Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-18
BY JAMES MATTERN.


BY Radio to The Star.
ANADYR, Siberia, July 10 (N.A.NAO
When I left Khabarovsk at IN
the morning on my 2,5O0-mlle nlgnt
homeward, I was feeling very good and
rested. There was q good weather
report and it was good for the hrst
l,4OO miles. The 1000 miles over the
Okhotsk Sea went fast, and upon reach
ing the coast, l found myself on the
course with navigation easy.
The Wasp motor was singing her olo
faithful song beautifully. 1t was only
a short time until came to the noun
tains and bad weather-awful weather.
1 few into the clouds and pulled up TO
5000 feet altitude There I collected
ice and had to descend. I was hying
blind many times below the altitude OF
the hills. so l changed my course W
degrees to the left SO 1 would get over
into the Anadyr River Valley.
reached the valley, and had
miles of visibility and 40-foot ceiling
1 tried pulling up into 1t several times,
but would collect ice each time. l
headed for the settlement OF Anadyr
from where ] expected to get definite
check as to my position before taking
out over the 500 miles OF Boring Sea
toward Nome. was ID hours out OF
Khabarovsk and about 800 miles when
my Oil ran dry.
Crashes His Ship.
I had fixed another oil tank on the
rear of the ship which had IS gallons
in it. This I couldn't get to the main
tank as it wouldn't flow due to the ex-
tremely cold temperatures. The Jog
closed down on the river and l new
down over the river. l couldn't get
into Anabyr and I couldn't ny blind
to Nome as that would have been
suicide to try to fly 500 miles over the
Boring Sea.
would have given anything for only
10 gallons Of oil. 1t would have meant
the success of my venture.
My flight from America to Alaska and
return in 1881 taught me to ny close
to the river in these vast wastes. This
is the only thing that has saved my life.
I flew OH hours when l decided I had
to crash the best equipment in the
world 1t was like shooting your best
horse with nothing the matter with
him.
I new along the Tundra at full throttle
and took of my landing gear. The
crash came a little further on. stayed
In the front cockpit Of the ship for "a
|
a hole In the side Of the fuselage
took a seat Of cushions out, and made
my home in the rear for the next eight
days My eight chocolate bars had
gone, one per day I decided to make a
camp on the river and flag any boat
that might pass. I would have gone
sooner If it hadn't been for an aching
ankle.
On the second day saw two launches
pass. I fired my rife eight times, but
they didn't see me. What a feeling-to
be hungry and see boat with warm
cabin pass as You stand there, wet, at
80 degrees temperature!
The several trips l had to make to
the airplane after this were worth
making. All had brought to the river
side were cylinder tools, gun and map
case. The tent built out Of sort Of
pine needles. This tent was so cold that
dug a 6-foot hole in the ice of a
nearby glacier and slept there several
nights. I built myself q boat TO 60
downstream. as decided II I must be
still all the time and starve. also
might as we'll be in the middle OF the
river In case boat came along.
Headfrst Into Water.
Ny first raft failed and I went head
first into the water 20 feet from the
shore. I started q large fire to dry
my underclothing. which had been
soaked with gasoline from the crash,
caught IRE and had to jump back into
the icy river. am still nursing burns
from that bright stunt.
I built another raft and this time
took of my clothes to try It, must
have looked good carrying the big logs
for the raft on my back in my under
wear, with q glacier in the background
The raft worked and I put everything
aboard and sailed to an island in the
middle Of the river. BY this time !
was so weak I couldn't do any more,
30 piled up wood by the grassy shore
and sat there until I saw an Esquimo
they came.
After the EsQuimos found me at the
Island Of Rescue felt safe at last.
What q feeling to get away from that
loneliness! There were two Of them
rowing, and one very old Esquimo steer
ing in the rear. There was one squaw
three children and four husky sledge
dogs. The boat was loaded with camp
ing equipments barrel Of fish of all
sorts, and skins.
Their peculiar gutteral language was
Tie ITSG LlllIlS IlOLlCeO-du one ana
no more than one-syllable words. They
all sat very quiet, not seeming to think
anything unusual about finding me or
wondering how I got there
The other boat pulled alongside and
an old squaw said American" I have
been gesturing with my hands and
drawing pictures on the ground ever
since, trying to make people understand
what want.
We reached small beach after hours
OF rowing and the boat was unloaded
while I lay ON the bank. Then they
pitched skis for beds, my first pro-
lection from the cold ground. They
made a fire. with sticks holding q large
tea kettle over it, and 1t was my first
hot tea. don't know exactly how long
had been without food because upon
reaching Anadyr later thought it was
July 10. but was told it was only July
S. lost five days some place.
kept a diary each day to keep track
of the time. The picture Of the way
they make camp, put the boat up, lay
dried fish right on the ashes Of the
fire and sit around on board. 10 Of them
eating and drinking tea, is marvellous.
slept that night in tent built for two.
My watch said 10 o'clock when every
thing was in the boat and We started
downstream.
1 believe 1t was morning, but as the
sun shines all "a hours, I never know
If it Is midnight or noon. As we rowed