Indian led us for two hours
through snow and ice to his place
Where to my joy / found settlement
OF white traders and Indians.
After dispatching rescue party
Tor friends. ! ate ferociously for
about an hour to satisfy the craving
OF my famishcd self.
L never conceived when lost in the
woods that we were so far north The
settlers tell us that this is the nildest
winter they have had in 20 years. 50
You SEE God was with us ard saved
us from death. as last year at this
time the weather was 20 to 80 degrees
below zero"
Lieutenant kloor said Tho start
nome ould be made about AIonGay
Dec -, dads birthday" and that he
should be in New York again Jan. 10
my 23d birthday"
IL hiaRes me feel very sad to think
TINS incident in my life vii! have
caused you so much worry ard dis
tfess curing the holidays" he added
instead of enjoying yourself YOU
were sad detected and believed me
dead. and if you could realize how
near we were to death and now mirac-
uiohs!y we were snatched from death
you would forgive all"
PALERMO