Evening star., 1927-04-22
WILKINS AND EIELSON BATTLE
ARCTIC AFOOT AS PLANE FAILS
Explorer Dispatch Tells Hardships Pair
Suffered in Long Trek Over Ice in
Blizzard to Land.

get our absolute position. but figured
that we were drifting eastward. The
next sight gave our longitude I de.
gree J5 minutes west latitude - de
gTeca 30 minutes north. While GXIu~
the engine E5elso had frozen four
finger tips badly. BY Sunday they
Were black and blstered. and ne was
scarcely able to use his right hand.
I'VE started oUt, each dragging an
imprOvised sled, travelling over old ice
and pressure ridges. At night NS
built snow houses and slept comfort
ably and warm After three DAYS,
with reduced load. we both hauled one
Sled We crossed many leads cf young
ice Afte- three more days, with rc
duc-5 load. we abandoned the sled and
packed our food and clothing. Nor
weEiau chocolate and biscuits We're
satisfying food. We did not stint
ourselves
I'VE saw many fresh bear and foy
tracks and many seal breathing holes
in the young ice. ON sunday last,
one week after We started TO travel
We came to badly broken and pressing
ice. Crossing the moving pack, I fell
and got wet 20 the waist. After
changing socks, We built snow
house and partly dried out For three
days we battled over the rough.
broken pack. crawling on hands and
knees much Of the week,
Supply Only Hour Short
1--WE crossed many leads in tho
young ice and passed around much
open water. We saw several seal. but.
as we had sufficient food in our packs,
did not care 10 delay to get more.
Two more sights gave us our position,
and we headed for Beechy Point,
where we arrived sunburned and
tired
our gasoline supply lasted Just Is
hours. one more sufficiug TO have
/ brought us to coast. or If we had not
+ had engine trouble we should have
/ been back before the worst OF the
storm. The great drift to the east
after we landed was as surprising az
/ it was fortunate.
/ The radio apparatus was out o'
adjustment. I doubted if any mes
/ sage was being sent. Therefore. did
/ not send many full messages, but
sent short messages many times each
/ day and night until we left the plane.
/ rs Eielson could not turn the genera
tor he sent messages over the kay
i the night we landed / sent several
+ messages. stating position at 60 miles
+ northeast instead of northwest.
EieisOn Commended.
"The drift during that night and
the next day gave us northeast posi-
ton relative To Point Barrow. Eielson
has done wonderfully we'll during The
whole trip both in the air and on the
ice ! am sending this by Eskimo
with dog team. and would be glad If
you would ask Graham 10 come over
for us when the weather is suitable.
II have just discovered a typewriter
here, but hope YOU can read this"
Calculating from the positions Cart
Wilkins gives, shows the approximate
following routes and distances flown
by the plan: 553 miles northwest from
Barrow March 80,
lie returned by plane 4I0 miles over
the same course, and was forced down
the third time SO miles northwest Oi
Barrow 910 pm March 90 He
dUiftCd l67 miles east between March
% and April .. and left the plane on
Sunday, April >.
lie walked south the 20 miles q
Beechy Point in IL days.
Copyright 1927 in United states. Great
Britain and all countries by North Amer
can New soaper Alliance. Reproduction
DrOhbited.f