Evening star., 1925-06-05
COMRADES PLAN
AMUNDSEN SEARCH
Ships Farm and Hobby to
Sail Soon on ForIorn'
Mission.
BY JAMES b. WHARTON.
Special Correspondent of The Star and II
North American Alliance

NORM American Alliance.
KINGS BAY, Spitzbergen lradio
from steamer FARM, June 5.-A sad
dened company Of Amundsen's com
rades, members Of his Spitzbergen
base party, met today In final con,
ference before setting out on a cruise
northward along the ice barriers in ac-
cordance with Amundsen's instruc-
tions.
Hope of the safe return of the air
planes died here with the passage of
the fourteenth day since their superb
ana courageous hop-on. although some
OF US still find II hard to believe that
we shall never again see the N,24 and
N-26 In the air.
The two mother ships, Farm and
Hobby, will now undertake what all
aboard consider a fruitIess task. We
shall END our stationary vigil here and
forge desperately northward into the
ice for four weeks Of cruising. The
Hobby, 1t was decided today. will go
eastward, the Farm westward, seek
ing clues TO the fate OF our missing
comrades.
Little Hope Is Held.
We feel that there is small likeli,
hood OF our meeting the explorers, as
Amundsen never harbored any inten-
ton of fighting his way back to Spitz-
bergen If his airplanes foundered.
The only possibility of his being
on this route at the present time is
the long chance that the unexpected
occurred and the flyers were marooned
close 10 Spitzbergen. In such case
the Hobby is more likely to discover
them. as the ice is smoother across
the northeast coast of Spitzbergen,
where 1t is protected from the bois-
ferrous winds OF the Atlantic.
This morning was marked by our
first polar mist, which will be repeat
ed at frequent intervals from now on.
oelng a Summer phenomenon in the
Arctic.
Dense streaks of heavy fog hung
across the water and the mountains
above the glacier beds, like an Aut.
umn mist in the valleys of any hill
country. This polar fog is caused.
our meteorologists told us. by the
meeting of the warm Summer air
with the chill of melting ice and
snow.
EllswOrth's Father Dies.
News reached us today of the death,
in Florence. of James w. Ellsworth,
father of Lincoln Ellsworth, Amound-
sens partner in the polar flight. The
elder Ellsworth was the financial
b1SAbohC VI tHC tApCuIliOH anu was
regarded almost as an elder brother
by all the participants in the great
adventure. Perhaps nobody would
have rejoiced more deeply and heart
lily than he in a successful outcome
although he had consistently opposed
his sons ambitions to be an explorer.
Himself man who had won great
wealth. the dream of his life was that
his son should join him in the enjoy
ment of ease and luxury in the mel
lowed and peaceful centers of Old
World art and culture. Twice during
the past three years the father had
vetoed the young mans plans to un-
dertake hazardous exploits OF eXplora-
tion in various parts Of the world. On
the present expedition he finally con.
sen, captivating to the latter's mag
netism and enthusiasm.
From Spitzbergen daily reports have
gone by wire and cable to the lonely
father in Italy, telling of the prelimi-
naries to the fight, of the start when
il was finally made, and then of the
slender news developments during the
long period of vigil which has fol-
lowed. His sudden death is an unex,
pected tragedy which has affected us
all very deeply.
Copyright, 1925, in o. S. Canada South
America and Japan by North American
Newspaper Alliance; in England by Central
France by Petit Parisiepne: in italy by Cor.
riere della Sera: in all Scandinavian coun-
tries by the Norwegian Aero Club. All rights
reserved