Evening star., 1928-04-23
CAPT. WILKINS OWN STORY /
OF FLIGHT ACROSS ARCTIC

we could scarcely have come so far
south Still. for the last two hours in
the air we had no means OF checking
our drift or accurately eauginR the
force or direction of the wind on the
ground We knew It was furious and
from slightly west of north
Marooned i'm Gale.
For the next four days there was no
opportunity TO Judge our position more
accurately. High winds blew from the
north northwest. then changed sudden
ly to southeast and as suddenly back
to north again. / have never seen
worse weather In the Spring iii the
/ Arctic. Drifts four feet high formed
about and over the skis of the plane,
fortunately holding her fast To the ice.
otherwise she would have toppled dur
ing the gusts We were housed COM
fortablv in the windproof snug cabin
of the plane eating biscuits and choc-
olate. smoking the few cigarettes we
had and patiently waiting for the
weather to clear,
We sighted Svalbard at 6:l5 pm. To-
cal time. on Monday. Just 20 hours after
leaving Barrow We first landed 20
minutes later. II was not until Satur-
dav at am that the weather was
again fiji for flying. We rose at that
hour and cut and ShoVeled SnowdriftS
for six hours before clear runway for
the machine was made, We planned 10
take the air and from an altitude def
nitelv fix our position and choose our
course. We made doWnhill start
smoothing the snow as much rs pos
Sible
We were soon to find that our de-
cision not to land on the pack ice with
a half load was wise. The tanks now
held about 20 gallons OF gasoline. With
that and two of us I'm the machine she
would not bulge an inch. When ] got
out and pushed the tail she started fine,
but TO climb IN aS she moVeT was dith-
cult The first time / huns To the step
and tried TO climb in. but soon fell off
Eielson unable TO see behind from the
pilots seat. thought / was in and took
off. When he turned, he saw me forlora
on the ice He circled and landed.
singing out rope ladder, provided for
such emergency.
Teeth Are LooSened.
/ decided 10 kang on at all costs We
started again. As the machine gathered
speed l climbed 10 the tail and struggled
desperately 10 gain the cockpit, My
hands free of mittens 10 climb better,
soon stifTened with the cold. | graSped
the rope with my teeth 10 help hans
on EielSon feeling the weight on the
tail thought ! was safe and took off. but
lust before he left the ground slithered
from the shiny fuselaee, was struck by
the tail of the machine and flung 10
the snow When the snow WAS freed
from my eyes and mouth l found mat
| had escaped with no more harm than
loosened teeth AS l now sit and write
/ can rock every front one with my
tongue ! expect they will tiehiea IN
a dav or so
Eielson in the air soon discovered I
was still on ice, so he circled and
landed again We decided on one more
try We had been running the engine
for an hour. using half our precious
gasoline. II we failed again Eielson
would drop me rife. ammunition and
food and go on alone. returning by
boat for me- The next time ] stuck
one foot In the cockpit and pushed. sit
ting on driftwood found on the land,
As soon as the machine moved / tnm-
bled into the cockpit. regardless OF
bruises. and off we climbed In the air.
Since the sky had cleared We had
been far too busy trying to get away
to think OF our exact location. but soon
climbed TO 5000 feet. We could see in
the distance the wireless mast at Green
Harbor Ice bay. We had been storm
bound for five days on Dead Mans
Island at Green Harbor.
Norwegians Hospitable.
Herr Islen. manager OF the Green
Harbor radio station, and all other
officials at the station and the neigh
boring mines treated us with bountifui
hospitality. Our Norwegian pilot. Ben
Eielson had brought US safely through.
Our new Norwegian friends are friends
forever. ##
Many observations of Ice and meteoro-
logical conditions were dt4ained. 200
more miles OF Arctic exploration done.
1900 more miles OF Arctic flying COW
cred
The Arctic has treated us roughly at
times. but In a friendly manner Here
We shall stay until some boat can take
us and our trusty Lockheed monoplane
10 more southern climes Tomorrow
will briefly describe sea aud meteoro-
logical conditions and scientific and
emergency equipment carried.
This Is the first OF series OF stories
by Capt wilkins telling Of his polar
fight. Others will be printed as re-
ceivcd
Canada SOUTH Amtfies Mexteo fuba and
continental Europe bS the New York
Times 4" Copyright Ia GFrat Britain and
Ireland by the London Tinirs,t