SHORT OF FUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 3, 4 January 1934, Page 11

SHORT OF FUEL.

BYRD SUPPLY SHIP,

HEAVY GALES ENCOUNTERED.

VESSEL WITH A HISTORY.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

NAPIER, Wednesday.

An unscheduled call is being made at frapier by the Bear of Oakland, which is to join the Byrd expedition iii the Antarctic. Heavy weather on the East Coast was responsible for tha ship's call at this port. The Bear of Oakland is a low-powered ship, and driving against the heavy gales which blew last week, shortened her" supply of fuel. Coming down the New Zealand coast she had to turn back to shelter in Hicks Bay, and again last night had to go back on iier course after passing Napier. To-morrow she will take on 100 tons of coal, and will then continue her voyage to Wellington, where she is to take aboard coal, supplies and equipment for a short period of exploration in the Antarctic. The delay occasioned by the weather means a loss of valuable time. It was explained by the master, Captain R. A. J. Inglish, that Rear-Admiral Byrd is now waiting for the vessel to join him on the northern fringe of the ice pack. ; The "Bear" and the Jacob Ruppert will then go through the pack together to Little America. The "Bear" will then carry out exploration and survey work for about three weeks, returning to Dunedin for next winter, as the season during which conditions in the Antarctic permit vessels to remain in that region is rapidly closing. The Bear of Oakland can ill afford to lose the time which the delay of the last few days has cost her. Stoutly Built Ship. Although not a large, vessel, the Bear of Oakland is an exceedingly etout vessel. She is an auxiliary barquentine of 703 tons, with a length of 200 ft, a draught of 18ft, and a beam of 32ft. She is built of oak, and the entire ship is very lieavily reinforced, having a bow 30 inches thick, and a hull 20 inches thick below the waterline- and elightly above it.- Special beams and cross members give her additional strength, and her hull has a skin of ice sheeting. The ship has a crew of 28 and six officers. Three members of the crew were associated with Byrd on his previous expedition to the Antarctic. The ice pack of the Antarctic will hold no new perils for the "Bear," as for nearly forty years she was stationed in Bearing Sea attached to the United States Revenue Cutter Service, protecting the interests of the American fishing industry. It is that association which accounts for the presence on the vessel's decks of a number of light guns. The weapons were placed on the ship at a time when disputes between American and Russian interests over fishing rights were not infrequent. As the vessel has a romantic and interesting history, and will probably be placed in a museum after her return from the Antarctic, Admiral Byrd decided when overhauling and refitting her in preparation for the present venture, that the guns should be retained. Striking "House" Flag. From her mizzen the "Bear" flies the Stars and Stripes, and from her main her "house" flag —a bhio flag of rectangular shape, with a circle of light green, on which is a globo and aeroplane, representing Byrd's flights over the North and South Poles and Atlantic, together with the inscription, "Byrd Antarctic Expedition." Among the crew of the Bear of Oakland is Mr. Russell S. Robinson, of Auckland. Ho was specially chosen , as aeronautical engineer, having received his education at Massachusetts. When the ship put out from Papeete 17 days ago two stowaways., ag-cd about 15 years, wero discovered. In spite of the fact that the'ship was endeavouring to reach New Zealand as soon as possible, Lieutenant Inglish decided to return to Papeete, and the boys were landed.