New Britain herald., 1928-04-23

wind continuously changed its dilcc-
 ton. The tllerm ometers registered
 43 degrees below zero and the two
 a'rmen could do nothing while
 narooncd on the island. They had
 to spend their time in tho plane for
 the sake of its warmth. Their food supply, consisting of pcmmican, bis
 cults, mailed milk and chocolate. vas sufficient for six months and I they had some cigarettes.
 1 For the five days, the airnrn were able 10 rest after their long journey in preparation for the arduous task Of digging their machine out of the snow IS soon as they should be able 10 -osune the flight. The small quantity of gasoline remaining also | had to he pumped into the upper tanks.
 On Saturday morning at three o'clock they decided that conditions were good for getting off again, On two occasions the motor started at full speed, but the machine did not move. At tho third attempt, Cap tain Wilkins got out of the cockpit and holding on to q rope attached to tho plane, pushed the machine to give 1t the necessary impetus to rise. In this way they succeeded in start ing. but to the pilot if seemed long time before he heard Wilkins voice yelling: ''On board again"
 Plans Were Made
 It had been arranged that if Cap tain Wilkins was unable to chamber into the machine Eiclson was 10 pro- ceed and obtain assistance. In case of such cventuality, the captain had provided himself with a tent and food. There was great risk in ad- dition that in falling back on the snow Captain Wilkins might cripple himself had he failed to gain se- cure hold or to chamber back into tho machine.
 The plane got off successfully and when the height of 1000 feet was reached Barentzburs was sighted and the mast of the wireless station could be seen. The landing was ef- fected there at eleven o'clock in the morning. The machine had been seen approac ching and all hands at the station turned out and hurried excitedly to the landing place.
 It was extremely fortunate for the airmen that they landed where they did as had they descended at Kings Bay, as originally planned, they would have found the wireless sta- ton there discontinued from April Is when the operator died in an ac- cident.
 The fliers' first thought was for the safety of their aeroplane and the motor was covered with a double tarpaulin to prevent it cooling too This had to be done in a 27 degrees below zero and as the airmen were without coats, they vast no time accom- plishing the task.
 As soon as the plane was made safe Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant Iielson were hurried to the wireless station where they sat down to a hearty meal in celebration of one of the most thrilling flights ever under taken.
 Ice Bound Today
 Oslo, Norway, April o3 R-Cap- tain George H. Wilkins, who made 8 perilous flight across Arctic wastes to explore them. was ice-bound at | Green Harbor, Spitzbergen, today.
 Radio adviccs from there said he | and his co-pilot, Carl E. Eielson, could only leave the northern out post of Europe as they had come from Point Barrow, Alaska - by | airplane. The Lockheed-Ncga plane | of the Wilkins expedition was slight y damaged when it landed on the ce at Green 1Iarbor on Saturday.
 The ice pack which prevents ships rom reaching tho flyers haven cx- ends for many miles to sea. No vessel can approach until the general .haw looscns it and this does not ,ecm likely until the middle of May. The message stated extreme cold prevailed and a fresh snow had fall- n. The thermometer stood at l 5 de- ,recs below zero, Fahrenheit.