ICE WALL BREAKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 92, 29 January 1934, Page 5

ICE WALL BREAKS

SKIP UNABLE TO MOOR. SUPPLY DUMPS IN DANCER. BYRD’S ANTARCTIC PROBLEMS. (United Press Association—Copyright). NEW YORE, January 20. High winds, a strong swell and the complete disintegration of its berth alongside the Bay of Whales ice front again drove the Jacob Ruppert from her moorings on Thursday. At 1.30 p.m. on Friday the ship had been fruitlessly cruising and drifting in the bay for thirty-two hours. Forty-three men are marooned at Pressure Camp, the temporary supply base four and a half miles south of the edge of the ice, and four more arc at Little America. They. have already broken into the cached stores, as there is mo immediate prospect of relieving them. The Jacob' Ruppert has been unable to find a safe mooring as the whole front of the bay flooring, eight miles across, is' crumbling. Admiral Byrd estimated that over 1,000,000 square yards have broken off since Thursday morning. If the wind increases, Admiral Byrd will order Captain Gjertsen to put out for the open waters of the Ross Sea. The dangers df collision with ice endanger navigation within the bay, and tho problem of establishing the winter camp is reaching a critical ipoint. The Jacob Ruppert must be unloaded by February 10, otherwise she faces the danger of new ice forming, and also of fuel running short. Pilot June made a flight on Thursday seeking a tetter trail to Little America than that now used. His efforts were unsuccessful but what he saw convinced Admiral Byrd that there is grave danger to the whole flooring of the bay on the landing. Admiral Byrd immediately ordered the cache of hay, 'food and gasoline stored 100 yards from, tlie ship to be transferred to the Pressure Camp. At midnight a stinging east wind came up and tlie swell parred the Jacob Ruppert’s side against the submerged ice. Admiral Byrd then ordered the ship away from her berth. Then the ice began crumbling along an eight-mile front. A severe squall hid the scene, and when it cleared Admiral Byrd and Captain Gjertsen through their glasses were appalled to see, where a few hours before 100 yards of seemingly solid ice had stood between the cache- and the ship, that now the edge of the ice was at the cache itself. A few men were observed loading sledges at the cache but they were ' unable to bring the ship close enough 'to determine whether anyone was hurt. Admiral Byrd wirelessed ,to Captain Taylor, commanding the Pressure Camp, and Taylor dispatched a dog team to check up the cache personnel. Later he reported that all hands were safe.