My Library

Wilkins was to note in his log where he was at and what he was doing or experiencing at those pre-arranged clock-time windows.Since his schedule fell to pieces even before he took off for the Arctic, Sherman clearly could not tune in to a physical place. Therefore, physical frames of reference depending on physical distance and place measured by clock-time miles or meters were useless with regard to locating where Wilkins was at the times of the pre-arranged "windows." The principal question thus emerges: what DID Sherman tune in to? Even if Sherman had known where Wilkins was physically, such would not have contributed to some of his impressions as follow: December 20, 1937: Regarding Wilkins, SHERMAN in New York has the impression that "You have some rare wine offered yourself and crew tonight. WILKINS in the Arctic records: "Blueberry wine -- not bad!" December 21, 1937: SHERMAN: "You have another project looming -- to follow immediately after this work [is] completed for Russian government. Think it [will be] in association [with] Lincoln Ellsworth, and that further communications will be exchanged about it." WILKINS records: "Message from Ellsworth about his expedition to the South [i.e., the Antarctic] next season." January 24, 1938: SHERMAN: "You are out somewhere -- I see smoke curling up from fire -- three tents appear to be nearby."