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MAY 1, 1924.mail PILOT FINDS [tJ NEW ALASKA. ROUTEFlyer, Lost in Arctic Darkness Cues Time 16 DaysWashington.—Lost in un airplane in the stygian darkness of an Alaskan night, without a star above or a light below to guide him, was tin* cxperi- ‘I*1ence of Carl B. El el son, air mail pilot, on his tirst trip over an experimental clt; route between Fairbanks and Me- I P31Grath, Alaska, according 10 his report ‘ tnireceived recently by Postmaster (Jen- th ecal New. thSo interesting was the report of inElelson’s adventure that the postnms- te ter general read it at cabinet meeting and President Coolidge wrote a per- j tri eonal letter to the air mail pilot eon- glt;'gratulating him. Accompanying this titletter went a similar one front Mr. TlNew. ; anI congratulate you on the conspicn- ofoos success of your undertaking. the StPresident said. Your experience pro- tbrides a unique and interesting chapter inIn |he rapidly developing science of | mi aerial navigation.”Eielson made the first leg of his trip from Fairbanks to McGrath without mishap. He began the return trip at 2:35 p. m.I expected, Eielson said in his report. “to get home by 5:10 p. in., at dusk. In one hour and fifteen minutes later T reached Lake Mlnchiuuina, which is nearly half way. Later I passed over a stream which was not on the map and I thought it must he the Kantlshna river. Still later I reached this stream, but thought it was the Taimna river.To the left I saw a bluff which looked like the Nenana bluff. I struck for j he bluff and everything was all right except tiiat the town of Nenana was noi in its place. By this time it was pitch dark. I could not believe that I had got 50 miles off my course after the same compass course had brought me half way exactly on the course. I left the river, going east. f* I wandered around completely lost for most of an hour. I went hack to the big river and. while following it, saw a flare in the distance. I nit for it and It turned out to lie my home field. There was a light In front of the hangar.” pr4.. Among the letters brought from McGrath by Eielson was one addressed to Paul Henderson, second assistant postmaster general. This letter arrived in Washington 16 days earlieronnilpaOibrSt19frgrnnintmienInanei)Inef-ththwltberPlt;tbainP«Eivethan it could have had the first stage TT ©f its Journey been made by dog team, btcl 1
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Watauga Democrat
Boone, North Carolina, US
Thu, May 01, 1924
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