THE NORGE FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1926, Page 3

THE NORGE FLIGHT

"Australia & N.Z. Cable Association,]

SAN FRANCISCO, May 15.

Advices received on Friday morning from the Navy Radio Station near Cordova, Alaska, said that messages were intercepted there from an unknown station to the effect that the Norge passed Point Barrow at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning. All aboard were well. The heads of the Alaskan Naval Station personally kept watch throughout the night. All traffic was ordered to be suspended. NORGE TURNS UP. VANCOUVER. May 15. The Norge arrived at Teller, Alaska, at two this morning. Teller is a place seventy-five miles from Nome. All are well. Other particulars are lacking. WASHINGTON, May 15. Greetings from Mr Ellsworth, aboard the Norge, were received at White House this morning. NEW YORK. May 15. The Norge was sighted from Nome at seven a.m. to-day by Nome time, and noon by New York time. The airship was then sailing easily towards the city, and with moderate weather, she was expected to make a safe landing during the morning. The Nome population rushed to the streets, cheering wildly. The Nome radio operators were in communication with the airship for seven hours before her appearance over the mountains to the north. EXPEDITION A GREAT SUCCESS. A message from the Norge said : “We are safe and well. Our expedition has been a great success.” This was the first word from tlie craft in more than two days and nights during which her whereabouts were a myterv, and predictions regarding her fate were wildly made, hut with communication re-etablishod. the Norge and the Naval radio talked freely as the airship Approached. The airship reported that it arrived over the Alaskan coast about seven p.m. on Wednesday, having crossed the pole fifteen or sixteen hours before then.

The ship then went over Point Barrow, and headed Straight south, hut later she turned west. Daybreak on Thursday found her following the coast line around through Behring Strait into Behring sea. she spending that day and most of Friday, exploring the Polar ice.

The message did not state just when the Norge turned inland again, but it is believed that she appeared over Teller, north of Nome, lute on Friday.

The airship operator said lie could hear frantic calls being sent to the craft during the hours they were without communication, but he could not make hinielf heard in return, because of the static conditions and other difficulties. STORY OF THE FLIGHT. [" Sydney Sun ” Cables.] (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) VANCOUVER, May 17. In a wireless from the Norge, addressed to Nome, Amundsen deserilies the voyage. He says they had bright sunshine except for an hour betoro reaching the Pole, which was readied at 2.110 in the morning. He was able to cheek the position by means of a radio geonometer and longtitude observations. Amundsen describes tlie dropping of tlie American. Norwegian and Italian flags. Then after circling the Pole the Norge was headed for Point Harrow at seven o'clock in the morning. The ice-covered Pole was reached during a fog. The explorers were obliged to go very high and such breaks as they got failed to disclose

any signs of land. Snow followed them and the hoar frost began to settle inside the living quarters, on the ropes and other gear. It even formed on the engine gondolas and rigging, until it dropped off in pieces, which were caught by the propellers and shot through the ship, along with pieces which formed on the propellers themselves. The experience was very exciting. For hours the crew were, continuously engaged patching holes in the fabric, covering the keel and protecting the air balloon and speculating upon a possibility of being compelled to land on an ice pack. Then the conditions improved and they were able to pass under the fog cloud, thus permitting observations to he taken with a magnetic Compass. The sun compass outside had become a solid block of ice and was useless. At last they spotted land ahead when they were close to Point Barrow, forty-six hours aftei

leaving King’s Ray. The Spitsbergen coastline was followed but fog and the snow made visibility- had and travelling difficult, and they feared the possibility of striking tho Alaskan Mountains,' till at last the sun gave a chance for observations. They took an opportunity to set the course over the Behring Straits to clear any land and come down over the sea and ice whereupon the freezing of the fittings began again. This time it was critical. as all the materials for patching had been used up. There was no more glue left to mend the holes in the torn fabric. Broken iee drifting with a verystrong wind indicated they were too far south and a long distance from land. Orders therefore were given to steer towards land to ■ the eastward where and whenever it appeared in the quickest- possible time. Thence they carried on till 8 o’clock on Thursday

night when they noticed the lights in the fishing village of Teller. They then stopped the engines and landed. The total distance travelled hv the Norge was 2,700 made up of stages: From King’s Ray to the Pole. 750 miles, covered in‘fifteen hours. Circling the Pole and making observations consumed 2} hours. From the Pole to Point Barrow. 1250 miles, covered in twentyeight hours. Point Barrow to Teller 700 miles, covered in 24 hours. The centre of the ice cap or ice nolo is about 400 miles from the North Pole in the direction of Point Barrow and almost in a direct line between the Pole and Point Barrow, so that the navigators reached it without going out of their course. This is also the Pole of inaccessibility, because it is ap--1 proximo toly the most distant point on ' the earth, from the most north earth- ’ „ly position which the explorers had achieved in reaching the North Role: Admiral Peary came within 400 miles of the pole of inaccessibility. No i others have approached so close.

NORGE DEFLATED. ROME, May 10. Boliablo advices received late on Siturdav evening said the Norge was deflated at Teller and will he <•>*>- mantled immediately and shipped to the United States. AMUNDSEN LEAVES TELLER. NORGE TO BF. DISMANTLED. VANCOUVER, j May 10v ,-ndio message states Amundse;i, Ellsworth, and two of the crew left Teller in a motor boat for Nome, whence they sail for Seattle. The presumption is that the Norge Will be dismantled at- Teller and shipped to New- York. ~ VANCOUVER. May 16. The flight of the Norge dissected the greatest "unexplored region on earth

made by a dirigible, tlie total mileage and proved this area, previously unknown, contains no great' body of land. Tlie entire journey from Nome to Teller in six laps is the longest ever being 6820. POSITION OF NORGE. , (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) NOME, May 15. It is believed the aeroplane which was reported on Saturday night en route to Nome from Fairbanks, 525 miles south east, will proceed to Teller, 75 miles to the north-west, where the Norge stopped on Friday night. If it reports the Bay on which Teller is located, is ice locked, to reach there will necessitate a journey of 50 miles by boat and 25 miles by dog team over ice. It is authoritatively learned that Amundsen, Ellsworth and two others of the Norge crew are en route to Nome by launch, and are expected to arrive on Sunday morning. Information of the explorers’ departure from Teller was received here by tlie Norwegian Vice Consul via radio. Tlie last reports said the Norge was still afloat. It is believed this is only to maintain radio service between Nome and Teller. This advice is taken to mean that the dirigible will not come here.