Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-20
BYRD FORCED DOWN
RETURNING TOCAMP
Lack of Fuel Makes Plane
Land in Dangerous
Ice Area.
Continued From First Page.)

was connected with the receiving sci
and from it came the steady buzz OF
the planes transmitter. 1t was soon
evident, however, that the unusual
blanketing effect which has played hot
with radio for three days was still in
terfering, for the signals sometimes
faded altogether, and, although a few
words of messages were picked up al
times, nothing definite was heard until
at the end of five hours message came
through that the plane had reached the
mountains and was looking for land
ing field. There were few bumpy
notes from the loud speaker and COM
munication ceased.
We knew then that the plane was
probably down and could only hope
that the landing had been a good one
Plane Again Reports.
Nearly two hours went by and then
the loud speaker again picked up the
roar of the planes transmitter, and an
hour later came word that it had passed
the crevassed region about 200 miles
out and that everything was going we'll
Another interval, and then in the
midst of a message the tranSmitter
suddenly stopped working and there was
silence. The men at the camp looked
at each other with startled expressions.
ton seemed ominouS. It could be due
to only two things-either the motors
had gone dead or something had broken
and the plane tumbled to earth.
UnconsciouSly voices were lowered or
men did not speak at all. They waited
impatiently in hope that 1t was forced
landing. But there was no sound out
of the silence of the barrier.
Prepare Relief Plane.
After waiting for half an hour prep
arations were begun to get the other
plane ready. The plane was loaded with
food and the tanks filled with gaso-
line, and SO gallons of gasoline in cans
were placed in 1t for use in the Ford
If lack of fuel had caused the landing
Then there was wait for radio
signal. Howard Mason, who was oper-
ating, thought he heard a faint sound
on the wavelength that would be used
by June, but was not sure. AS 10 o'clock
at night drew near, with the Ford two
hours overdue, the engine of the Fair
child was warmed up and Haines, who
had been left in charge Of the camp,
waited in the radio room in the hope
that on the 10 o'clock emergency sched-
ule some signal might come through.
Worry Hangs Over Men.
There was no word, and Haines and
Bernt Balchen, who was to fly the Fair
and a growing appreciation of what an
accident would mean hung over the
group of men like shadow.
Carl Petersen, the tall, blonde radio
operator, who also Is a pilot, climbed
into the plane with Bernt and the
Fairchild was TAXED up the hill. 1t had
a heavy load aboard.
When Bernt turned the plane he
opened her wide and In a jouncing
glide down the hill gathered speed. Al
most at the bottom the plane lifted
and after gaining a few hundred feet
altitude turned in a wide circle. It was
thought that he merely intended to
circle camp, but as he headed In again
toward the field he slid into landing.
Motor Is Not Performing Well.
The motor was not performing we'll
1t was quickly checked over and warmed
up again and seemed to perform per-
fectly, so Balchen again took of. This
time he climbed more rapidly and as
he came over the camp waggled his
wings that everything was all right and
headed south. Anxious eyes followed
him until the plane faded from sight,
flying right into the midnight sun.
The group at camp gathered outside
the radio room, where Mason was keep
ing in touch with Petersen. Pete sent
back word as he passed the 40-mile
base and the Snowmobile, and Mason,
as he copied, repeated the words to the
waiting men. Then he looked I'D sud-
denly and said, "They see the plane"
There was a dead silence. What would
the next message bring-word that it
was crashed or that every one seemed
safe?
AS soon as Balchen reached the SPOT
he dropped down and Pete quickly
pulled In his antenna and signals ceased
That was the worst moment Of the
whole day. Had they seen the plane
smashed and wanted to get down
quickly to give help and did not wish to
send back word until they were sure as
to what had happened? Dog drivers
recalled that the position Balchen had
reached, judging by the time elapsed
since he left, was in the middle Of a
badly ridged area, where landing was
most difficult.
Had Plane Rolled Over?
The big Ford was light. Had she
rolled over in landing, stumbling over
one Of those high ridges of snow? That
moment meant everything to the expe-
dition. The safety of the leader and
the safety of the only long distance
plane were in doubt, as well as the fate
Of the other men in the crew.
The minutes became more than an
hour, and we began to fear also for the
safety of Balchen and Petersen, know
ing the rough ground they had for
landing. The suspense had lasted so
long that every one was willing to be-
lieve the worst. 1t was agonizing.
There was no way of knowing that
Petersen was sending from the ground,
but that the eccentric radio would not
come THROUGH.
Fairchild Buzzes Again.
Then came the welcome buzz Of the
Fairchild again In the air on the way
home and word that every one was
safe. The Ford had landed safely, no.
body had been injured, 100 gallons of
fuel had been transferred to the tanks,
and the crew were warming up the en-
gines. Depression gave way to happi-
ness.
Balchen, in the Fairchild, landed
some time ago and the Ford should
have been back by this time, and we
are agai.. wondering why they have not
returned. Probably some motor trou-
BILE, or a leak in the fuel line which
must be repaired, but what relief 1t
will be to hear them again in the air.
Co and the ST. Louis Post-Dispatch All
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