Evening star., 1926-04-01
WILKINS HOPS Off
., FOR ARCTIC BASE
First Trip of Polar Expedi-
ton With Gasoline Supply
AuspiciousIy Begun.
RY FREDERIC LEWIS EARP.

spectAl Correspondence ~ the Evening stN
ard North American Newspaper Alhance
with Detroit Arctic Expedition.
FAIRBANKS. Alaska. April l.
Can't. George Hubert Wilkins ana Pllo'
Ben TieIson hopped off at I:So O'Clock
Yesterday morning for Point Barrow
in the Detroit Arctic expedition SIN
cle-motored monoplane.
Under normal hyIng conditions they
should reach the northernmost settle
ment of the United States in sl>
hours. The length OF their stay al the
spot on the bleak Arctic coast Whlcr
ie to be the base for the expedition
polar flights is problematical. They
should return here some time t"da\
or tomorrow, il all goes well.
The ship. in addition 10 its "Wr
gasoline supply Of 900 gallons, is
transporting 200 gallons to Barrow. u
also is carrying rifles. emergency rs-
tions, a motion picture camera and
small radio sending set.
Several Trips Planned.
The flyers estimate they will re
ouire not more than $50 gallons Of
gasoline each way. and so should be
able to leave AT least $50 gallons Of
fuel at the base. Capt. wilkins plans
10 make several trips back and forth
between Fairbanks and Barrow 20
carry fuel and other supplies for the
flight over the Arctic seas in search
Of new lands. In case OF forced
landing on the present trip. F,ielscn
probably will remain with the ship
while wilkins viii attempt TO mush
on TO Barrow or return 10 the near
est settlement.
mander said. II am taking Eislson
with me because he knows the coun-
try for the first zoo miles and is famil.
Tar with nyinG conditions in the
North. II anything should go wrong
with my ma viga tion he can aid in set.
ting us on the right course. ! am
leaving Maj. Lanphiar in charge Of
the party here and he will superin-
tend the repairs on the DAtroiter our
big triple-motored plane.
I'm ease 7 am forced to Stav AT
Point Barrow week or 10 DAYS, it
Is better TO have the second in com
mand at the Fairbanks base We
anticipate no trouble in making the
flight. as recent trials showed the
machine is working perfectly"
Capt. Wilkins drew from his pock et
small wooden penguin. sent him by
NU dnIntlSI III lzOnQon.
The frst of these Antarctic birds
10 hv into the Far North" he said.
laughing. Then he shook hands with
Mai. Thomas G. Lanphier. the Ameri.
can Army aviator, who is 4 member
Of the expedition. and the rest OF
the members clustered about the
plane. F,ielson. At the controls.
called out; Contact" and the great
l7.cylinder Liberty engine roared.
Craft Weighs Four Tons.
The Alaskan warmed up for min.
ute and then aXied down the oG0-foot
landing field. Then four tons OF Ay-
ing craft and carzobeGan to lift
and head into The still sky The big
monoplane circled the field once al
an altitude Of 600 feet banked and
circled second time. gradually ris-
ing. and then took of over the snow.
covered hills in a northwesterIv di-
rection.
A cheer went up from the watchers
Il and they stood with cSps
IN hand and Cszed after the tiny
speck in the sky until It disappeared
from view.
Making better than 90 miles an
hour" said Mai. Lanphier. III she
keeps up that pace. wel see, them
back here in a couple of days"
With &. NJ Wiselev and Andrew
Hufford. the two mocha MICS: Howard
Mason. the radio operator. and myself.
the ior turned back 10 the three
enGined job that still needs over
hauling before it can follow on TO
Point Barrow.
tConyrSht 1916 in Emitted States and
Great Britain nv North An;nrican Newspaoe
Alliance. Copyrrht IN All other countries
All rlghts reserved. D