Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-11

the warm sunshine Of this city. will
probably find it difficult TO imagine
temperatures below zero, snow and
ice.
But one Brownsville resident will
not, because her husband is in that
section now. and writes about the
weather and the ice and snow.
Mrs. Sidney o. Bonnick OF Browns
vile received letters recently from
her husband who is doing air photo
graphic work with the Forbes GTen-
fell nothern Labrador expedition.
a scientific expedition sent out from
Harvard University.
His partner in four years OF aerial
photography In Mexico, j. p. Jeppe-
sen arrived In Brownsville recent
~, and IS spending a few days mere
before going north.
Jeppensen as pilot. and Bonnick
as photographer have spent the
major part Of the past four years
making aerial surveys OF Mexico.
for the Mexican government, and
for OIL companies.
Among Glaciers.
Bonnick accepted the opportunity
to 90 with the Harvard expedition,
and is now in the land where iceE
bergs are formed BY the breaking
OF the great glaciers.
He describes the country in letters
to Mrs. Bonnick, who enjoys the
warm climate OF Brownsville while
reading Of the frozen Labrador
coast.
Parts OF some OF his recent let
ters follow:
we r now way past all rail-
roads and communications by land.
when we reached the tip OF Cape
Breton Island We went off on our
big water jump Of 50 miles across
the sea to the coast of Newfound-
land. which we made in fine style.
we got all kinds Of thrills. Saw
our first whale. Got TO st. Georges
harbor where there was gas await
ing for us. only to find that it was
ali covered with fog except a small
patch upstream at S~tephenville
Crossing. and we landed in two feet
of water because we Just had 70
get down. The plane. when II came
to rest. stuck on the bottom and il
meant waiting two hours until the
tide rose and we TAXED to a deep
channel. There had never been a
plane there before, and the people
just swan out TO us-they couldn't
wait. They were very kind TO us and
took us in town. Town meant
about two dozen houses.
Run Into Storm.
stayed the night al the Bishop
hotel. had ham and eggs at III D.
m Flew next morning the seven
miles to st. Georges and gaSsed up.
leaving at 1.35 p. m. in glorious
weather. Fifty miles up the coast
we ran in the most awful rainstorm
forcing us 70 d%oubleback immediate
~. and land on an inland lake.
one mile from the shore in the Lee
mountains two thousand feet high.
The landing on the water WIS
~p-ecarious owing 10 the rough water.
We made il o. k. and got out the
anchor to stop us drifting back on
the rocks. Our troubles had only
just commenced.
The wind blew over 40 miles an
hour, and the waves were six feet
high and this on an inland lake.
The plane pitched and tossed like
A cork: the pontoons would come
right out Of the water and then 90
in with a crash. It's a good thing
I'm q good sailor. We sat In the
plane for four hours. and IL was
iarTing the plane right through.
80 we started up the motor. and
pulled up the anchor. Ii doesn't
sound much. but I want TO tell you
il was a terrific job. Brownell (the
pilot. the co-pilot. and myself were
standing ON n pontoon with the
engine running, and the plane tip
ping and nearly standing on its ear.
We finally managed It, and then
started taxing TO the other side IF
the lake 70 get in the lee Of the
shore IN smoother water.
"Brownell and I blew up the rub
Der boat. II is shaped like an elon-
gated doughnut when inflated. We
went ashore 10 find some habitati0n
as We looked as If We were there
for the night.
Sky Clears OFF.
"Late- the sky cleared somewhat.
and we decided to try and push on
rather than get eaten up with flies.
The plane got off well. and all
the time the weather got better so
we went north about $50 miles end
out in the brilliant sunshine"
You could make out the east
shore OF Newfoundland, and out