PREPARING FOR THE ROCKFORD FLYERS 



were to pack the 200 gallons of gasoline and 20 

 gallons of motor oil over the long trail to the 

 landing field. 



On the following night I prepared the follow- 

 ing radiogram to go to the Times: 



Mount Evans, July 24, 1928. 



BiRCHALL, New York Times, New York 



Amazed by the report that Hassell is planning flight 

 tomorrow without advice from us that we are ready? 

 or weather conditions favorable. Etes on eighteenth sent 

 Hassell by radio via Godhavn report on landing possi- 

 bilities but has received no reply. Pending reply we have 

 suspended transport of gasoline. 



On receipt of your message we have taken steps to 

 mark landing place to set Hassell down on terrace at head 

 of fjord north side, but hope he will await our further ad- 

 vice before starting. Two hundred gallons gasoline and 

 ten gallons motor oil now within two miles of landing 

 place and our four Eskimos have started packing today. 

 When our direct radio fails you can reach us by com- 

 mercial radio via Godhavn. 



HOBBS 



Although we waited until 10:20 p.m., which was 

 past our schedule hour, we failed to get connection. 

 Godhavn put us off twice saying they had a mes- 

 sage for us but were too busy to send it and we 

 would have to wait till Wednesday night. About 

 2 A.M. another message came through: 



231 



