ANXIETY FOR WILKINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 891, 7 February 1930, Page 9

ANXIETY FOR WILKINS

EIGHT-DAYS' SILENCE FROM EXPLORER

RELIEF SHIP PREPARING United P.A.- —Bp Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.m. MONTREAL, Tiiurs. The “New York American” today printed a copyright despatch to the Hearst newspapers stating that no word had been received from Sir Hubert Wilkins for eight days, and that a relief ship would be sent southward if word was not received soon from the steamer William Scoresby, on which Yv’ilkins and his party are. A message from London says anxiety is felt there regarding Sir Hubert Wilkins and his ship William Scoresby, now in the Antarctic. A message from the explorer’s base on Deception Island says: “For seven days and nights we have been trying to get into touch with the William Scoresby, but without success. We cannot account for the mysterious silence. We do not think there can have been a breakdown of the wireless plant on. board which would have kept Sir Hubert silent so long. “We have doubled our watches, and are endeavouring constantly to get contact with the vessel. She is adrift somewhere in a vast sea of broken ice to the south.”

The last message received from Sir Hubert Wilkins was from Deception Island, dated January 27. In this he said:—“We will make two or three more exploration flights if we are successful in the race against the rapid approach of unfavourable weather. The ship William Scoresby, with the Lockhead monoplane on floats, is to leave hare today for a point westward of Peter Island. That will be our hopping-off point for the flights. All bur plans depend upon the weather. Desperate attempts in the face of the weather at this late season are not warranted. To rescue us would be difficult if an accident happened.’