Evening star., 1926-05-17
PICKING Up NORGE
TEDIOUS RADIO lob
Mere Whisper Signals Finally
Give World News of
Ships Success.
BY ALBERT Z. PAYNE,

|
NOME, Alaska May II (by wire
| less).-Seyeral days previous to the
departure of the Amundsen-E Ellsworth
| Mobile transpolar expedition radio sta
! tons in Alaska were instructed to
make every effort TO establish contact
| with the Norge. This radio station
was notified when the Norge passed
Point Barrow. headed south, and
| further instructed to maintain a "a
hour schedule, listening in practically
| constantly after the Norge left Point
Barrow.
! The Norge's wave lengths varied
! from $50 to 400 meters. These waves
were concentrated upon by having
experienced operators tuning in every
minute when the station was not
! ira nsmitting.
The great volume of business at
| the Nome radio station during this
period necessitated that considerable
time be devoted to moving regular
| business, thereby leaving vacant spots
! in the Gstening-in schedules.
Hears Mere Whisper Signals.
I picked up the Norge after she
! landed at 9:57 pm, Nome time. May
| II. Later communication was estab-
| lished with the Norge at 1908 pm,
and since then it has been maintained.
! From 1890 pm. until $3.50 am.
| had TO utilize every facility to de-
| cipher from mere whisper signals
what eventually became press dis
! patches. giving to the world the first
| news Of the success of this venture.
The first message transmitted to the
| Norge was one of congratulation from
4 sT1 % h
Seattle to Capt. Amundsen.
was tired, but having only par
! TALLY received the first press dis
patches of coo words. with additions
to the last portion yet TO come. in
order to get the news to The Star and
associated newspapers | followed up
with the remaining 400 words and for
warded the whole dispatch of the first
news item.
Receiving the message from the
! Norge was a tedious task, but my
sympathy goes out to Mr.. Gotwaldt.
| the operator on the Norge, who kept
sending for such a long period, striv-
ing to clear out the hooks of such i'm
portant business.
Finally Forced to Quit.
Mr.. GotWaldt was finally overcome
by lack Of sleep. saying that he had
not slept for four days and his eyes
absolutely would not remain open any
longer. After sending several mes
saces from members of the crew to
their folks at home. we agreed to call
it a day, letting Mr.. Gotwaldt find his
much-needed rest after fixing a sched-
ule for the following morning.
The next day the reception contin-
ued to be difficult. but after patient
copying my pencil cleared, moro bust
ness being transmitted to home folks.
Since her arrival at Teller the Norge
has been using the radio equipment of
the Lomen Reindeer Corporation, the
airship's own apparatus beng dls'
mantled preparatory to shipment on
the first available boat.
There was great excitement in
Nome on the night of May IA. The
telegraph office was filled with CORE
spondents expecting news from the
Norge All this time the fact that the
radio station was in communication
with the Norge was unknown to the
public of Nome, who felt that some
thing was in the air, but haZarded
only wild guesses.
Disappointment in Nome.
7 have received may compliments
for my method of handling such
Situat ton. The community was eager
for the news, having had the Norge
almost in it's own back yard, but the
first news the public Of Nome re-
reiyed concerning the whereabouts OF
the Norge was in the form of pub
lished reports from the United States
on the night Of May II, the date the
Norge landed at Teller.
A light snow was falling in Nome
and anxiety was felt for the crew Of
leo,
extremely poor and static was prev
alent. Until the Norge effected con-
tact and the safety Of the crew was
established fear was felt by many
who were acquainted with the country
and knew what accidents could hap
pen in Alaska.
But for the constant vigilance of
all the radio stations probably several
davs would have elapsed before the
news got through, or at least until
the arrival of Capt. Amundsen in
Nome-by launh from Teller at
am. yesterday. Teller is 70 miles
from Nome and is no doubt having
weather conditions similar to those
in Nome.
Norge Out of Range.
1t is not difficult to understand
that perseverance was necessary for
Mr. GOtWaidt to continue caltlng
while he remained unheard. 1t is
now known that the Norge's flight was
westward along the coast line from
Point Barrow for GOO miles.
With Kotzebue 400 miles to the
south and Nome 600 miles from Point
Barrow, it is reasonable to presume
that the Norge was practically at all
times out of range Of the Nome and
Kotzebue stations, which expected to
pick up many local receiving stations,
covering 400 to 600 meters and tuned
in for the Norge during the night of
May IA and previously, but no report
was received from any local station.
(Copyright. 1926. by the New York Times
and St Louis GlOhe- Democrat