Evening star., 1926-05-12
NORGE MAKES PERFECT START.
WITH BYRD'S PLANE ESCORTINC

to the Pole, Comdr. Byrd presented to
Capt. Amundsen and Mr.. Ellsworth
q sun compass, a bubble sextant, a
drift indicator, polar trousers, charts
showing the variations discovered at
the Pole, and other souvenirs.
Capt. Amundsen presented to
Comdr. Byrd a matchbox he had
carried to the South Pole, with an in
scription, and Ellsworth gave to the
American officer the knife he had
carried in the World War. with the
inscription, Ito the great adventure"
Capt. Amundsen gave to Floyd Ben
nett q hunting knife with walrus
handle.
1t was an occasion for mutual gen.
erosity, friendliness and congratula-
tion by men engaged in the most
daring feats attempted since Andre
cut away his Arctic balloon.
All then went to the house occupied
by Capt. Amundsen and Ellsworth,
where they exchanged further compli-
ments. Capt. Amundsen played
American tunes on the phonograph
and the Americans wished godspeed
to the Norge's leaders.
After these Fluctuations Capt.
Amundsen. Ellsworth and Col Mobile
began their final packing. and in a
few hours all went to the hangar,
where they climbed aboard the Norge.
All those who could crowd into the
hangar gathered about, shaking
hands and wishing a successful voy-
age.
Many hands then manned the ropes
attached to the dirigible and with
shouts walked from the hangar in
the light of the midnight sun. Mount
La an hn
and the other peaks were bathed In
the soft, yellow light, making a beau
tiful picture.
Everything was rich with color
except the sky, which was pale blue
from the reflection of the white snow
beneath.
When the Norge was clear her
motor started and purred with the
soft sound OF idling, low-Speed ma
chimes working smoothly. Her nose
was pointed to the north. When the
ropes were let go she rose slowly TO
a height of several hundred feet.
Those below gave cheers and as
hands waved in farewell from the
ship the motors were speeded up and
the Norge drove out through the
ford.
Byrd Escorts Amundsen.
As she started, the big blue Fokker,
carrying Comdr. Byrd, Floyd Bennett,
Lieut.. Parker, movie photogra piers
and the Times correspondent, roared
into action. Sliding down the slope
where a few hours before she had
started on her great adventure, the
Josephine Ford leaped quickly into
the air with her light load. She cir
cled the great dirigible and for nearly
an hour accompanied her over the
mountains toward the open sea.
"Our only problem is the wind
said Col. Mobile. pilot of the Norge,
just before the start. 1--WE expect
none this side of the Pole, but we
NAV meet it on the other side, where
the conditions are little known. But
we have high hopes that everything
will go we'll, and ! am confident that
we will reach Alaska easily.
May Not Stope at Pole.
II do not know whether we will
stop at the Pole or not. 1t depends
largely on the weather. and we may
not wish to lose valuable time. the
great problem is not to reach the
Pole, but to explore beyond it.
So they went-Capt. Amundsen.
who smiles at the North; Ellsworth,
shy. diffident and brave; Col. Mobile,
with the hawklike face of the flyer;
Lieut.. Riser Larsen, the giant viking,
wistful, with calm, cool eyes, ana
the others who have dreamed, planned
and worked for this adventure Tor
so many long months.
None knew what was before him or
what stories of lost places he might
bring back.
Comdr. Byrd was much interested
because the Norge followed course
that would take her to Cape Morris
Jessup. Others also noticed that the
dirigible did not turn north so quickly
as Byrd's plane did.
Several explanations were offered,
one being that it is easier to navigate
the dirigible over water, avoiding
bumps, and another that Byrd, having
flown to the Pole and discovered no
land, Amundsen, with quick shift OF
plans for which he is famous. decided
to go via Cape Morris Jessup on the
chance that land may be found north
of there, where many believe 1t exists.
Whatever the cause Of the long first
leg of the flight on a course 60 de-
grees west of north, the fact that it
was a direct course toward Fort
Jessup made many speculate as to its
meaning.
Kings Bay seems a deserted village.
The big hangar Is again empty and
the people are worn out by a long
night vigil and their celebrating.
A sudden silence has descended on
the place and if the sun was not over
Luncheon Mountain, as the Chant1er
has nicknamed it, one would think
that it was midnight.
Copyright, 1925. by the New York Times
and St. Louis. Globe Democrat