TO THE SOUTH POLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 142, 10 March 1908, Page 9

TO THE SOUTH POLE.

THE NIMROD'S. VOYAGE. CAPTAIN ENGLAND'S STORY. THE, BERG BELT AND*THE BARRIER. IN A BLIZZARD. ( (BY'TEI.KGHAPIV. —l'l'-ESS- ASSOCIATION.) M.,-1 : .-•-■ j:-. ■ - , . Chnstohurch, March 9. : Captaiil' "England; {'■" Niihrs,;{ha,s .Holding the position of chief navigating offieeiy-his work entailed an wateh,'and I the' adverso made tho voyage soutli, •••-. an ■ exceedingly trying{one.; f {lntorviow<xL by -;."'-'":'.:a'{''.pressj'-r Captain - Englaudmadfl a detailed Btat-dmeufc regarding- • the voyage' to thotfeb- and' back again; -• CABLE SACRIFICED. --{ ;:f tyhb' V iefk/Xytt'elton,• he, said, " J .' '-tho weather, canio on' prettyj / {-] : to jbe''jerking;' -'»?-'. \v*e''li&d,- 1 l^'''inc'rbase-:'the* tqw^'rqpb.' L u'ritil{.' ' '■.;■ wero ■ IdO fathoms of chain"'and \ 100:' fathoms of-, wire hanging- .over', the -ship's stern; ; I : ! '.irfsaw 1 ;-.* ';'vwould?frave"-t(>''ne'done' r to -lighten her for ; ;; I.V wa^/%nd^we^Kad-to sacrifice, tho balance of'ollo cable- aftd - throw -'it'' overboard .-■ .That, {,{ lifted ; li'er {up?f'littlb;Karid"she ! ■■■~1;-' •' V : better.;"; ;''{'■'{?{ . - " Ofi coursov-' overy"man 011 board, includ-' I did;nbt{expect; va .' . the ship wS3'*BO;lbatlfi<l : -that ; :nqt'' I fo'om r !ti'?mbye , 'dbbufc However/; o'very-; ;./\ori6-'~w'as-ljapiiy^and-'prepdred.'to'-talce-things-hbtking-.Un/'the. }/.;-woHd'i'toodi^UrWthoir', 1 peace' of.muHl.-;.. 5 "':' ; "On Janriary ; 4' : wo' : lib.eratetl a.'pigeoiuwith' v.lieutenant"'Shackle- ■ -but :appar- ; entl.v-it'was"nover ! recoive<l.-The bad.weather, /• ■ contintied,:. giilef -folloning gale, and the Nim'--" 'rod was straining",heavily'. -this ..-.': •- told I .',0n; the' sliip, .and sheS.'begaii .to leak. . .Tko scienfcific.vst.aff ; wero" to the front, - and •;:/ . ■■' : 'vv , ere',^nly[,^';'glM.^Be.'doing'something-,to ; V •!" hielp'lisValong;•:, nftil' sjpsl' at; ; -l; ' tlie.'pump.'^irid' uiAill it^^ : choked. :We then''rauwd^'st'eam' ' the i-'ator out with .the.engine. PONIES AND MOTOR-CAR. '' Wo 'wero''moving very slowly ' indoed ,-V"i parallel' ibn.;JapiP ; c •.. arj;M2;! and'.wo tfrequently- had to-beavo.'t-o:. • : . Our main.-anxioty : wa3 'really as 'to: the {ponies' '-v ■. and',deck.cargo;: • ; ; ; petual-;roll 45; degrees;'.to'^oeach;^'sido^'-;,^-ibtv quently -for houra r in- order. 'to - preserve the' - hves of the ponies and ito. prevent l the: heavy. 1; i 'weather coming with sucn forco as. to tako' ■ away, tho deckncnrgo, includetl tho ' V-: :: motorcar'.and]. fixings.- 1 ' -T'am glad.'to, - . rlostlTho biilr; war£ : was-'sXaved'' iniin''sever'a!. places' 1 (hiring - y.',; that'-hapf: ■ " .': "might mention here. tho 'great satisfaction I feltiv with 'Mr., iJ. ( Miller's work. ■ : ' Everything,ho..did .1)1 the way of deck ere*' f> ;::'i >. tio'ri?.,;'dln4 visccixrin /tho -pi whs; most -gor- - •...fectiy'tionej^t^ going; domi': there'' qn^'a-.Vmeridibh':-hitherto ' nbtV^^touched'' v , and-, further to.'the east, wo would avoid the ; ' Tight through tho pack'ico;'as'well .as savo ■ : the consumptioniJof: coal; 7 ■ -much ;. stuff'.is takon.in-.ti-'small'ship.something has to be (Sacnficed, and. wo had ,to go with . veryi'lmnted consumption of coal, i Tho Nim-. -■ ; rod is.not a.sailmg ship,: and-though, wo can. jel}?with.iVa' ,strphgy,wind'*bi%,gale' '■. [ : 'i-^as-^iiyill ■ the. -blizzard (referred, to,"later- ;; - .wlien,- even. .with , steam full spbed ' • ahead, vp .blowii. nearly -fifty miles dead.' ■ :■ ' v 1 -. I would liko to'sayi how much I thought , . ofvCaptam Evans, of /Koonya, and his , skilful handling of; tljo.. vessd under such difficult circumstanGea ' and :eoiiditions.' ; Ho , /was only sorry when .wo.had'-to-signal to let go THE PACK ICE REACHED. .. "'lt was on.the;mormng;of'January, 1 15, at ■ 9 -o'clock,!,and; we .had observed' a lino- of ■ .; v-heavy '. : : icof-ahda'd;{Tlad,:3t'';been,; clear I 'and" ' .; vh ■ V might |have f pissed. , ;... and,-,gone> t on,.-;.but - there.. was- a very:strong . ■■ ; {{:;.wiiM-,,andi;a ; > rough! { ■ - quent,squalls..o{ - -:Wo y y v : ;led io^lw^bonya;: -■ -V-■; i' Kopnyayi-iuid. 1 Itransferred,.Mr.--Buckley..-, Mr., Jiuckley's 'un- ■ [{ceasipg. car<S';bf the;ponies,had saved, us much-.'! !V : '' i \Ve.i..made i .:jarrangement's,. ; :w;ith-;.C,aptain! -1 : ; Eyans-,about letting go,land this,was;'a'ccom-: 1 plisjhied:# i: Theii; : icanie.. tlie,! problem;!of- how:j •;! •;• .heave: in-.the- seventy fathoms.of chain' on' ■ I f; ' >ys; each -^side ; ii'>\tith>'. our;,- '.old-fashioned.; puriip- 1 " itosecmedr almost' .: "i ■;J^EO^iblC),''butjVknowing..that-, on, the :re]turn ' •;! - :;trip!l7shbuld'req'uir.eVovery^ounce'ofiweightil v.. i' '".cowd.-,get; in.:^the^ship-froveii : 4£.;'l .could '.como;. * ; ! -y:: ; -:{{ii5,iWith(}utfmchors,r!w!iichtIl^duid, ; not;hay&i...! ;v.itiu^^; ; '.up ••.without. ' ' tho .-.v.'eighb-r-rl. felt,' ithat'-,I ~muGt'- ;£ofc ; the ,' ; .chains in at all costs." Everyone was only. too. -.1 v' : :J 'i /.vl- i'J.^ r^^W^-^t^^j: ofi'MowV!tedij)jlcot,> : -iii%'lat'' : ::.: liLst.brou^ht.th'e.final'-fifteeii fathbitis aboard.' ..T. In, a; ; -y e ?ysShort!' timo'-'we":saw', that 1 -,wo' -' ..jould . ijdt,' hareJAarried • ithe;. "Koonya -i much', ! .;' :,nirth'er : ' unddr':ahy .'conditions.'i'-Wo^<.h'ad',just : H •' srossed : the - Circle, ' I .and l '-'shortlyafter; ithe'' 1 : ■ steamer lcft-uslweTgot-.amongst 'hei'vy ]arid : • c ice and- bergs—rhot'/tilbsej 'but'near bnoughvto : make;'tho : 'Niiiirbd' ! turn : aiid'twSst v in 1 1 " as she;. ran' along.'-- -Wo had-'to. run '[ •-.-twelve hours - before 'we-'boulfl. 'find a reason- : k ably'safe; thon;we Entered. Tho I ;, ~; further;,wo. went :the> closer .-atid'hea;vi6r .'were tho...bergs.; : iThero wero no . floes. and 110 pack ' ; ifj--^-{^^.r ;Tv.. . THREADING HER V/AY, THROUCH BCRCS. ' ' ■■■■•;< ,'! !We. were passing, through' long ; lirieq; of i .':.,;• i:"";; icebergs asi -half, a- ship's■ length on- 1 •.4: .'either./side,' tuniin'g and-,twisting--iii"and .out ;. of At'dast,-' howeverj -from' ' , ; ..^p^pr^«-ifesti-'we•;weroCable > ■~ open sea- and ;jve .stobd; out, 1 , 1 V-. getting:;clear:of f all i the- icp.-'n By /good -fortuno: "E , the ithick •; weather'; ,h'a'd.ikept' r olf j•: but: wo' had , 1 hardly.'.beenjitwdlvoj'hours-' iii'the'openlbeforo i' it camo-oii:thick 'a'nd siiowing : hard.' ..Though ; c ' the -Nlmrqd willinot go .that .'way next'time, i' - '' she .: saved' . inuch : .coal'.-and - time-, oc- > - . casioii;!;'i , ; -:;-i-:-'i:j.rv n'l :. • av-mproi'magnificenti'isight! 'J .than--!'those L gi'oat;' : iceb'ergs''Tbund l 'th6i-'little % 1 wo ®d e rf ship. .: To ; soo"h'er working :her way in 1 ' al ?d out. among themMvas truly gi-aiid/. -It , ???.'j ,^ o .^"fi rs t';^w l ithe;beautiful , ico'peti:el,. 'J ;■ <- which-is'never seen'except- 'near ice-' .4ftor .thiS irniShtyvchaiii' of'b'ergs, itre' had. ; ' mo ■fresh 'iwindsj'Vlirid'-'th6 ; : : ship ; ivas^'Vpassing; . . through- a .elcar o'non goa; on which an oCca : . , sion.nl; lonely berg would appear- AVo very '[ '■ 'i"k. a'notlier 1 great : ' r gcite, -and'-we. ' . had to use -oui sail and \coal aIl v.-e knew' i ... .hoTV to lessen our-leeway. -It W as iio-usg,' • and no,mado no.weathenng w .Thc hcavy-jerk-ing and. tho strain 01V tho'vessel-earned av.-uy : - Iho topmost, backstays; and : the Nimrod-had ;j co b'e'rpiit. l '.oil': tho* other'- :r tack' while 'new' s backstays'-: wero • \this ; '' Vb'h'rid 't lino weather ' -■ .;c , . :. " On' ja'riuar'y><;22; -svo sighted' the Ice Bar- '' fier., From* tho:be!t of bergs to tho Barritir- *1 ",g a/distando of-pO.milosi ' On rcachirig' tho' I Harrier, for a mile and. a hrilf-wc rail to- 'l wards Balloon 1n10t,.-at-which placo tho Dis- 1 covery sent up a balloon, and Lieutenant t bhackjeton intended „to :'wii'iter. there. We ' ■1, ''-passed, the placc,. and ..went several miles i east, and found- that Balloon , Inlet had 1 ■ ' gone;.-.-;';;- .-- , ,o'ir position at noon that day' placed us 1 '; °" wp top-'of tho Barrier,-according to UlO ;£ ■ chart,-theroby showing that a great many 'c bergs iiacl been-carried oft since tlie Discov- f . ory; was there. : - " -.- ;' - ' . - - A QUANDARY. '■] ' ' " We-were in^a'.quandary,, our. port being s gone. It remained'far us to decide, what to < do, ! bccauso ; :our.progress].east waS .now ( blocked.- There' w_as 110 pos3iblb:'hopo for. aiiy j ship to go : aloiig" the' Barrier.. "Tho heavy ] screw pack, through which we ha doassed in 1

the north, was now closo up against the Barrier; so wb coiild get lib further bast. ' "The Nimrod,roturned. along tho Barrier, : and wo .went 011; until we wero able to turn ; north. 'Lieutenant' Shackleton decided to tVy- to v 'Eing !: but agaiii thQiPlFort 'was vain. Wo-tried, to work east, -and.',struggled ,;on'. until > a- -north-west ! L giilb sprang upland it .becaijie so thick, that ,wo,;cpuld.sHot ;?oe. '.-.Pipfling ourselves invading. tlio-,'pack ,\yi,th ,:only,-bno small- outlet, ; .Lieutenant, glhacklotohoventually 1 -decided,. 1 .after.working, ivoj'th.,. to Capß..Colbeck, -tp .rc- '- tun;, to •MacAliirdo!.Sound,-,,the'.,vory,,limited. ; supplj- of. coal and tho.,short .time, available .' making..it., necessity,, to seouro .winter , qual;-. tersi r promptly.;.''|.,. . . ]~,... i'-. ; "Th'oj-chango;of plans..was,a, great grief.to Lieuteiiaiit Shackleton.'. -Wo reachcd' Mac-.. > Murdo Sound 011 January 29, and brought [ :up ,with, over - two,,mile3, .of, .fast . bay., ico;be- ; :tween'us -and. the .l)iscpvery!s ; quarters. ,iWo' lay-there waiting;.aii(l '■hoping. thatVtho .ico. 1 ; might show, sonio. sign: of .breaking,,' but; there; was 110. indication, of. it-.•. ,-! ; '1' Lio'jitenant Shackleton then,- decided, to. • .find- quarters ..somewhere.; on . the (eastern shorp ) ,.wliich is, Eoss. ; lsland, iior.th- of tlio, ice. ■ ■ ,AVo. found, the? bay,.between 'Capes. ißoyds, and.yßarne ;with: tho. ico .lying in it,, 'and tho. ship; ; Tyas : able ;to . lie alongside and, ; iland,tlio-,Stores.,';, . ,-;-i ' i-.;, ; V'.-..; : ' -. i, "Tho: site. chosen for i tlie hut Vwas a well- , ;soloct-ed.'-place, .sheltered from tho;,wind,, andj ;with,.a, hard .rocky,bottom. , Holes .wore bored ;in ,'tlie ,'rock,; and,. ,the, piles for tho, hut were , ;cemented' jn.;, Mr..,Dunlop.had-charge'of the erection.ol the hut.', r;, . ;:V : Vi ; ■ :: DIFFICULTY 0F LANDINC STORES. : ! jr ' WV^had,^nb^been land {much, stuff:, 'here, before. tlie,{ ice, .br'pko up -in' the bay,', . ;making, it .necessary.' ,to ', ; work - the'.stores: ; v:,,' 1-. "Tho difficulty,{of tho, undertaking jyas ' .-great,' ; a& r tho ,'sliip,:',being lighter, ..washigh; out {of ,;thq '.watoiy ahdi;wa's; greatly..' 'affected. I . f by;the.wind.;: ; Sho"'had;'to stand out; and in, ■ and'swing-round,for.,each boat, in.order to. I shorten-the distanoe-as'.much. as possible." ,- I ' cannot speak too highly. : of .the ,way. in,.which. ; all. hands , threw themselves into the effort. Kvery-man jwas ready, and.' eagor' to-'wbrk{as. ; long as , his,: knees;.would. support-.him. , { "Dayf.orVnightj ..any.: timo ■ andUall- times ' 'possible, whenever the-wind .was-sufficiently, light, wo'got the :boats under .way. : Thef work,-entailed .handling'' the boats through -ice- floes;'-and carefully'tending them against the ice ..face the stores had to land, in, a, , temperature rapidly lowering until .b,elow zero w;as. recorded. ... . .; :V{'{{j .'."I admired ,very much tho{!skill and-per-' seyorance of {tho; officers, who, -being blocked, : intone-;,direction',:'.--.'fried.-, others, {until Vthby,-, eventually ,-got tho /storos to , where;'.'the land-, 'iiig, partycould..;puU,{them up. ,',' : lt was, a : :,but-_: lit;.', gradually (..worked: .throiiga .to;, completion,, .until,; pn, {22; all; tho{ stores were landed. •' •. ( ...; c A BLIZZARD. ' { T"bri-'-February; 19 'thb{ Nimrod •■was' blown awky;-'in : ; one' of!the' worst 1 ' blizzards' it- : has: btth ! '?m^.not ! -'t«. ? light • northerly; and ; .; thick weather, and tho boat : 'betwoen. tho' ; ship 'and. tho; sliorb. u ' : Owing -to the; wxather' bPcbinirig ;s'o thick,;wo,had .to stbp{/th'e;boat,' as',tho;men' could .'inot see the'., ship;..' nor '• the'' ship ■- the' boat. ".''"- 1 .- ; r';' ;' - . twenty; minute's b^.that'-{tirijb tho{ ■ blizzard 1 was 011, us, ! ;'aiid,' .' amid: thick,, snow' and driving sleet,-we had co'rtimonced beatiiig backwards and:, forwards-under full 'steam; tryingitb .hold' otcr.J6.wn;,; : Wc. Wore.npt' and-everynow; a,na''then{w,e':;woul(l;-hV'' dodgo;" liuge; ] lumpsv'of:'] landico'{ and{. 1 . borgs { carved' 'off: "the,-glacier; ; v -'.'rWe ~ ■* : gradually !^blown : : to ideeward' we. .Were'nearlyfifty : :miles'-.^'dead- to,' leeward.. '::f;|This.' ; i w J as;' 'a.- yery{.' trying'. tim'o "-for'' all. I Bvbry, 1 ! ;tinie',. ; tlip .was.- *.left i: st<'?dy.v .'•! 'j froze; and''at. least every .'twentyiniiiiutOs $r, ■: rudder- was,, frozen, ;a,nd';had ;to , bo, : dug", wlth axos and ice picks: : v 'Wo hSd; ,to':'t'& ! k' the . ship! oveix. f.eur,'. or,,six. .liours tp avoid I heavy ice,:'and;'air-'h'arids',had;to';bo called to i-work ;up,tp .the,waist..;in, water...,,. . {X-tho ••fKate- 4 •traSlit!di''''pn , i| Board .< it.. could hot' .get away, the 'side port's having frozen up! Tt T o had to '-tiy 'and break holes in the bulwarks to allow the ship ;to,- free 'liersolf. Cof ;-ith"6' j i v >.(Tlio' : , lasted' -until ' the 22nd{, ivlien the weather began to moderate; and. wo set'-b'ack for Cape Boyds.. Wo reached /there, iji s the - raoraing,.. f and - pro? ceeded'tb' land! nipro coal,. a work 'which we : completed ~byi''-10.;30;.^.ra.-,i;^^'antl^y-the;W,essol; wenti'irwrtln^jVv.vii^ : ;{;?: !''{,,.:\.; : '.{o:, EASY PASSAGE BACK.,-.i-''.'r,l®e:^ssa^'.-'n9rth?;wasyqnisyof*;u,^eart^ : of good-luck.;! .The .wholo; journey'was one.without.a, phect uiitil .passing;Taiaro'a Heads.;: Wet'liad 'tlirbughoiit' f air.i'iyincbg, •" -.fair-. j gales'^. fine?\weatherj'"and. no {very," great sdas;.- 'All . icdmbiile'd^to':work-in.' our favbiiivarid; lis' :a ; (There' 'was : -iiot; much'.'icb; . to dodge iin-'the ihi^ii■■latitudes, r and; the, ship' - was. .able ..,tbi, run ducing sail.-.{,'.- . ; , : i.j ; ,..,{, :! w;',,:i.i: ;t,''Tms;{was ijirovidehtial;;^^as'^. : ' {light 1 : / state!.' of''the.!, ship.', wo /had', barely ' 30. • tons {on{ her; : ' : .;She>would : ;hav-o i: gohb :, 'far ; tb ■ leowai'd'.'of:-Newi>Zealandilhad: she',piet-: with' : the; samb, illrfortune iMoniing.ihad : on; her' last passago', nortli,' '■ when,; for three ,or{ •'f6<ir'Vw&ks"lft*- ! , gales.-:' V' -'; '-. :i ■ 1 ":We: metr :our,!hrst 1 check -■ after 1 -passingTaiaroa Heads, .wlion :a strong. norVeast (Wind 'set{. t i i n;{,. : From..theTtime(\ve sighted Akaroa- ;' to ''pounding : East .Cpiritiit-.wasi a,'.very .hpayy.,, dragT'.Tlie Niihr.qd was for five hours bpbliing 'up and,-db)vn.';iii{.a,i strong n.o.rl^ea'sterly;'sea,, ; and.^^;a|'' strong'] wind, .'.and. absolutely/; refusing 'to'movb.'{'{Seeing.,that''it{was 'impossible:to; Teaoh. :Lyttelt6h{'j)efore .iuidriight, : ' I: decided Itoiwait till daylight before..coining: irt.!,!', ;j .Asked cpncerning. the future-movements of the:- Nimrod,. Captain - England 1 'said that tlio' ship ihad: been\badly ■strained' iiiid required a; igoodi.dealwork-' donb'''to,',lier{ : ;' -Slie- • would:undergo extensive overhauling and-re--equipment;.{as- previously.'she -. equipped; ,for ■ t'lP 1 work ■ already': l - doho'.;: -. It < 'would ;'- : tak'e ;.a ; ; . considerable :i timo.-' tb'. -.makb' repairs: jandi',alterations..''"' She would'return: South .and .■'tho':explprinfe' party' 'w.quld, probably land ' ill - Now 1 Zealand; s'bm.e ; tinie- ; ini,Alarch', , .l9pD. ;;l

! GAPTAIN ENGLAND ■; RESIGNS.' • " : I\ T IMIIOD r S;J[OVEJiENTS. . : (DT TEIiEGEAm—rRESR ASSOCIATION ) i -O, 1 - ■"< ; ''.Chrlstchuroh, March 9. '. ; Seen .by/j a 1 "TresS reporter . tliiSi .'after-' noon,; Captain - England " made "• the' if olldwirig' statementy—"You. may -aiinoimce' ';niy : j'bsig-' nation: asveommander :of the Nimrod, on the ■ground:of ill-hcalthii-.rshall' remain in' charge' until; tho>ship lis 'passod |o'rer-'-t6 r 'the- agents 1 herb'.v'f' My .-future/movements? arbfvory lin-! ;cortain,:.but -I- shall probably; roniiun hero for • :a considerable -.t-iine/A-.^< i ' It is improbable - that-, the Nimrbcl will .be .dispatched on* magnetic-survey work- iiii :origi■nally- intonded,. nor.nvill^slie-:visit Sydney, and' Melbourne,- as. v/as-,expected.' It- is practically'' 'certain' that sho will remain m' Lytteltoii ..until slio leaves. for tho Antarctic regions to pick up the.shore party in'-December ne\t. ( , A DOCTOR'S ACCOUNT. -THE SEARCH : FOR A- LANDING ;PLACE. r :'' ' . XEbEQUArH—Pllilss' asSOCIATJON.) . -. .■ ■~• ■ Christchurch,. March 9. -, '4,' .Michel, tho - doctor- of.vthff Nimrpd,;hau an.intoresting.talo to tell,of tho ;journoy'. ./.Just. over.,.the Antarctic.' circle, ho ■ said, ; tho.' lioonya bast, • off, having earned tho. distinctibn of being, the iron'ship -to enter. tho none. Tlio. water,-, aftor passing a -first wide belt of,llat-topped, borgs,;was quito "clear,, ,aiid,- tho party experienced tho por'petual.:,,day,:. meal:, times alono marking tho ipas'sagoiof.day and, night, j.and .tho.'sleeping hours ,wero,.noglected in tho, novelty of the' thing. ,'Tlio..Barrier.was reached at ksWa whito sblid-clilf of ice, and it was explored for Borchgrevinek's Balloon Bight, which, howover,; had, disappeared. . . ,Thon followed vain wanderings, for a timo-in search--of a landing-place, and tlio ship -at': last/stopped : ;at,the, foot of. Mount Erobus. - The fine cono of tho volcano, truly shaped, stood,,a 'sentinel over, .tlio. Antarctic,-with Mount Terror ih. lesser grandour near by., ■ Erebus,. 'its.sides deeply scored, waved a porpotual ensign'of 'steam . from,_ 'tho crator, .-which, was sometimes wreathed in clouds as tho weather changed. : Erebus is 13,000 ft.. high, and. tho dead volcano Mount .Terror ll,oUQt't. The work or,. landing . was j)usbed : on, Fast,. tho ponies being' first landed. Tho hut was erected, and was got together without much

trouble, and work was uninterrupted by tho coming of night—for night was as brilliant as day. A .natural larder of sorts was in tho neighbourhood of tho hut, a penguin rookery being found/but penguins need keen, hunger as a sauce, and'tho birds were voted "morely passable." ,

.Referring to tho blizzard which descended ,upon'tho camp so sensationally,. Dr. Michel said that,.tho. Nimrod became almost an iceberg. Slio was sheathed from end .to end- in ico,_ and those officers 011 deck had a very, trying timo. The Nimrod did not leave till the"" Autumn "• arrived, and tho sun bad begun to dip-below tho horizon at night, .producing a long twilight and magnificent colour effects. _ Glorious,.tints tinged the peaks, and the irregularities of tho snow and 1 the effects.wero'wonderful. •

!: A painful; silenco lay-everywhere, ho said. At midnight, for instancy, not a livo thing •\yas : :visible, .not- a breath stirred the dead silenco; and tho long, bright light irritated tho nerves, and., there was, no escapo except in work. Seals and penguins alone represented tho fauna- of.-the region, and there were , 110 . plants. Thero was too .much work to,, do. otherwise ,to permit other than some essential . scientific, work, as the recording of meteorological . and soundings, and Professor., David particularly, dived ; for that sort ,ofiWork. .'Everyone was in splendid form, Dr. 1 Michel saidj especially .the com-mander,-whom he .had- never/seen:.in better spirits than when,ho left. . ■ INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE. : : THE; MOTOR CAR AND THE PONIES. . ,'' IDT'TELEGEArH— SrEOUr/. CORRESPONDENT.) '

Christcliurch, March 9. - fTho' crew';'of the Nimrod have' been, granted a "fortnights leay'o, by. .lieutenant Shackle,ton'"this;,lvebk,.commencing to-morrow; The wholo tlie /ship's.; company will, have a .weok's holiday, -'.and !at>. thb- expirj;-,.0f that period 'each individual..'w'ill. be. giveii. a ..week: off in rotation; , k -

. Enquiries', regarding {establishment ~,of a post office in,; tho . An fcarctic,; regions, elicited the 'information that, it: had. not set' up, chiefly becaii'so, the expedition .'had not reached! Klll2 Edward VII/Land.', \ . It; is'.' probablo that., ail ' attempt ■. will, 'he niade'by sonie' of tho members.of the-expedi-tion 'to'ascend;Mbunt Erebus/; ■', {- {

{."How'did tho.country look,'for, motoring?" Was, a question'asked of one of. the Niriirodfs. crew. "It didn't Icok too . g00d,",, was tho j reply.- V'-'As far as .1 could seo,{the .•'success * .of.' thoj. expeditipn' . to; the South' Polo {will 'depend on, tho' '.ponies'; though 'tho, motor, car. may .bp all right when, tho', Ice linns. There , •is; iio - danger .of-the petrol ' freezing. {The. only', trouble- is that cxporiencbd'.in starting tlieimbtor.' ■ A-.blow: iamp is!required' start 'tho'cylinders, arid after,they are started they, keepithb oil. warm." It is' -anticipatid that' an'liiitial{difficulty which''may', riot" be. easily surmounted will bo experienced when'an, attehipt'is miide.' to get 1 the.motor car over-tlib, wide; stretch'.of hiimmocky;ice beyond- which: - the- ico plain'lies. - ; . .:■;{■ .{ 'Mr.{-L{,''A,' Cotton," who;.'accompanied {the. 1 ' expedifcibri; as •; Assistant -to Professor David; of : Sydney{''Dnivorsity, . and;who has returned , for 1 '; the .purjj'oso' 'of Resuming , his, studies, says .the' professqr' was in' excellent, health; .and'.'.had, "toscs'''ou 'his "chocks " when. the ' Nimrbd 1 ; left'.y : : Ho .:shbwod'{that, , ho{coiild;',db as ; much '■ hard -'work; as.' any "one connected with tho expedition, ' and- could haul. sledgos with';tho'best •of them.' .• All.he : requires; is '.f6iir.''bbnre^; ; dMp,;.an'd;:.whm''not' assisting l,inthe general '.work,"' he •' was' Yfriting, lettors to i his.wifo, "for- 1 -pri. iriattors' conriected - witly tho' ► Univorsity/'an'd : also newspaper articles. { v ' /'.["'The', station- at, which N Captain 'Scott l and' I'Dr.'.' . of {tho ' Discovery , expedition,, .the .'habits! of.'i' Antarctic birds ' was I jpiind (by; a {-party' -from tho {Nimiod.in, a, I jjomewhat.' peculiar l way-; {'. Orio.'of thoso com- , iirising thejparty 'had previously- beeii-,south with. Captain' Scott's expedition," and ' lie 1 110-' ticed' tho . bamboo "pole which had- been the pole,of;tho'.bell:,tent:'iii.:which .Captain 'Scott aiuL.Dr, Wilson, had l lived. - This led to' |ho discovery of'tho remainder ;pf the tent and •'to ; (msnowing;'.o£{vari6iw .stores; left behind by\ the'.'provious.. occupants, of,..tho' tent;'. Amongst these wpro : ii: sleeping bag, - ,a. -Priihiis. stove,. 'tobacco,' 'tea, bottles of methylated{spirits, and. 'a' pair 'of{boots'/ It ;:appeai'ed:;;as f 'if..t,he, camp had-been; left hurriedly.'. *..••{., ■ - - ■" ;.of 1 tho ; cold': in.'the{_Antarctip' : ; regions 'a ;.painful;; experience of 1 Mri.;. A. P. - Har.bord, second 'officer, of - the '.Nimrod;. may'bo related. . slr;''Harhord:do.siredto attract: • tho;. attention: of x tho "cr(iw one,,day, and put his, whistlo to : his. mouth. It immediateljr froze to-.his lips'nnd tongue,' arid in;wrenching,it;awoiy,a.quantity of'fleshout. ' . ;; '{ ..:' /Some of; the', soda -.water-taken in-the'-Nim-rod .when she {left. Lytteltoii. 'was Jjrou'ght .back in porfect : 'condition, despito its having been frozen .solid .for .several: weeks.-; "i, -;,-,{•. ' ; " The- best-merliciiie.iie'utcriant Shackleton got after leaving;';Lyttelton;"--""Mr. Dunlop 'states,;," was.to seo,.tho,grand _way tho Man.oliuriari ponies - dived' into' the collar. ' When - .yoked -jup: to :.thp . sledges , for the -, first ■ timo, 1. on January, 20;,0ne of ~the ponies went mad for. teri'minutes,'.Vafi'd.'knocked' himself about j.badly;"{, t >,'■ r j : '/'/ -',j : : Captain .'England's'first; remark on reach-. .ing Lyttelton,.yesterday. ; was, :'nYell,{thank goodness• we'are'coriiing to .a' port,'wo know-is' hero...; When we' went'.tb make-Ballobii Bipht' ■wo found :the : wliolo' thing had disappeared." One of tho Niinrod's crew received a pleasant and .unexpected'siirpriso{iyhen the. vessol; was.noaring tho wharf. - In eagerly scanning tho crowd of, peoplo : w!io ,;had.. gathered towelcbine the crew of tho. little', vessel back from..their.;; adventurous': ;voyage,' his . 'eyes alighted. on,'.his riiotlier' and, sistori'.'-;whom,-h'o had.; last'; seen., in , England" s'oriio 'six./'years before/ '. '••, ;','

Cheetham, the. sh'ipjs.bos'uii, who is also acting thinl officer, has.had previousexperience. ,of .tlio'... Polar.-...-regions,.rhaving journeyed to.'tho.fivieu 'south' iri tho. Morning.tho'reliovingVship^to.'/thbDiscovery. "This, is my second trip," .ho- remarked, ' c and wo baye 1/ad such" a rough tiriio tliat- j wouldn't mind, if fit. were'my. ;lakt. Of course, I/will see, tho job .'through; and will go hack ion t-lif* .Nimrod when ;sho leaves again. . After .that I' don' r t, think, I'll trouble it ';'again.... Ontho • voyagei; down ; we- had, a; terribly: rough time, . but''it'.was. : 'a record, passage back,, and left ;nothing to complain of.' /When we.got tb'the baso we,had a ,heap of trouble in 'landing the ; stores;.-'I Sometimes they-'..were talcon ashore in* the boats, and sometimes- they wero , lowered'-,direct. from tho Nimrod when , the /conditions allowed the vessel to get' right' alongside tho .100." . 'Questioned as to'the ■possibilities of 'tho'motor-car j' Mf' Cheothani ..said 110 was not altogether-.favourably iin-' • prissed' with' them: ".Of -course,:.it''is..oh]jv ! an: experiment, and .niay; turn out all' right," r ■he'-"coiitiiiu'ed/y" but 'as for. myself I woultf profcr tho ponies every time." :, ~'; HEROES OF THE SOUTH. 7 SOME PREVIOUS . - 1 A TALE OF PLUCK AND PERIL. . - 'J.IIO s.same- lure ; which 'drpw.i men; to the Spanish, Main,. .tor India, and tho gorgeous Hast; the hopo of gold and of strange merchandise, drew-.thorn-also..to-tho Antarctic solitudes, before tliey learned their emptiness, 'l'ho notion of a Soiithorn continent, Shakespeare'sv . ''augmentation. of the Undies," . died ybry-* hard. It was hold by Tasman, who named New-Zealand Staateiiland, becausc lie thought, it a continuation "of '-an. island?of -that namo bast 6f Patagonia.. Uook-put' an- eiid to this theory, and from his timo sciohce, . and not,, commerco and' gain, was itho divinity that led'adventurers Southward • Ho.' ' ■■Not one of thnso adventurers dared more, than Cook himself, when, in 1773, ih his cockleshell; the Resolution, of 462 tons, with -few-of tho scientific appliances or means of sustaining life in-high .'latitudes which have helped later'-voyagers,-ho crossed tho An-' tarctic circle and sailed south into tho unknown..- Through stormy seas, dense fogs; | and' blinding snowstorms his.> vessel dodged her way among tho drifting bergs, until a 'mountainous-barrier of ico,in latitude 71deg. 15min., longitudo 164deg. o4min. W., 00111pellod her to return. He was convinced that land-south, of this point would remain forever unknown. • . ' ' ■ AN OPEN SEA. .. : ' j . Hut bettor fortune than Cook's was to take men further than this. ■ Kemp, Billing-., sliaiisen, and Layarelf made, several small discoveries' of land in tho oarly years of the next and Billingshauoen, the

great Russian, crossed the Antarctic six times, greatly . narrowing by . his investigations tho area in which thero was any probability of finding large areas of continental land in tho higher i'olar region. Then, in 1882, occurred tho wonderful voyage of Captain Weddell. Seals, and -not glory, wero his immediate pursuit. Blest with a' season of unique warmth, he sailed in search of, theso three degrees: further south than Cook had reached, and then .found a vista of ripen sea before him—not a . berg to threaten his vessel's progress. But thero were bergs, in plenty behind, winter was approaching, provisions wero short,' and Ilia crow ailing, and not* to return before the ice closed in behind would be to court certain death. AVoddell turned hack with • a heavy heart; no one has since seen that open sea. 1 . . .AN INTERNATIONAL ATTACK. . Captains Biscoo, discoverer of tho .Auckland Islands and Enderby Land, and Baljony, discoverer of tho islands named after him, and of Sabrina' Land, extended tho world's knowledge of ■ Antarctica by means of expeditions equipped by Messrs. Enderby, British .■ merchants. A combineel intctTintioiial attack was then made upon the Polar' secrets, such as was. repeated, at tho timo of tho Discovery .expedition. France sent out, her greatest modorn navigator, D'Urville, whoso namo has .been; commemorated in New Zealand. .Skirting tho pack-ico. in January, 1840, lie discovered a snow-bound country, in- latitudo 66dog. 67min, Which ho named Terre Adelie, after,.tho Queen of bianco. Coasting westward along a great ice-barrier, he discovered other land. Tho United States .and England furnished two other expeditions. .Wilkes, the American, iought a passage"south through fog and storm, and the inferences drawn from .'observations in theso disadvantageous conditions have not been fully 'established/ The. .British expedition, • under Captain' (after-' wards Sir James) Ross, achieved by I far'tho most important results. Ross, an experienced explorerj had been sent with. two small ships, the Erobus and Terror,' to tako magnetic observations ' and" (lete'rmino the position of the South Magnetic Poloi Ho sailed himself in tho Erebus; and his tried lieutenant, Captain Crozier, had tho Terror., Dr. James Hooker wont as'naturalist. Ross sailed .' from Hobart ; in November,- IS4O, crossed tho Antarctic circle in longitudo I7ldeg. SOmin.. E., and after struggling for eight days'with the ..pack-ice, sailed into an open sea in, latitude ,70deg.' 23imn'.,'° longitude 174deg. oOmin. E. Reaching tlio"coast' of' Victoria Land, : ho sailed along it till tho sight 'of two volcanoes, of about eleven thousand and twelvo thousand feet in height, one of..thorn bolcliing firo and struck amaoment into the .explorers, seen 'm th'ps'o frozen; solitudes, i • Ross , namedthe mountains Erebus- and daring !to, appronch the l 'rocky-, shore; - tlio ships sailod eastward' along a barrier of' ico for some 450, miles, till they wore .beaten northward .'by now ice which had bogun to form., Once thoy wero nearly', frozen'in, while trying to explore an indentation in this lofty" wall,' unseen by any .previous 'navigators. determining as nearly, as""'possible the position'of the Pole, Ross visited .Tasmania, feydnoy, and tlio: Bay of Islands for purposes' of magnetic work, and,:, returning in tlio favourable season, 'struggled for. nearly; sixty-days through almost,a thousand miles, of pack,' threatened :by cdns'tantgales ', and driving bergs, , and emerging with ships strained and crippled, and the, loss of her, rhdder.. : to , : tho'Terror'.'

i .-7'"ENTHUSIASTS FOB,; SCIENCE; ; : An expedition for .magnetic work .under Lieutenant Mooro. in 1345, a visit .by'the! famous Challongor, in and Beveral; discoveries of land by whaling captains, wore tho cliicf events in- Antarctic history till ■ tho scientific mission of.tho left .Antwerp in August, ;1897.i '-Scioncc has never seen a fineiv spirit of eelf-sacrifico shown in' her cause. ■ .All tho officers)" and eyon .some of the sailors) were .unpaid; volunteers. .They, wero , the , first ■ explorers towinter iu tho - Antarctic, and, they - did so in circumstances of peculiar danger, the- ship being ..frozen up !for:-twelvo. months wlicra there .was 110. shelter. . The. Belgica returned 111 1899 'with ..interesting.' collections of. flora and.-fauna nnd geological speoinieils. , About the sam'o .tiino 'Mr. Borcljgreviiik's' expedition in -the; Southern Cross, under' tho auspices: of Sir George Ncwnes,, also wihtored: in the Far South. Tliel magnetic . and meteorological observations, mado by Mr. Kernacclii, - who afterwards joined the' scientific staff, of. tho Discovorv, woro. 'tho - most valuable results'of this expedition.

' Jb'UItTHER INTERNATIONAL' EFFORT.: Another international attempt was made at the beginning. of; this 'century to ; wrest : their secrets from the South. Polar regions. Germany sent out the Gauss, .under Dr.'Von ■Drygalski, England tho Discovery, under Captain Scott, Sweden, tho Antarctic, .under J.)r. Otto Nonlenskiold, and. Scotland a private, expedition, : under Mr. Bruoo.. ■..■'■'Tho. Antarctic circle was divided/for .'purposes of exploration between tho throe principal expeditions. Germany took the arc of the circle south of Korguelen, . Sweden' that south of. Cape Horn, and England that south of rNew Zealand. Provision was made for concerted"actHiu, and;'a '.-programme' was : sent to all ' States .possessing 'magnetic' and moteoxological stations with a request for co-operation. Tho, Scottish- vessel' was intended to co-operate ~with; the Swedes, especially in tho exploration'. of the' Weddell ,Soa,-but this was found impracticable.- Tho Gormans established an observatory at Kerguelen,, but the ..'shore, party , there experienced' groat privations! and their magnetic isiiryoy, broke, down., Tho Gauss' hersolfwas' frozen , in, for twolvo months just within tho Antarctic'circle. TwoV magnetic observatories wero built on ice-blocks, a meteorological station and astronomical obsorvatory wero erected, and 1 ; scientific work of various kinds \vas.carried'on'with great regularity and;success; .The"Swedish expedition lauded a wintering party at . Staaten". Island.. A land journey to tho south led to .important ' discoveries, and magnetic,, geological, "and meteorological observations.' wero kept up regularly, at headquarters, and by. travelling' parties. .After tlie. explo'roirs, left tho island ith'pii-V:vessel was crushed .by ico and sank.' 'its human freight taking. to. tho boats- and being picked up, finally, by a gunboat which tho Argentine Government sent out to look for them/ Tho achievements of tho British .expedition,,-under Captain Scott, Varo sufficiently, known. On an arduous sledge-jour-ney,-. Captain Scott,', Dr; Wilson, and Lieutenant- Shackelton,. the, leader of tho,.now ;Antarctio venture,! reaohpd' latitude 82deg." 17min. Si, in longitude 163deg. E., a' long, 'way the furthest south that has yet been attained.'.' Another long, sledgo. journey was A 'inado oil tho ico to the wostward, as well as ' sereral '..minor, trips. .Physical,', meteorological, zoological, and magnetic work of the greatest valuo. was performed by, the expedition.' :' - , :■ ■.