The Dolores star., 1923-12-07

] !. 3 !. ..:. . !. ! +. !. !. !.
-- -ZR-l-will point her head toward
H | Poaris and Aurora Borealis in the
"a spring and majestcally sail away
! into the Arctic. So says Rear Admit
N raj William a. Molrett, chief of the
En bureau Of aerunuutics OF the United
States Navy department When and
where she will start and where she
Will sO-these details have not been
announced this writing.
Shenandoah, nevertheless will carry with her
the good wishes Of the millions of Americans who
VIII never forget the sight of her in the mir
sailing in majesty their heuds-a sight
strongly suggestive of the supernatural even in
this materialiStic age surfeited with mechanical
and scientific maryes. And news by radio of
her progress will be irst-page news
Shenandoahs journey into the Arctic stimu-
lntes The Imagination nightly. For the Arctic
IL no less a region Of mystery by reason of the
fact that Peary mailed Old Glory TO the Pole"
April 6. 1909. 1t is the same region of fasclna.
non Tor the adventurous that it has been since
the day OF Erck the Red and his Iceanders 900
years ago. The long list of illustrious explorers
who have made Arctic history calls up many
romance, many an achievement many a tragedy
Frohisher Gj76), Davis G5Sj). Baflin OG1G) Ross
dS1S), Parry GS19), Ross GS29). Franklin
dS45), De Haven GS5O), Kane Us53) Hayes
us6O) Greey GSSD. De Long Gs7s). Norden.
skiold QS79), Nansen GS93) are some of these
Adventures into the Arctic.
II was StefanSson who taught the world that
the efficient Arctic explorer cOuu live off the
country. instead of carrying his supplies. II was
Peary who most fully utilized the aid of the Es-
krno. II was Wellmnn who planned voyage
to the Pole in drigbe balloon the America
What does Admiral MOifett hope or expect or
seek I" find? He did not say. He made more
than the bare announcement. Possibly like the
rest Of us, he wants TO press on toward the un-
known. 10 look over the next ridge Rrt II Is
more likely that the commander ana crew of the
ZR-l will have some definite quest before them
Is ii to take possession Of Wrancell island in the
name of the United States? Is It TO discover
unknown lands, rich in mineral treasures? Incl
dentally, Capt. Roald Amundsen. dscoverer of
the South Pole. plans expedition of three air
planes next summer from the Spitzbergen islands
across TO Alaska, and he says that in the one
million square miles of uneypOred exDanse he
tween the North Pole and Alaska there is land
with coal and gold Again. Knut Rasmussen has
started on a sled journey through the Behring
strait of 5000 miles; he expects to find Eskimo
who have never n white man
Millions of Americans have gazed in awe and
fascination upon the ZIt-1 on her first trial frIp
IN September from Lakehurst n. J.. she visited
New York A little later she made a trip to
Washington. crcins Mount Vernon and dip
ping low over the "Unknown Soldiers" tomb mt
Arlington. October she finished round trip to
st. Louis. Navy day she flew to the Shenandoah
valley in virginia and returned passing over Phil
adeiphia, Washington and Richmond
Commander J. c. Hunsacker ana Commander
Ralph d. Weyerhacher of the Naval Construction
corps codesigners of the ZIe-1 Commander
Frank n. McCrary Is commandant of the naval
air station at Lakehurst. Mrs. Edwin Denby
wife of the secretary of the navy chrisened the
ZR-I Shenandoah in October. A noteworthy Incl
dent of the Lakehurst-St. Louis flight was the
dropping by parachute by Commander Weyer
hacker Of n bouquet to his mother as Shenandoah
passed over BoOnville Ind.
Another thing that added interest this cross
country trip of Shenandoah was that the people
knew Admiral Moffett board. His name
is household word in the West for the reason
that he was in command during the World war
of the Great Lakes Naval station. which turned
out many thousands of efficient "Gobs"
Another interesting thing that the people did
not know that one of the is Norman O.
Walker, Texan, who a rigger the ZTt-2
when that giant dirigible dropped in flames into
fhe Humber two years ago. Sixty-two of his
companions pershed and he the only Amcr-
survivor. He climbed up on the shell near
the tal-cup and jumped into the river as the
wreck was about to strike the water.
1t originally planned that the United States
should have, three ships Of the ZR-1 type. ZR-2
was purchased from the British ard on her first
trial flight in England met wit. II tragic end that
SHOCKED til" world ZIt-3 is. ut this writing prac-