The Holly chieftain., 1923-11-22

u
spring and nlajesticay sail away
into the Arctic So says Rear Admi-
raj William A. Mofett chief of the
nv bureau of aeronautlcs of the United
States Navy department. When and
u where she will start and where she
will go-these details have not been
announced at this writing
Shenandoah nevertheless. will carry with her
the good wishes of the millions of Americans who
will never forget the sight Of her In the air,
sailing In majesty over their heads--a sight
strongly suggestive of the supernatural even in
this materiallstc age surfeited with mechanical
and scientific marvels. And news by radio of
her progress Will be frst-page news.
Shenandoahs journey into the Arctic stmu-
lates the imagination nightly For the Arctic
us no less n region of mystery by reason of the
tfact that Peary mailed Old Glory to the Pole"
April Q. 1909. 1t is the same region of fascina.
tion for the adventurous TINT It has been since
1.-THE day Of Erlck the Red and his Icelanders 900
years ago The long list of illustrlous explorers
VINO have made Arctic history calls up many a
romance. many an achievement, many a tragedy.
Hrob'sher d576). Davis Q5S5). Bafin t1616). Ross
tislS). Parry uS19), Ross t1S29). Franklin
tls45). De Haven GS50), Kane (1853). Hayes
dS60). Greedy (1SSD. De Long (1s7S), Nortlen-
skiold 1s79). Nansen QS93) are some of these
adyenturers 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 It was
kimo. Il was Wemnn who planned d voyage
to the Pole In dirigibIe balloon the America
What does Admiral Moffett hope or expect or
seek to find? He did not say. He made no more
than the bare announcement. Possibly. like the
rest of us. he wants to press on toward the un-
known. to look the next ridge But 1t is
more likely that the commander ana crew of the
FRI viii have some definite quest before them.
Is II to take possession of Wfangell isInnd In the
name of the United states7 Is IT to discover
unknown lands. rich In mineral treasures? Incl.
denfally, Capt. ROald Amundsen diScoverer of
the South Pole. plans IN 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 unexplored expanse he
tween the North Pole and Alnska there is land,
with coal and gold. Again, Knut Rasmussen has
started on sled journey through the Behrng
strait of 5000 miles, he expects to find Eskimo
who have never seen n white man.
Millions of Americans have gazed in and
fascination upon the zR-1 On her first trial trip.
In September from Lakehurst N H. she visited
New York. A little later she made trip to
Washington. circlIng over Mount Vernon and dip.
ping low over the Unknown Soldiers" tomb at
Arlington. October she finished round trip to
st. Louis Navy day she flew to the Shenandoah
valley In virginia and returned passing over Phil
adelphia. Washington and Richmond
Commander J. c. Hunsacker ana Commander
Ralph D. Weyerbacher Of the Naval Construction
corps are codesigners of the ZR-1. Commander
Frank N hlcCrary Is commandant of the naval
air station at Lakehurst Mrs. Edwin DENLY,
wife of the secretary of the navy. christened the
Fri Shenandoah In October. noteworthy Incl.
dent Of the LakehurstSt Louis flight was the
dropping by parachute by Commander Weyer-
hacker of bouquet TO his mother as Shenandoah
passed over Boonve. Ind.
Another thing that added interest to this cross
country trip of Shenandoah WAS that the people
knew Admiral Moffett was on board. His name
is a household word in the West for the reason
that he was In command during the World war
nf the Great Lakes Naval station. which turned
out many thousands OF efficient "gobs."
Another interesting thing that the people did
not know was that one of the crew is Norman O.
Walker, Texan. who was rgger the ZR-2
when TINT giant dirglble dropped in flames into
the Humber two years ago. Slxty-two of his
companions perished and he the only Amerl.
can survivor. He climbed up on the shell near
the taicup and jumped into the river as the
wreck was about to strike the water.
1t was originally planned that the United States
should have three ships Of the FRI type. ZR-2
was purchased from the British ard her first
trial flight In England met wit. tragic end thar
shocsea the world. zR-3 is. ut this writing, prac-