FIRST NEWS FROM ANTARCTIC

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1087, 28 March 1911, Page 6

FIRST NEWS FROM ANTARCTIC

mm® of terra nmk A DESCRIPTION OF TOE VOYAGE/ HEAVY GALE E^COUmEO. MOTOR SLEDGE FALLS THROUGH ICE. RICH BIOLOGICAL COLLECTION.

(Special Report.—Copyright.) (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Patterson's Inlet, March 27. Tho Antarctic exploring ship, the Terra Nova, arrived at Patterson's Inlet, Stewart Island, this evening. Tho following is the first portion of tho official report of the voyage, supplied by Captain Scott, who is in chargo of the expedition:— A Heavy Gale. When three days out from New Zealand, on her voyage south, tho Terra Nova, which was deeply laden, encountered a heavy south-westerly gale. The vessel shipped a good deal of water, and. portions of tho bulwarks wero washed away. In addition to this, some of tho deck cargo was started, and the efforts to copo with tho water were frustrated by the pumps becoming choked. The result of this was that the water got into the engine-room, and it was found necessary to put tho fires out. The crew were then compelled to bale with buckets, and this work went on for many hours. By this time the position began to look rather serious, but, fortunately, before any further damago was done, the weather commenced to moderate, and in the meantime the pumps had been cleared. Two Ponies and a Dog Lost. The severity of tho gale is indicated by the fact that two of tho ponies and one dog wero lost, while tho other animals suffered very severely, but they have since recovered. A small amount of deck cargo was also swept overboard. The vessel than proceeded south on meridian 179 west.

Through the Ice Pack. On December 9, in latitude 63 south, the Terra Nova entered tho ice pack, which was phenomenally heavy, the traverse of 3fio miles being tho greatest extent of any pack yet recorded. After 21 days of extremely difficult navigation, the explorers reached the edge of tho great continental shelf, where interest ing soundings and serial sea temperatures were obtained. Tiio vessel entered the open water of Ross Sea on December 30. Here the exploreres were driven west by a heavy southerly gale. Admiralty Mountains and Victoria Land were sighted, and the expedition.' made Cape Crozier ou January 3, but a heavy swell made it impossible for a landing to be effected.

The Landing. After another severe fight through the ice pack, the Terra Nova reached M'Murdo Sound aud exceptionally open water, and the explorers decided to establish their winter quarters at Cape Evans, fourteen miles north of the Discovery Station, and eight miles south of Cape Royds. i The work of landing the stores for the western party over a mile and a half of sea ice occupied a week of strenuous exertions, the ponies, dogs, and motorsledges being requisitioned for the transport. Less of a Motor-Sledge. Tho ■ work of transporting the stores over the treacherous sea-ice was attended by considerable risk, and liere the expedition experienced its first serious loss, one of the motor-sledges being lost through a hole ill the ice. The house was soon constructed, and the station established and organised within a fortnight, there being quartered there fifteen ponies, thirty dogs, and one rabbit. The party was "very comfortably situated, the locality being exceptionally convenient for the scientific work of the party, which has already secured a rich biological collection. The weather, however, was very changeable, strong winds prevailing, and great difficulty being experienced in keeping the ship securely anchored to tho ice. During one particularly severe spell of weather the ship was driven on to a I shoal, but was refloated undamaged.

Southward Across tho Ice, When the Terra Nova le<i on her retnr.i to the northern waters, the slcdgo party was being organised for the journey southward across the ice. This party was to consist of twelve men, eight.ponies,

and two dog teams, and was expected to be cut off from Cape Evans for two months. It is hoped that the• return will be made over new ice early in April. Tho ship proceeds west to land tho geological party, and then cast in accordance with the programme previously mapped out. Tho men and animals are all in excellent health. SURVEYING WORK. I CAPTAIN SCOTT'S PLANS. Christchurch, March 27. Mr. ,T. .1. Kinsey, the representative of Captain Scott's Antarctica expedition, today received the following telegram from Half-Moon Bay, Stewart Island:— "Just arrived. All well. Hope to arrive at Lyttelton 011 31st.—Pennell." Lieutenant Pennell, by whom the message was sent, was, with Lieutenant Bowers, entrusted with'the duty of surveying, I or re-survcying, any lands that were seen during the Terra Nova's cruise in south-1 ,ern seas after lauding tho eastern party, I and returning to M'Murdo Sound. Ac-1 cording to' Captain Scott's plans, 110 was lxpeful that the Terra Nova would leave on this cruise about the third week in February. The intention was that tho Terra Nova should investigate tho pack in the region of the Balleny Islands, and proceod to tho westward, through, or to, the south of these islands. "My hope is," wrote Captain Scott, "that by again steering south she may throw some light upon the"coastline between Cape North and Adilie Land, and reconnoitre the coast with n view to landing parties upon it 011 a future occasion. These objects will occupy the ship during March, after which she will bo directed to return to New Zealand." It is understood that the Terra Nova comes direct to Lyttelton.