Science: Polar Pilgrims: May 17, 1926

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Wilkins. Diametrically across the polar cap from these scenes, Explorer Wilkins effected a third safe return from Point Barrow to Fairbanks in the monoplane Alaskan. He freighted carefully once more, ousted a woman he found stowed away in his baggage compartment, and told Pilot Ben Eielson they would stop at Barrow this trip only to pick up all available gasoline. Then they would strike out into the unmapped solitude for at least 500 miles, perhaps keep on going over the Pole to Spitzbergen. But the staunch Alaskan's luck ran out. As she taxied down the Fairbanks field she struck a soft spot, careened, rent her right wing, shattered her propeller. Wilkins and Eielson crept out of the wreck unhurt, and bent their energies to loading the biplane Detroiter, their last hope. Wilkins determined to pilot this craft himself, despite his lately fractured arm, leaving Eielson in Fairbanks and taking with him his second-in-command, Major Lanphier, official U. S. representative. The Detroiter's success hung very largely upon Wilkins' ability to find and steer her through a pass in the lofty Brooks Range, over which (10,000 ft.) her three motors would not lift her.