BYBD'S EXPEDITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 5

BYBD'S EXPEDITION

"ASHORE" ON BARRIER.

FUN WITH THE PENGUINS. DISCOVERY INLET REACHED. • Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 28. A copyright message from the Byrd expedition, dated from Discovery Inlet, Antarctic, December 26, says: " We have been ashore—at least, if one can call a floating sheet of ice the shore; but as the entire Barrier is supposed to be afloat we have at least been on its doorstep. We reached" the Barrier yesterday, at longitude 177.25 west. We cruised along it all last night and this morning. It rose 80 or 90 feet—majestic, forbidding, beautiful and terrible. As we moved eastward, Frank Davies (physicist) and Quin A. Blackburn (topographer) sketched the face of the barrier, and soundings were taken every hour. They showed depths ranging from 250 to 300 fathoms at distances of between three and four miles off the shore. Commarder Byrd had predicted that at about 8 o'clock in the morning we should see the beginning of Discovery Inlet, and just about that time we sighted what was at first believed to be a distant ice-floe or berg. Three hours later, however, we were well inside the Inlet, where it narrows to a width from one to three miles."—Australian Press Association. '

"A short run brought us to the bay, the ice on which was about half way down the narrowest part of the Inlet. Here we came alongside the ice and threw out two ice anchors, making them fast. A moment later the ice near the ship was covered with men, running to stretch their legs, pelting each other with snowballs. We are how lying not more than 100 yards from the Barrier, which here is about 100 feet high. "As soon as we had made fast, Commander Byrd, with Bernt Balchen and others, went inland to try to locate a landing field at the edge of the Barrier. Such a field could be used as a, base for exploring the Barrier. There also has always been the possibility that Discovery Inlet would make a better base than the Bay of Whales, although the latter .would be much nearer the area which Commander Byrd wishes to explore. The party are travelling on skis, and when they reach the Barrier will be tied together with an alpine rope. Another party, composed of Captain Parker (pilot), Vaughan and Jacob Bursey, both dog drivers, have gone some distance in to get seals which are lying there in the sun. AVe need them for food for ourselves, and it is necessary to lay in as large a store as possible also for the dogs. "Dean Smith started off to hunt seals, but on the way he found two penguins, which interested him so : much that he stopped to play with them. They regarded him with friendly, curious eyes, until he tried to pick one up. Then he found that the little fellow could fight with flippers and bite with his beak. Smith brought them back finally, with many bruises on his arms and legs, and posed them in front of the cameras.

"But the real fun began when an Emperor penguin walked up to welcome us. The official greeter of the Antarctic was respendent in white shirt front, frock coat, long, brilliant black v beak, coloured purple on the sides, and with bright yellow spots on each side of his neck. He was a most imposing bird, and regarded us with just the proper touch of scornful toleration. He was at least feet high, and weighed about 60 pounds, and with his powerful flippers made an antagonist not to be laughed at. Harold June (Navy pilot) regarded the Emperor for a time and made up his mind that it should be his or, at least should be photographed in a proper state of subjection. So he walked up and, after being unmercifully nipped, dived at the bird. Both rolled oyer in the snow, to the sound of grunts. Wrapping both arms round the flippers and then lying on his majesty, June found that he could hold him. He then roped the penguin and brought him in front of the camera, the prisoner protesting every inch of the way."