Evening star., 1926-05-09
BYRD HOPS OFF in ATTEMPT - =.
TO FLY DIRECT TO THE POLE

second plane. small Curtis Orioie.
which could be used for rescue woeN
only II an accident overlook the Joss
ephine Ford within 200 or 300 milessos
Spitzbergen. The cruising radius OF
the Ofiole would be too limited to
make It useful for a rescue expeditfo1
II the flyers came down anywhere bel
tween Parry Land and the Pole.
In attempting ITO reach the Poje
fly around il and then fly back 1p
SpitZbergen. COmdr. Byrd exhibits his
supreme confidence in his plane, j
his instruments, in his own navigating
ability and in the skill of his pilot
Floyd Bennett, whom the commander
has said that he would rather take
with him on Arctic flights than ar
other man in the world.
Attempt Most Ambitious.
His effort to locate the Pole. to n
around II from the air, then to Peary
Land and back TO Spitzbergen is a far
more ambitious attempt han wa
Capt. Amundsen's Of last year to f.
riaar the Pole, to descend in open WI
ter and then march to the Pole. Capt.
Amundsen lost his way in fogs. his N
struments did not behave. and h.
made landing $50 miles away from
the Pole. without knowing where h"
was until he took LxbOriOus land OIL
Servations.
Comdr. Byrds battery Of scientifc
apparatus, which makes q hyIn@
scientific laboratory OF his craft, Is eN
pected to keep him on hts course. H.
has compasseS Of three different tyues
an artificial seXtant Of his own inven
ton which enables him to find his lati
tude even in fog. and a system work
ed out by the photographic office Of
the Navy which will enable him to 10
cate the pole within n few miles b,
observations OF the sun.
Failed IN First Attempt.
Earlier in the day Comdr. Byrd
| made an attempt 20 take off
but the effort was failure
The Josephine Ford failed To rise and
| il was decided that further changes
in loading would he necessary.
Bennett. old fellow, IL looks like
the day." Byrd told his pilot this
| morning.
Bennett rolled from his blankets
| after the first sound eight hours
sleep in many days.
Yes. commander, IL sure does
| he replied.
The commander was standing be
side the bunk of the air pilot on the
1 I
| SpitZbergen. The sun played in 4
brilliant sky and a mild warm
southeasterly breeze rippled the wa
! ters of Kings Bay, now free from
/ ice
! Quickly the news spread Throughout;
| the ship They're going 10 start" and.
weary with nine days Of driving prep
! arations. braced themselves for the
| final effort. Most of the Chantier $
| crew had worked almost all night
| tampinS down q half-nile runway in
| front of the Follker. poised for f1igh'
! on the iced planking at the top of 81
| slope, but the long-awaited news that
| all was in readiness to start acted Ike
an electrical stimulus.
| Lieut.. Neville, assisted by the ice
| pilot, had spent the entire night in
| strengthening the skis by adding
extra strips, made from the ski whose
mate was smashed in the second trial
| fight attempted. This added factor
| for safety was decided for last night
by Comdr. Byrd. who was determined
| to omit nothing which would insure
a perfect take-off.
| Bennett washed and shaved, and
after a quick breakfast. went TO the
| Fokker, where he began warming UP
the motors.
| The commander himself had been
! up since early morning. checking over
every detail of the equipment. He
had donned fur clothing. but was
obliged to discard IT on account Of the
| heat.
At the last moment he struck of
| many items which he and Bennett de-
| cided were not indispensable. thus
tightening the planes load by 100
pounds or more.
While the Byrd camp ashore and
afloat was O scene of tremendous ami
nation, the Amundsen dirigible
Norge rested silently behind the
drawn green curtains Of her hangar.
her crew taking a rest after the
sleepless twoday Quincy from Lenin-
grad.
BY some means, however, news of
Comdr. Byrd's intentions passed
around the community, and curious
groups gathered to watch the prep
| arationS.
Change in Plans Made.
The commanders last-minute de
cision to make the fight In an in
verse direction, flying first TO the
Pole and then returning by way of
Peary Land, without stopping, II
possible, was announced this morning
and redoubled the interest of the
spectators, because ii was thought
hitherto that the American aviator :
first flight would be merely a>'pre-
liminary to Peary Land and return.
). Last night the new sledge built br
some Of Capt. Amundsen's experts
was delivered to Comdr. Byrd. replac-
ing sledges brought from America
which were found TO be unsuitable.
The new one is built on broad skis.
lashed throughout with rawhide.
making it flexible and strong.
| (Copyright 1925 by the New York Times
and ST. Louis Post-Dispatch.)