POLAR RISKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 260, 2 November 1929, Page 9

POLAR RISKS.

TREACHEROUS TREK.

Byrd Party Beset With Dangers On Southern Route.

VAST CREVASSED AREA,

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copyright)

, .(Received 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 1. [By Mr. Russell Owen. Copyrighted 192S by the " New York Times " Company and the " St. Louis Post Dispatch." All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the " New York Times."] BAY OF WHALES, October 31. Messages from the supporting party on the southern trek, including Joe McGonahl's description of their two days in the crevassed area, show that they have taken their loads over the most dangerous part of the trail. When they return it will be with lighter sledges, for they took through that dangerous region supplies for depot four, at 81 degrees 45 minutes south. Ther# they turn back. Apparently the party found much worse travelling than did Amundsen on his journey seventeen years ago, for Amundsen went through the crevassed area three times when vision was poor and without much trouble.

A trip back to the northern edge to leave a warning for the snow-mobile was made at Commander Byrd's order for, although he had given, his instructions that the machine was not to go so far, he was afraid that they might be carried away by zeal and attempt too much. It is evident that no machine could pass such a treacherous and broken area. Joe McGonahl, navigator of the supporting sledge party, sent the following radio from just south of 80 degrees latitude:— "The peaceful Barrier showed up most sternly when the monotony of 160 miles of unexciting sledging was broken by efforts .to penetrate the maze of crevasses, covered chasms and hollow haycocks eleven miles south of the depot. The three tents are patched to-night between two pitfalls, three miles° to the east of the scene of our escapes from whatever is below the countless hollow crusts over which we passed.

"The Barrier trembles and roars occasionally as new.traps open in this area where the pressure of the ice is equalised. From 81 degrees south this morning a, long , line of knolls, jagged peaks and rolling domes glistened majestically on the crest of the hill-top stretching to the east and to the west.

Perilous Crevasses. "Well roped together we planned a short reconnaissance on foot. Walden stepped away from his sledge into a crevasse and sank down to his waist. He was pulled out again and went down into a second. We reached the hilltop ridge running to the south-west between villages of haycocks. We proceeded with the teams ■■ and in five minutes we were shut in by hollow domes, making every step on a thin trembling roof. ' "We crossed to, a safe-looking ridgeand slid down, ten feet from ah open hole with blackness for the bottom, and turned the teams to the west. Bursey slipped over the brink of a pit as we crossed the narrow bridge between it and the haycocks, but the rope dragged him back. There was a 100-foot hole to the left and countless haycocks to the right. "We followed the narrow highway west till a wide and thinly covered crevasse blocked our path to the hopeless area ahead. There was no room to turn the team between the haycocks. Braathen, roped and on skis, tested the largest and we rushed the dogs around and over the dome to retrace our steps a few hundred yards.

"Bursey stopped to fix the harness and the surf ace-sank under Branthen's sledge. The teams were hurried forward and pulled him to a thicker roof. The route flag slipped through into space below. Everything was:, hollow and we tried vainly with many crevasses, but Branthen's experienced short dodges brought us safe around. "A day of perilous reconnoitring over the valley checkered with crevasses and a mountain of broken ice, pitted and honeycombed by pressure, brought us to the firm Barrier at midnight to-day, just as the fog closed in on what we believe to be the most treacherous area ever crossed in the Antarctic. "Great upheavals have taken place here since Amundsen's time. Nothing he describes can compare with the last ten miles of our journey.

"It was a restless sleep for all, for every few hours we were awakened by thunder, announcing the birth of a new crevasse, and the shaking of the hollow snow beneath us. After an early breakfast Bursey and Braathen retraced their steps to the northern limit of the erevassed region to place a warning on the Barrier for the snow-mobile. Then Walden, Braathen and I, ro\>d and on skis, worked our way over and around the crevasses to the south-east, hoping to.find an opening in the hopeless looking range to the south. "From the high ridge we had glimpses of the firm Barrier, but three miles of pitted mountain lay before us. After lunch Braathen, Bursey and I proceeded on skiis in an effort to thread our way through between the open-back holes connected by the covered crevasses everywhere.

"In three hours we marked a zigzag trail a mile and a half long through the heart of the ridge and returned with doubts about our sledges getting over the dubious bridges, sharp shoulders and steep inclines, but there was no other way through the hills, which were impassable to the east and. west. The team and men, roped separately, followed our ragged line of flags. "It was a time for expert driving and obedient dogs. The veteran, Walden, said that he had never seen anything like it and the bridges were taxed to the limit. The dogs sensed the danger, and time and again disappeared in the crevasses and were hauled out by their team mates. Bursey and his leader, ■St. Lunaire, worked in perfect accord when a few feet to the right or left would mean a dangling sledge and driver. . "Walden's foresight, Braathen's care and Bursey's driving and luck brought us to the end of the range and the wide open road bordered by crevasses, leading down to safe ground and a clean trail. Towards the midnight sun we stopped and turned to view the area we had crossed before the fog set in. It seemed as if the gods had been playing with chalk cliffs and left them scattered and i broken on the Barrier floor."