| 26" x 20" | "First Over the Barrens" Robert Bradford Countersigned Edition Size: 850 |
$145.00 (Cdn) |
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One of the most unusual chance rendezvous in Canada's history of northern flying took place in early September, 1928, on the Slave River about 40 miles south of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. It involved two major northern transportation systems, the sternwheeler steamship and the aeroplane. Pioneer bush pilot, C.H. "Punch" Dickins, had just completed the first aerial crossing of the Northwest Territories' barren lands when he ran out of fuel and was forced to land on the river. The aircraft, Fokker Super Universal G-CASK, under contract to Dominion Explorers, was to have refueled at Fort Smith, only 20 minutes flying time to the north. Punch's passengers were his mechanic, Bill Nadin, Dominion Explorers president Col. C.D.H. MacAlpine, the editor of the "Northern Miner", Richard Pearce, and Fred Baker, also of Dominion Explorers. After securing the aircraft on a muddy bank, Punch suggested making a pail of tea while they discussed their situation. A short time later, they heard a puffing sound coming from the south and around a bend came the Hudson's Bay Company sternwheeler "Northland Echo". It is hard to say who was more surprised, the crew and passengers of the vessel, or Punch and his party! The "Northland Echo" was pushing a barge loaded with freight and the Captain ordered it held against the bank under power alongside the aircraft. A large man wearing a Stetson hat and a lumberjack shirt called out, "Are you fellows in trouble?" "Not exactly," shouted Punch, "but would you have any aeroplane gasoline on that barge?"  "Yes," the big man replied. "There are ten barrels for some fellow named Dickins who thinks he is going to fly in here next winter!"The big man was Colonel J.K. Cornwall, known as "Peace River Jim", the very man that Col. MacAlpine was to see in Fort Smith. The aircraft was quickly refueled from one of the 45-gallon drums and the party was flown to their destination in twenty minutes.
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