Evening star., 1926-05-17

| the success of the expedition depend
| ed. for, although Col. Mobile had more
| actual dirigible experience, he knew
| nothing of the North.
| Riser Larsen, who is SO years old,
| is a graduate of the Norwegian Naval
! School He entered the navy in 1872
and joined the Norwegian air force in
| 1915. Since then his experience has
been extremely varied. He flew in
| the air mail service for a time, was
| on patrol duty during the war, was
| director Of the naval seaplane factory,
| and now is secretary of the Nor
wegian Airways League. He gained
| a reputation as a Skillful seapane
| pilot in 1922 by flying the entire
| length Of the Norwegian coast. about
| ! 500 miles each way, one of the most
dangerous coasts In the world, with
| out any injury to his machine. In
| 1921 he studied dirigibles in England
under Capt. Scott. pilot OF the R-34,
and is the only dirigible pilot in Nor
way lie piloted one of Amundsen's
planes on the last polar flight. Risen
| Larsen is married and has two
children.
Lieut.. Emil Horgan. also an aviator
in the Norwegian navy, is another
typical blond giant. but not so large
as Riiser-Larsen. He was graduated
from the naval school in the same
class as Riser Larsen. and the two
have been comrades ever since, having
nearly the same airplane experience.
He was on patrol duty during the
war, was an instructor In the naval
flying school flew for a time in the
mail service. and was reserve pilot on
the last expedition. Horgan was also
in the mercantile marine for a time.
and was first officer on the Bergens
ford, plying between New York and
oslo. He generally wears a quizzical
smile. as II the world amused him
greatly.
Visiting Oldest Aboard.
The oldest man aboard was a stocky
little man. built like a polar bear. with
4 strength which every one respects.
and who won the admiration of his
comrades by smoking eight Italian
cigars in succession. lie is Capt. Oscar
Visiting. So. who for years was cap
tain OF Amundsen's ship. Visiting is
very popular. and is regarded as some
thing of a wit Col. Mobile insisted on
taking with him his mascot. tiny
dog. which amuses the Norwegians.
Some of them expressed a desire to
heave the dog overheard, but Visiting
protested.
NO, no, lnPIe are IouT meals III
that dog" said he.
Wisting's stamina is proverbial
among the Norwegians. He never
tires. He can go four days without
sleep, work like a dog. go without
food, chew tobacco that would Kill
the average man. and come through
AS fresh as daisy. He went with
Amundsen to the South Pole, and in
1918 went with the Maud on the
Northeast passage to Nome, Alaska.
He started back with her in 1921 and
had been ashore only short time
after three and half years in the ice.
Visiting is married and has four chill.
dren.
Lieut.. Oscar Omdal, 80 years old.
was in charge of the motors of the
ship. He is an officer in the Norwe
gian Navy and was the mechanic of
one of the planes last year. He has
been with Amundsen since 1922. Om-
ial. in contrast to most of the Nor
wegians. is a small, quick, exceeding
ly frank person. and shares with them
their wit and smiling good nature.
Comdr. Birger Lund Gottwaldt of
the Norwegian Navy was the wireless
expert of the expedition. He is 46
years old. He entered the navy in
1898, became a sublieutenant in 1901.
a lieutenant in 1904 and a commander
in 1912. Until the war he was on ac-
tive sea duty, and also detailed to tor
pedo. signal and mine duty, becoming
an expert in signaling. When the
war started he was put in charge of
the wireless section of the navy de-
partment.
Looks Like Professor.
Comdr Gottwaldt is chubby,
roundfaced man, with baby blue eyes,
who looks more like a professor than
sea captain. A description by him
of what the inside of the Norge looks
like when he is ordered to go to the
stern and hold it down is worth listen
ing to. 1t is graphic and forceful
Gennadi N. Olonkin was Gottwaldts
assistant and shares with him the
watches in the radio room. He is 20,
a Russian who has become a Norwe-
gian citizen. He was in a wireless sta
ton on the Siberian coast in 1916
when Amundsen came drifting by in
the Maud, and he asked to be taken
along as mechanic or anything else.
He has been devoted to AmundSen
ever since.
Gustav Amundsen, 80 years old, is a
nephew of the explorer. He had often
asked his uncle to take him on one of
his expeditions, but Amundsen always
refused to have any of his family with
him. This year Gustav appealed to
Riiser-Larsen and the elder Amund-
sen did not wish to refuse any request
his capable assistant made. So this
time young Amundsen was taken on
the most adventurous trip of all, and
to him was given the duty of watch
ing the valves on the top of the ship,
and shoveling off the snow, walking