ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10450, 14 September 1899, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS EXPEDITION.

ARRIVAL AT CAPE ADAIR.

(Br Sir George Newnes, Bart.)

United Press Association—By Elsctrio I Telegraph—Copyright! part" il On the 16th February Cape Adair was sighted. A terrible gale was blowing, and the ship was compelled to lie-to that night under two half topsails, in a storm of blinding sleet, and with the decks and rigging covered thick with ice. Next day, the gale subsiding, they steamed into Robertson Bay, and, for the first time in history, at ten o'clock in the morning, an anchor was let fall there in ten fathoma of water. In half-an-hour the staff were all on shore. On the beach were penguins, gulls, etone petrels, giant petrels, and many huge seals of an unknown species. Two of the adventurers, Evans and Bernacchi, started off to climb to the summit of the Cape. The ascent of over 1000 ft proved terrible, and they did not reach the top till midnight, but they must have felt full compensation in the thought that they were the first to set foot upon the summit of Victoria Land. The next iew days were employed in landing stores and erecting huts. This was a task of no small difficulty and hardship. The vessel was at anchor in a bay some 200 yards from the shore, and the workers were obliged to discharge cargo in small boats, which were then puiled to land, and tbe boxes carried through the surf by bearers waist-deep in the icy water. But all kept yreti. and "game," and in due course the stores of scientific apparatus, sledges, sad seventy-five sledge dogs, were landed safe and sound. A GREAT BLIZZARD. Bui. now a neirdifalrter was before them? On the 23rd February a great blizzard came on. It was a terrible experience. The wind rose suddenly, and b!«w thousands of tons of snow upon the little camp. The gale blew with cyclonic force, and it was piercing cold, eighteen degrees below zero. Four members of the staff, the doctor, Fonguer, Colbeck and Bernacchi, were on shore, and could not reach the ship. Their only shelter was a tent, which they were obliged to bury with stones, and lash with ropes, to prevent it blowing away, and all that terrible night they were toiling in the blizzard to save the cargo from being washed away. Bernacchi got lrost-bitten in the ears, which turned quite black, and were only saved with difficulty. The hair of the party froze into solid lumps, and the ice upon their beards tooK hours to m-elt, whiis lueir clothes clashed with ice like coats of mail. The waves froeo solid as they dashed upon tbe shore, and the water froze in the barrels, though they lay beside a roaring fire in the tent. A more awful experience it would "be difficult to imagine. . afternoon they managed to get oh board, where they found their companions had also had a terrible experience. tjton£3 from the mountain had been blown on board. THE VESSEL IN DANGER. Thto oiblo had parted during the night, and the ship was They endeavoured to cut tihe mainmast, but could net do so. They rrere forced to steam out of the bay, and even then nothing could have saved the ship bad she not proved herself remarkably seaworthy. On the 25th it blew another storm, but not quite so strong, but tha vessel again lost an anchor, and driving ashore bumped on the rocks four tdmes with terrific force. By steaming full speed ahead, they contrived to get her off, but a boat was smashed to atoms, and they had to steam for shelter to the other aide of the bay, and to moor the ship with ropes to the edge of a glacier. There they found good shelter, and en the afternoon of the 27th February three members of the staff, Colbeck, Hanson and Fonguer were permitted to go ashore for the purpose of climbing the great glacier, taking alpenstocks, ropes, provisions, cognac, etc. They started at half-past three o'clock, and returned at midnight. VALUABLE DISCOVERIES. They made some valuable discoveries. Although they were not able to reach the top, they attained an altitude of 2300 ft, as indicated -fay the aneroid. At 1600 ft they discovered an abundance of moss of three distinct kinds, exaetlv the same as the reindeer moss in the North, and more important than all, near the bottom of the mountain they lighted on a huge quart* outcrop, which looked as if it contained gold. It was milky, with bhie streaks, and very heavy, and oad walls of soft slaty matter. These discoveries gave them strong hope that tbsir subsequent exploration wsl meet with a great and vahrabl© reward. Such is a brief account of the experience upon the Southern Cross up to the 27th February. What has hapnened since then, none but that brive band of ten determined men can know, till January next. They are shut up in the ice. and no ship could till then approach near to the wonderful continent upon which they have voluntarily chosen to live for a year, during whkh time they will explore those unknown regions to the fullest extent of their powers. Our English winter is their summer, and then the k» will break up and melt, and the Southern Cross, whioh has returned to warmer latitudes during the interval, will steam to Cape Adair coco more. As they approach we can anagine tbe interest ana anxiety to those on board to know whether they are to find the band still mustering their full strength of ten eouls, and ti»e hopes they will entertain that the objects of the grand undertaking have beea attained. lam sure these good -w-ishes, and kindly thoughts will be shared by thousand* of* us at Home, who admire the exercise of enduraace, courage and determiiKiion.