BYRD EXPEDITION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 53, 26 November 1928, Page 13

BYRD EXPEDITION

DEPARTURE FROM WELLINGTON AN AUSPICIOUS START LEAVING FOR ROSS SEA NEXT SATURDAY The departure of the Eleanor Bolling from Wellington for Dunedin on Saturday marks the setting out in earnest of Commander Byrd’s South Polar expedition. After taking aboard the remainder of the stores and equipment, and dogs, the Eleanor Bolling and the City of New York are expected to sail from Dunedin for the Ross Sea on Saturday next. Nearly two and a half centuries ago —it was in the year 1690—a boy stood by the rail of a little ship lying in the James River, Virginia, watching a crowd of negroes rolling the last hogsheads of tobacco into the hold. He was William, the first Byrd born in the new world, going to London to be educated. On Saturday, November 24, 1928, his great-great-great-great grandson, Richard Evelyn Byrd, a commander in the United States Navy, stood on Pipitea Wharf, Wellington, watching the preparations for departure of a tiny ship—his own ship Eleanor Bolling—carrier of the most precious part of his equipment for flying from the Ice Barrier to the South Pole. — . , To all outward appearance Richard Byrd was the least concerned of any person on the pier, yet what was going forward meant more to him than to any other man there. So he had stood on a pier in New York on April 5, 1926, watching the last loading of the ship in which he sailed for Spitzbergen to fly to the North Pole a month later. So, too, he had stood seventeen months ago on Roosevelt Field, New York, watching the warming-up of the engines of the great ’plane iu which 42 hours later, he landed in darkness on the coast of France oyer 3000 miles away. With him on Saturday was Bernt Balchen, who had piloted the aeroplane much of the way, and who cleverly landed it in the water when the petrol supply was Tunning low, and it was imperative to land. And there were with him, too, other men who had shared in the preparation and. execution of those great achievements. Now he was watching with keenly observant eyes the penultimate preparations for his departure on the greatest adventure of his life. For the last half hour, in the brief intervals when he was not discussing pressing matters of business, or, with infinite courtesy and patience, replying to well-wishers and signing autographs, Commander Byrd stood watching the stout little ship—the tiny basket packed with the most precious eggs of the expedition—the four great aeroplanes. . Doubtless, in his mind s eye he saw the Eleanor Bolling fighting her way through stormy seas and grinding pack-ice on her 2300-miie passage from New Zealand to the Ice Barrier, and he was able to visualise the strenuous days to come in landing and assembling all this mass of equipment at the Bay of Whales, where there are no piers and cranes, and ingenuity, improvisation and sheer hard work will come into play. . And it cannot be doubted too that Richard Byrd, as he glanced up at the Bristol ’plane droning in swift circles over the hill-ringed harbour, visualised his great tri-motored ’plane roaring across the white wastes of the Ice Barrier and over the mighty mountain peaks of the ice-cap of the South Pole plateau. Given a fair run to the base, this young man, descendant of the long line of Byrds of Virginia, backed by the best equipment that science can give him and a 100 per cent, competent staff, will achieve his purpose. Loading the Ship.

In a day and a half of strenuous labour 500 tons measurement of equipment and stores had been loaded into the Eleanor Bolling. There had been many anxious hours, but the goods were got aboard to the very last package. The huge crates containing all the parts of the four aeroplanes had given most trouble, but even their great bulk yielded to the efforts of the stevedores and the ship’s men. What could not be got below was carried on deck. On the forehatch rested monster crates and the great yello,w fabric of the 500 ft. Fokker aeroplane. Covered with tarpaulins and well-secured by stout wire and rope lashings—the great pile was nearly as high as the ship’s bridge. Another great crate rested securely on the after hatch; and cases and boxes of stores were stowed in every convenient place about the little ship’s decks. Richard G. Brophy, business manager of the expedition, was a happy man when he saw the last package go on board and the men securing the last lashing. He and the air pilots, Balchen, Parker, Smith and Pine, the mechanics and the ship’s company, had been nobly helped by the Harbour Board and its staff, which gave in fullest measure assistance in men and machinery, by the stevedores, Messrs. E. Scotland and H. A. McLeod and their able hard-working staff, by Mr. T. J. Gardiner, of Gardiner, Binnie and Halliburton, the ship’s local agents, and by the Customs officials and many other willing helpers. Eleanor Bolling Sails. A large crowd of onlookers, mostly friends of members of the expedition, had gathered to -witness the departure, among them the American ConsulGeneral for New Zealand, Mr. W. L. Lowrie. The last good-hopes were said and the Eleanor Bolling moved away from the wharf amid the hearty cheers of the onlookers. Cameras clicked, Willard Van der Veer, the expedition’s movie picture operator spent some yards of film. Hearty cheers were given for the little ship and her company and they responded with three blasts frjm the vessel’s whistle. Overhead wheeled a solitary aeroplane, the sun shone brightly and the placid water of the harbour ■ was scarcely rippled by the light northerly air. Quickly gathering way the Eleanor Bolling headed down harbour, the huge cases stacked on deck giving her a fully-loaded appearance, though she was four feet off her Plimsoll mark. It was a most auspicious start on the great adventure. Commander Byrd’s Thanks. Farewelled by a small gathering of friends, including Sir Douglas Mawson and Dr. E. Kidson, Dominion Meteorologist, Commander Byrd, accompanied by Mr. R. G. Brophy, Mr. Russell Owen (“New York Times”), Lieutenant R. Shropshire, Mr. W. Van I der Veer and Mr. C. Lofgren, left by

the Maori on Saturday night for Christchurch and Dunedin. Just before the steamer left Commander Byrd asked a “Dominion” representative to convey to the people of Wellington a message expressing his sincere appreciation and that of all the members of his party, of the hospitality, courtesy and kindness shown them on ail sides. During their brief stay in Wellington they had found many friends whom they hoped to meet again on their return from the Commander Byrd said he was deeply grateful for the ready help afforded them by the Government, the Wellington Harbour Board and other authorities as well as by private firms and individuals. Ministers and State departmental officials had made bls path easy, as had also the Harbour Board, which had placed every facility of the port at the disposal of the expedition and whose officers had cooperated most enthusiastically. Finally, said Commander Byrd, he had been most fortunate and happy to meet Sir Douglas Mawson and Dr. Kidson, Dominion Meteorologist, who had given him most valuable information and advice which would serve him in good stead in the Antarctic. Commander Byrd and the main body of his exped tion will probably leave Dunedin next Saturday in the City of New York for the Ross Sea. HONOUR CAPTAIN SCOTT’S MEMORY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, November 25. Commander Byrd and party arrived from Wellington this morning, and were met at the station by the Mayor, town Clerk, and the American Consular Agent (Mr. H. P. Bridge). They were subsequently taken on a motor tour of the city and suburbs, and in the afternoon, Commander Byrd deposited a wreath at the foot of the Scott statue in the presence of a large assemblage of the public, including representatives of local bodies. They left by the night express for Dunedin.