SHACKLETON’S PROGRESS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28451, 4 December 1957, Page 15

SHACKLETON’S PROGRESS

John Biscoe To Assist Relief (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) PORT STANLEY. December 3.

The British survey ship, Shackleton, damaged when she hit an icefloe in the Antarctic three days ago, is expected to reach South Georgia, in the Falkland Islands dependencies, tomorrow.

Signals received yesterday at Port Stanley said that the crippled vessel was now making her way there escorted by the Navy guard ship, H.M.S. Protector. At South Georgia the Shackleton's damage will be assessed and repaired if possible. The Shackleton’s last reported speed was seven knots, and the weather was fair. The two gashes under her waterline have been roughlv patched. The ‘Antarctic research vessel. John Biscoe, will meet the Shackleton after her arrival at South Georgia to assist in the relief of men at bases in the Antarctic who have completed their tour of duty. This was to have been one of the Shackleton s main jobs.

At Katoomba. in the Blue Mountains, the police said today that a wind change could bring a repetition of the devastation which yesterday gutted big sections of the nearby townships of Leura and Wentworth Falls. Cooler weather has lessened the danger. although the Sydney Weather Bureau described it tonight as “still very high.” Two houses were lost near Jenolan Caves today. Another fire, at Bathurst, still burning, was reported tonight to have burned 5000 acres nf rich grazing country and incinerated 500 head of stock. The main threats today were to Condobolin, in south-west New South Wales, Wallacia, 25 miles west of Sydney, where three houses were lost yesterday,, Surrey Hills, an outer Sydney suburb, where several homes have been evacuated, and at Jenolan. There, the 120 ft Lucas Rock, towering over the guesthouse. may fall, as its supporting trees smoulder away. The area has been evacuated. Federal Aid

The New South Wales Premier. Mr John Cahill, today asked the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, for Federal assistance for fire victims, and a State Cabinet meeting was called to consider the fire emergency. Late today, Mr Cahill and the New South Wales Chief Secretary, Mr Christopher Kelly, will drive to the burned areas for first-hand information on the disaster. Relief measures announced today included the opening of a radio appeal for funds, a collection in Sydney of clothing. Church organisations sending blankets, food, and comforts to the fire zones, and a concert later this week to raise funds. The Sydney City Council will open a relief fund on Friday. Mr Menzies said in the House of Representatives in Canberra late today that the Commonwealth would contribute with the New South Wales Government on a £ for £ basis for relief ,of personal distress in fire areas. Replying to a question from the Opposition Leader, Dr. Evatt, Mi’ Menzies said that he would also discuss with Cabinet the possibility of servicemen being used to fight further fires. New Flare-up

Wentworth Falls, where 37 houses were lost yesterday in the track of a fast-moving fire which burned 103 houses and other buildings at Leura, two miles away, fought off a new flare-up today. Four volunteer fire-fight-ers were overcome by smoke and had to be dragged clear in the half-hour battle which checked rhe blaze before any further damage was done. Early today, when communications were restored to the towns, stories of heroism and tragedy were told by people from the fire areas.

A young married woman carried her two infant children barefoot over hundreds of yards of burning ground at Wentworth Falls to save them from being burnt to death. She is Mrs Betty Gunter, who was alone in her house on the main western highway when it was surrounded by flames late yesterday afternoon. Shelter From Flames Mrs Gunter picked up her 17-months-old baby, Warren, and three-year-old son. Trevor, and raced through the flames barefoot till she reached a deep gutter by the highway. There she laid the children flat against the kerb and sheltered them from the flames with her body.

“I felt searing pain on my leg when the flames licked over me,” shfe said today: She was badly burned on the legs, but she picked up her youngest child and raced over burning grass to find some safer place. Mrs Gunter said she yelled to a firefighter to get her other child. The firefighter ran to where Trevor lay huddled in the gutter, and carried him Io Mrs Gunter before helping them io safety.