Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-05-14
Airship Norge
Lost to Radio
Communication

was able to answer IL is known that
Amundsen passed over the North
Pole at 2 p. m. Tuesday, Eastern
standard time. II was reported that
the dirigible was sighted at Point
Barrow, on the Arctic coast of Alas
ka at l:3O a. m. yesterday. Several
times the United States navy's pow
erful radio station at st. Paul's is
land. Alaska, reported hearing mes
sages from the Norge.
Was the Norge forced to land? Il
II cruising around in the Arctic on
a tour of exploration? Has it beena
blown far off its course and is u
wandering derelict over some terri
tory with which there j. no com.
munication?
Slight Fear Felt
All these were regarded as possi-
bilities. Those knowing Amundsen
best were only slightly fearful Of
the worst today. They recalled
previous adventure Of his into the
Arctic some years ago when he dis
covered the northwest passa se and
dropped from sight for more than
two years.
Then one day bearded. unkempt
musher appeared at the lonely govern
ment telegraph station at Eagle City,
Alaska, and filed long cablegram 10
the Norwegian government. The op-
orator declined to send it as he had
instructions to send no collect mes
sages from parties he did not know.
He messaged his wire chief that
crazy man" had tried to get him TO
send long telegram half way around
the world and they had n good laugh
about il.
The chief signal officer in the
Seattle cable office heard about il
and chuckled over il to a newspaper
man friend he had out TO dinner. The
newspaperman began to speculate
over the incident and offered to pay
the tolls on the telegram if he could
look at il when il came in. Ii was
Amundsen's report 10 the Norwegian
government that he had threaded his
way along the northern coast of Am
erica to discover the northwest pas
sage, the short way to China sought
for by adventures for centuries.
May Have New Surprise
Amundsen's acquaintance suggest
the explorer may he preparing -
spring a new surprise on the world.
that he was not satisfied with simply
flying over the last unexplored part
Of the globe. but wanted 10 look IL
over thoroughly and. with his goal in
sight. turned back to survey il again.
Meanwhile Nome's 900 citizens are
gazing somewhat wearily toward the
north and the triumphal arch which
they labored night and day to con-
struct for his coming. is waiting.
More than seventy two hours have
elapsed since the dirigible left Kings
Bay. 1t was estimated 80 or so hours
would be sufficient for the 2.75O mile
trip to Nome. 1t carried 5000 kilo-
grams Of benzine for fuel. sufficient
for 5000 miles OF normal travel.
Carries Emergency Rations
The ship also carried emergency
rations sufficient TO sustain the crew
of II for over six weeks Collapsi-
bic boats. sledges and other equip
ment Is available should the ship be
forced down.
wall Of static r. thought to be
the chief obstacle in preventing CO M
munication between the Norge and
powerful Alaskan radio stations the
last message received from the ship
was sent from the pole at $3.50 p.
m. Tuesday, eastern standard time.
Numerous garbled messages have
been reported since. but 1t has been
impossible to determine the origin.