The Washington times., 1936-02-03
By CARROLL PEEKE

~N@.N@SN~s~~ -
Their critical plight first dis
covered by The Washington
Times Goodyear relief expedition
which flew in zero weather across
ice-locked Chesapeake Bay, the
1,4OO residents marooned on bleak
Tangier Island for almost two
today we're supplied with food
sufficient to last them for several
days.
Informed by The Times of the
serious situation on the island,
the Red Cross rushed into action.
with the result that the blimp
Enterprise, so familiar to- Wash
ington skies, made a second trip
to the island yesterday and safely
landed 1,100 pounds of essential
foodstuffs.
Six hundred pounds Of flour
a commodity the islanders had
been without for almost a week
coffee, milk and vegetables were
in the cargo which was landed by
willing hands on the Is inches of
ice which cuts the island off from
the rest Of the world.
Coast Guard Baked
Meanwhile, a Coast Guard cut
ter, hastily ordered from the Nor.
folk base as a result Of The Times
Goodyear expedition findings,
reached TO three miles from the
island with additional supplies and
medicines, but was halted there
by shoal water and was unable to
land its cargo.
Informed that residents Of the
Island and neighboring Smith
Island had been isolated for 10
days by the worst ice jam in the
bay in 20 years, The Times and
Representative S. 0. Bland of Vir-
ginia persuaded Goodyear officials
to send the dirigiDle on scouting
trip to the islands, and we were
the first persons from the outside
world they had seen in that time.
The islands, almost 20 miles
fro the nearest town, Crisfield.
Nd, have no telephone or tele-
graph connection with the main
land. Their only contact Is by
small boats, which have been un-
able to crush through the thick
ice.
Blimp Ascends
It was just 10 o'clock Saturday
morning when the blimp took the
air. At the controls were Comdr.
Karl Lang and First Officer Yer
ner Smith. In the rear cockpit
were o. B. Troup. Times staff
photographer, and the writer.
It was bitterly cold. The
mercury at the airport stood at
is degrees, but it was colder in
the air. We all donned fur lined
flying suits, boots and helmets
and entered the snip.
call clear" ordered Commander
Lange. The ground crew re-
leased the guide lines and we shot
into the air, the two powerful
motors roaring full speed ahead.
Twice we circled the field, gain
ing altitude, looking for q favor
able tail wind that would give us
added speed. At 1900 feet we
found it, and headed down the ice
filled river. .-.-..
The air speed meter showed IS
miles an hour. And the indicator
on the thermometer started to
drop until it reached 9 degrees
inside the cabin. 1t must have
been zero outside in that wind.
As we sped along, every river
and stream was seen frozen over
solid. In the distance was a great
mass of ice. Patuxent River. We
were getting near the bay.
Boats Locked In Ice
Below us loomed Solomon's
Island, that familiar summer
place where so many Washington
fisherman go for sport. But it
was not inviting now, the harbor
frozen solid, the boats locked in
the ice. Streets covered with
snow and ice. A few skaters
looked up and waved at us.
And then before US nothing but
ice, as far as the eye could see.
This was Chesapeake Bay. Two
thirds Of our 10O-mile flight was
over. Admiral Byrd would feel
at home here. No water was
visible. Nothing but ice, with
great pieces that had been broken
loose before resting on the top.
There is a lighthouse. The
keeper, hearing the noise of our
motors, rushes out to see who we
are and waves. We wave back.
Now a light fog obscures our
vision. That means fly by inStru.
rnents alone. But the two pilots
are used to that. And q few
minutes later out Of the fog looms