New Britain herald., 1928-02-02
UKULHE CARRIED
 OVER NORTH POLE
Instrument Slowed Away on
 Ahplane by Brooklyn Man

Commander Richard E. Byrd car ried . ukulele with him in the air plano which conveyed him to the Up top of the world in 1926.
 Frank w. Fritson of s.s South Main street, who was a member of Byrd's Arctic expedition, has q pie turs of the ukulele on display in Inc window of the Globe Clothing House on Main street and tells the following story about the little in- strument:
 "The crew of the $500 ton ship Chantier which was to carry the Byrd North Pole expedition from New York to the Arctic circle was made up largely of retired U. $. navy men. Among them was a friend of mine named Richard Con- nor. who. think. came from Brooklyn. He just completed 30 years in the U. S. navy last year. Knowing that there would be plenty of monotony in the long weeks at sea to come. when the ships stores were being put aboard at Brooklyn, Connor added a few musical instru- ments consisting of six ukuleles and twelve harmonicas.
 During the three weeks we took to cross tho Atlantic to Norway passing up the New England coast by Newfoundland and Iceland, Con- nor had organized q ukulelc club, tho idea having made favorable impression on the crew and the oth- sr members of the expedition. There were 50 in tho crew and 20 in the expedition. that Is newspapermen, motion picture men. scientists and the airplane pilots.
 "One night at sea. about 10 o'clock. the club decided to serenade tho commander and started out to parade the ice covered decks. first breaking the chief engineer out of his bunk. Others were awakened and all joined the musicians even- tually reaching the commanders cabin.
 Commander Byrd was always congenial and he took the serenade In good humor. He then added to inc entertainment by bringing out his nautical instruments he intended to use on the flight. explaining some that he had invented, designed upon data and knowledge he had gained upon previous expeditions. These in. struments were very interesting tC the members of the ukulele club. o' course, and that evening stands out as a bright spot in the trip.
 ''While everybody aboard took s deep interest in the expedition and worked hard to make it a success this same interest was demonstrated from start 10 finish, nevertheless 4 humor. the nights were SO long and the weather was so cold. go the uku' lele club was . welcome aid to keep. ing tho boys spirits up.
 "The explanation of how the ukulele came to go to the North Pole Is simply that 1t went as 6 .towaway. Az matter of fact CommAndef byrQ dld fot know ne wss taking 1t with him, but 1t wal there just the same. When the Fox. ker plano which was to circle the pole had been asenbled at Kings Bay, spitzbergen. Commander Byrd found on tho first trial flight that he had too much weight in tho plano and had to leave behind him some ol the equipment he had planned tc carry. Of course this made room available and Conner, leader of the polar expedition ukulele club. know. ing that his favorite instrument was 70 negligible in weight that 1t could not be of any danger to the com mander. grasped the opportunity ot using some of the available space for a hiding place for the 'uke.' Sc It went on the 1920 mile flight ovel tho North Polo and was rescued b,