ARCTIC TRAGEDY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3817, 12 July 1928, Page 4

ARCTIC TRAGEDY

GROUP FEVER STRICKEN. , GREAT FOOD SHORTAGE. SEARCH FOR, MALGREM PARTY AT END. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received July 11, 11 a.m. LONDON, July 10. A British United Press message from Virgo Bay states' that Lundborg reports that all of Viglieri’s party are stricken with fever. There is a great scarcity of food, .as a large part of the supplies dropped from the aeroplane fell in the sea or out of reach. Signor Cecioni’s death was pitiful. Five of Signor Cecioni’s companions carried him to an iceflow in order that he might be the first to be rescued when Lundborg returned but, unfortunately, Lundborg crashed. Signor Cecioni was too heavy to be carried back to the camp, so he was left in the open all night. His wounds froze and death followed. The search for Professor Malgrcm’s party and Captain Sora has been definitely abandoned. The original disaster was duo to the fabric of the Italia being lacerated at the rear. Thus the airship lost her steerage gear. When the crash came all the Italians on the ice thought it best to die, so they crept into their sleeping bags. But tiie mood changed. On the third day a polar bear appossessed. Professor Malgrem, who had the solitary revolver the party possessed, shot at a distance of fifteen feet, using five cartridges. The meat was cut off with scissors and cooked by means of solidified alcohol. On many night hears came up and sniffed the sleeping bags. RESCUE SO NEAR, YET SO FAR. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, July 10. A British United Press message from Virgo Bay states that despair is forcing the Viglieri party into a black, suicidal mood. Atmospheric disturbances have made communication with Viglieri impossible for two days. The last mesasge from Biaggi, the wireless operator, said: “The marooned men are losing courage and are becoming increasingly despondent. The discourgaemcnt is due to the fact that rescue is so near, yet so far, causing the marooned men to become embittered, Wo are haggard and unkempt. The canvas tent affords the poorest protection. I urge you to rush help.” Lundborg states that there is a constant fight against the temptation to leave the camp and try to reach the coast, which is seen tantalisinglv clearly silhouetted against the southern sky. Such a march, however, would he tantamount to suicide. SEALER IN SEARCH. (Australian Press Association.—United Service.) * OSLO, July 9. The sealer Braganza has departed northward to search for the Viglieri party. It hopes to reach the men before the end of the month. BROADCAST MESSAGE. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, July 11. A wireless broadcast from the New York Times, which was received by Mr O’Meara, states that an official communication from Rome intimates that the silence surrounding the Italia’s stranded crew is not regarded as ominous. The reported death of Signor Cecioni, the Italia’s engineer, is denied, and although it is admitted that the men are greatly distressed and in .need of eneouragnient, rumours of mutiny and attempts at suicide are strenuuoslv discredited.

The Italia had 17 men aboard, including General Nobile. The gondola, containing Nobile and nine others, broke away, and they were east away on the ice. Two bad broken legs. The remaining seven, scientists, journalists, enginemen and a fitter, were carried away on the airship’s envelope. The party broke up. three men (Professor Malmgren, Commandant Mariano "tuid Commandant Zappi) trekking away over the ice, toward the steamer Hobby. That left Nobile and six others. Death removed one of the six, Signor Cecioni, an engineer, and Nobile himself was rescued. Tlie main hope of those left behind, under the command of Signor Viglieri. was the ice-breaker Krassin, hut now she is crippled. Of the rescuers, it seems Captain Sora was devoured by polar hears. Captain Raold Amundsen, Major Gnilband and Lioutcmiat Diotrichson are missing, and hope for them lias almost been abandoned. Thus a score of lives are still despaired of.