Evening star., 1935-11-20
BY LINCOLN ELLSWORTH.

EN- ROUTE TO BAY OF WHALES,
Antarctica, November 19 (By Radio.
(N.A.NA). We are off to try our luck
in the unknown frozen wilderness OF
Antarctica. From the top of the high
est point on the northwestern side OF
Dundee Island the airplane, Polar
Star. cleared the ground with Herbert
Hollick Kenyon. pilot, and myself, as
navigator, and started on what has
been called the last great adventure
in the history of Antarctic explora-
ton.
The take-of was successful at ESQ
am. (E. S. IT,. The plane is in radio
communication with the supply ship.
We are bound across the continent
from the Weddell Sea to the Ross
Sea and, while numerous plans and
many preparations have been made,
we are the first to be in favorable
position. with adequate equipment to
carry out the Antarctic journey.
Shackleton in 1914 lost his ship be-
fore he reached the starting point.
Wilkins was foiled two years in sue
cession by failing to find suitable
airplane field from which to start
Watkins, after much preparation and
endeavor, failed to get started from
England. Riser Larsen was carried
away from the barrier edge by the
breaking up Of the ice and did not get
started on the actual journey.
Waited for Two Years.
In 1888 at the Bay Of Whales my
plane was almost ready for the cross
ing when the treacherous ice damaged
it beyond immediate repair. Last year
I waited anxiously at Snow Hill Island
for q month and more for decent
weather, without avail
This season we have so far had bet
ter luck. We were fortunate in our
choice Of Dundee Island as a base
Here We have an almost unlimited
runway, with a good surface.
The plane seems to be in fine con-
dition, and as pilot have in Hol-
lick-Kenyon man who has had years
OF experience in flying over the Arctic
slopes Of Canada In temperatures
much lower than we expect to ex-
perience on this flight. He is used
to landing at the edge of bad weather
on untried fields, looking after his
machine and starting up again when
the weather clears.
I have my navigation problems at
my finger ends, and trusting in Provi-
dence and with faith in the reward
OF perseverance, we are starting the
flight Of 2,140 miles. 1900 miles of
which will be over territory not yet
seen by human eyes. For 600 miles
we will pass over unclaimed areas
and that segment Of the Antarctic is
thought to be fringed by coast line
OF about 900 miles. The procedure
heretofore, because these Antarctic
areas have been approached by ship,
has been to claim them from the
coast line inward to the Pole, and
logically, there Is no reason why the
reverse may not be done.
VIII Drop United States Flag.
Six hours out and after crossing
the eighteenth meridian, which we
expect to cross at latitude II, we will
be In unclaimed territory. With the
permission Of the United States State
Department, will then drop the Stars
and Stripes, and so far as that act
will suffice, claim the area we discover,
even up to the 120th meridian, for the
United States. Following the precedent
of other explorers, and to honor one
who made it possible for me to make
this flight and other earlier efforts
in the interest of science and dis
covery, will name the area James
W. Ellsworths Land. after my father.
who was himself pioneer.
For the first half hour after our start
from Dundee Island, and until we
reach Snow Hill Island, we will be
over or at the edge of open water
and for the first four hours the route
lies along the eastern side Of Graham
Land, which has already been explored.
This part of the fight will give me
good opportunity to check up on
ground speed and navigational data.
After crossing Stefansson Strait and
.entering Hearst Land, we will be over
he great unknown.
Fourteen hours of flying from Snow
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