UNIQUE ADVENTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1933, Page 8

UNIQUE ADVENTURE

STEAMBOAT AND AEROPLANE INTREPID MASTER’S DEED EDMONTON, November 16.

With snow and furious gales, winter has set in early over Western Canada. The freeze-up was marked by a unique steamboat and. aeroplane adventure which to-night- stood incom plete.

Captain Victor Ingraham, the intrepid master of a motor ship, carrying mining machinery on Great Bear Luke, found himself last week-end caught in a terrific north-easter, which cut his vessel adrift.

When trying to get the engines working an explosion occurred, in which two of the crew were killed, before the vessel blew up from a petrol flare.

Ingraham led his six passengers over the ice, and through the snowdrifts to safety, but was, himself suffering from petrol burns-and 1 severe frostbite. No doctor was' available, so lie tried to diagnose his cWn case. He described his own condition over the wireless to .a surgeon stationed at Aklavik, which is a famous North-West Mounted Police station, close to the mouth of the Maclcenxie -River.

“Get aboard an aeroplane and come here quickely. We will amputate your leg and save your life,” replied Dr Urquhart

Early this . morning, despite the freezing temperatures, Ingraham started with his' pilot, Johnny Rythell. Noon came without any report of the plane. A do-ien radio senders exchanged anxious messages, until tonight a signal was sent out stating that the plane had made a forced landing in a- snowstorm at-Fort Norman.

If the weather clears, Ingraham may get thrugli to-morrow' night to have his leg amputated. ' l , .