Imperial Valley Press

TWO REAL MEN
Two aviators are accomplishing great things up in the wilds of Alaska and it might be interesting to Press readers to know that one of them is a former El Centro resident.

Joe Crosson, organizer of the Alaskan Airways, is the aviator who has performed heroic feats of flying this week, to bring relief to the disease ridden village of Point Barrow, the most northerly settlement in Alaska, several hundred miles north of the Arctic circle.

His companion on one flight, and his right-handed man at all times, is S. E. Robbins, known to a number of El Centroans as "Bob", who went to Alaska over a year ago to be with "the greatest flyer in the world-bar none." The quotation is from one of Robbins' letters.

Point Barrow has about a dozen white settlers and several hundred Eskimos. Diphtheria broke out there some weeks ago and the small supply of anti-toxin was soon exhausted.

In the old days relief could only be obtained by means of the dogsleds, requiring weeks for a journey to the "outside" if it could be made at all.

Twice this week Crosson has made the long trip from Fairbanks to Pt. Barrow. On his last trip Robbins accompanied him as far as Pt. Hope. Crosson continuing on alone to Pt. Barrow with anti-toxin and food supplies.

In dispatches to the outer world the flyers tell with what joy the people whom they aided greeted them. Oranges and lemons which were distributed, were hugged with joy and it required a long time for some to make up their minds to eat what was to them more precious than gold.

Crosson and Robbins are showing to what good use the airplane can be put. They are not passing over the country, destroying it, as it has been necessary for aviators to do some times. Neither are they risking their lives in foolish daring, seeking only the applause or the gold which the accomplishment of the unusual brings these days.

Instead they are aiding humanity, where humanity needs it badly, away up in the frozen north where fate has decreed that some men must dwell. They might be enjoying the balmy climate of Southern California if they so desired, for both Crosson and Robbins are recognized as crack flyers, who would have no difficulty in landing good jobs with any of the commercial companies on the coast.

They prefer the hardships of the north. And it is not for gold or glory. "Bob" Robbins would buck the stiffest wind and cold the Arctic could work up and he'd be grinning while he did it. He is devoid of fear, yet he is not reckless. And when he says in all sincerity that he is working with the "greatest flyer in the world", it means that Joe Crosson must be a wonderful flyer. His feats this week and in the past, bear out Robbins' claim.

A couple of real men, these two fellows are. Their feats may be known to only a comparatively few persons but that would not bother them. They would go on doing things as they have been doing if none knew of it but themselves. It is a pleasure to have known "Bob" and a delightful anticipation some day to know his pal.