Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-26
By LAWRENCE NJ. GOULD.
MARCH FIFTEENTH.


BY shutdown the wind lulled enough
so that we could 60 over and look al
the plane and help Harold to get his
radio working What disheartenine
sight is the Fokker. and what. an un-
earthly force must have pulled 1t loose
from its moorings and carried it so far
The fuselage cracked, skis broken, pro-
peller blades twisted into a crokscrew--
a distorted and pitiful sight.
We failed in establishing radio COM
munication on this day. June could
hear camp, but they couldn't hear us,
and so they don't know what has hap
pened, apparently. The terrific
weather we have had here was not du-
plicated in camp. .
MARCH SIXTEENTH.
It Is better this morning. There is
little wind, puff now and then from
the west. This is a good sign, and
the barometer is rising steadily. Still
the camp cannot hear us. II they can
but hear us on the next schedule and
know what has happened and send the
Fairchild plane TO our rescue. for 1t is
good flying weather here, 1t should be
at camp this afternoon, according to a
message this morning.
Across the blue and white of the ice
and snow some half a mile off I see
the Fokker. I can hear the hum OF
the emergency radio power plant.
Harold is at his job again. If the
camp will only hear this time No radio
operator could be more devoted to the
problem before him than is Harold
June. am sure no one could have
handled the emergency outfit any better
than has he,
Plane Loss Tragedy for Byrd.
The sky Is bit more overcast and
occasional flakes of snow. dead calm and
very warm. It will probably snow awfully
hard soon and thus postpone still
further the possible flight of the Fair
child to us. We are rigging up our
sledges and getting our gear. down to
a minimum in case we have to start
walking the long way back. It is
heart-breaking prospect, and pray We
may not be subjected to the ordeal.
The last week has been filled with
enough excitement and tragedy to last
me always. For the lost Fokker is a
real tragedy to Comdr. Byrd 1t was
plane he counted on using widely for
exploration next Summer. He has been
so kind and generous to me that it
comes especially hard that my geo.
logical trip should cause him this loss.
There are no words to compass my re-
grets, especially when know the fine
and generous attitude he will take
toward the whole affair.
$50 p.m.-Still trying with radio to
reach the base camp, but so far with
out success. But. the weather looks
hopeful and the barometer is rising, and
surely If We fail to establish communi-
cation the Farchilda plane will come
out to have a look at least.
GulIs Hover Over Camp.
Three skua gulls have been lowering
over us all the morning. Most folks
would consider the skua gull sort of
'ornery" creature, but the Lord knows
they look good to me in this awful des-
ert Of white-at least they are alive,
and they are the only live things we
have seen here.
We found q few smoke bombs in the
wreck. asked Bernt to bring part of
them to the tent and leave the rest by
the plane. so whatever place we may
be We can signal to the Fairchild plane
and again, If We 60 out on the trail to
walk home, we shall carry some to sig
nal the plane If they come out to look
for US.
One Of the most astonishing things
about the weather ever since we have
been here has been the extraordinarily
high temperatures. ut was these tenn
peratures from the north which made
the weather unfit for flying. It cleared
quickly when the thermometer went
down to So below zero the day they
came home.)
Warm-at IA to 20 Above!
Now it is but 20 above zero Fahren-
heit. Yesterday 1t was 80 above. Just
one night it grew cool and the tempera-
ture fell to IL below zero. For the most
part, however. the temperature has
ranged from about IA to 20 above.
p.m.--Hour after hour at every Dos
sible time, Harold has tried to get radio
communication with the camp. but this
afternoon the crankshaft in the emer-
gency power generator set broke.
He can still hear messages from
the camp, they cannot hear and have
not heard us, so do not yet suspect
our plight, and now there is no hope
OF getting the news to them. They
broadcast to us every hour and will
be looking to us to fly back in the
Continue Plans Tor Trek.
Since they will not see us, it is DOS
sible that their anxiety will be great
enough by now to send the plane out
to us. We confidently hope SO.
In the meantime we continue with
our preparations to start walking. Bernt
end Harold are quite ingenious at de-
E.sing ways and means Of overcoming
difficulties.
We do not have a sound five-gallon
can to carry gasoline for our primus
stove since the plane disaster. They
emptied three fire extinguisher contain
ers and two or three other small tanks
70 we can now carry on the trail some
lo1r and half gallons
With the canvas motor cover Bern,
Is going to make sledsheet for one
of the sleds. Since we have lots of food
here, I am going to try partially dry
cooking some food particularly oatmeal