IN ANTARCTICA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 91, 14 October 1914, Page 2

IN ANTARCTICA

THE WINDIEST LAND IN THE WORLD SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON'S EXPERIENCES The achievement of Ammundsen and the tragedy of Scott have somewhat overclouded the work done by Sir Douglas Mawson in the Antarctic. His expedition was not organised for the purpose of first discovering the Pole and planting the Empire flag there, but for scientific research in what is now called the seventh continent. The expedition was, too, Australasian in character, and was sent out under the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Sciencej and it has been fully justified by ita results on Sir' Douglas's own' modest, not to say diffident, showing. Unfortunately, there is a debt like a Polar ice-cap overhanging the expedltion, and it is to pay off this that Sir Douglas Mawson is lecturing wherever he can find a suitable opening. As a sailor in some sort he knows and fully understands the dispiriting process of what sailors call "working off the dead horse." For himself (he explained last evening) he received nothing from his lectures— he is looked after by the University of Adelaide. But it is not on that ground at all that he need appeal to the public. In theatrical parlance, the show itself is worth the money. Sir Douglas .Mawson would himself not claim to be an oratorHe is, however, much more effective than any speaker spinning silken phrases could hope to be. He takes his hearers into his confidence, and has an easy-chair talk with them about the strange lands into which he penetrated, and in which two of his companions on the terrible and unforgettable; sledge journey lost their lives. LONG AND FEARFUL TRAMPS? The maps and scientific data to which Sit Douglas Mawson referred last evening need not be dealt with here, except to say how deceiving a map can be, how" inadequate an idea, of distanced it can convey. It is difficult to realise by a map what a hundred miles over needle-like ice can, be when, it hafi to be covered on foot and on an empty stomach. Of his own experiences, of Ins courage and daring, Sir Douglas Maweon refrained from mentioning a single word. He, left one to fill in the details to which he supplied but the outline, and, thrilling enough that was, too. ,The wind of Adelie Land', where so much of the expedition's work was done, is fiercer than any place on earth. It sometimes reached a velocity of two hundred miles an hour, and the average for twelve months was fifty miles an hour. With the wind came snow aiid fine particles of ice, which in a moment completely encrusted the face, so that eyes, mouth, and nose were covered by a crystal mask. Breathing was possible only by a constant breaking of the ice round the nose and mouth. It took quite a little while to thaw th-e face, and underneath the ice would be found patches of the deadly frostbite. Seal meat and penguins (flesh and eggs) formed the liase of the explorers' diet, and Dr. Mawson does not onoe complain that this simple far© became monotonous. Bread was- made with' chemical 'taieers at first, but it became wearisome to the flesh after a time. Then science proved its economic worth by helping the explorers to raise,, yeast' out of "a decoction of sugar and dried fruits —"a horrible, putrid mixture," was Sir Douglas's description of it, but better yeast wa« finally got, and so something like bread was obtained after almost superhuman patience. A FAMOUS LOAF. There was, and &till may be, a. loaf that will live in the history of exploration. It's maker's name the lecturer would not disclose; but the loaf was made without baking powder (which had been forgotten). It was baked for twenty- four houiis, and , yet it never rose. When no on© was looking—although each member of the party could read in the face of the cook the turmoil of his soul — the loaf was flung outside and lay hidden among granite boulders. But it was not permitted to be lost sight of, foi' a dog brought it back to the hut. It was flung out into the rocks again.and it was the last thing Sir Douglas caw when he left this dreary laud. Then he talked about ice fountains, of eeals and penguins, and showed come really remarkable pictures both, as lantern slides and kitiematograph studies. Some were photographs in natural col* ours, giving^ an altogether new idea to those who nave never been in polar regions of the beauty of the colour*—principally blues and greens. The work of Hurky, the Australian photographer and kinematographifct, was exceptionally fine, and coula be exh.ibif.ed anywhere to the civilised world On equal terms with th# best of its kind. Mr. Hurley is, it will be remembered, a member of the Shatrkleton Expedition. Sir Douglas Mawson will lecture at the Grand Opera, House again this evening. He should secure a crowded attendance. His Excellency the Governor and £atty were present laet evening. CIVIC RECEPTION The compliments of the city were extended to Sir Douglas and Lady Mawson yesterday afternoon by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) at a civic reception at the Town Hall. There was a fair attendance of the public, though, as the Mayor explained, the dislocation of the telegraph service lately had led to uncertainty as to when the guests would arrive, and the public had had too short notice to do the occasion honour. The Mayo? expressed the hearty appreciation of the city for the guest's work, and its hearty welcome to one who, though on his first visit to the Dominion, was far from being a stranger. Sir Douglas Mawson had begun his career by distinguishing himself at the university in connection with chemical research, and" his whole life, concluding with the record of his ex^edition, showed him to be a man of grit, capacity, and high ideals. The King had, by conferring knighthood updft him, expressed the appreciation of the whole British Empire, and the honour was regarded by the speaker not only as an honour to Sir Douglas and Lady Mawson, but as a tribute of good will to the people of the whole of the Southern Seas. The people had read with much interest of the privations and difficulties which the expedition had experienced—hardships which were all for tho behefit of the world at large. On behalf of the citizens of Wellington, and of all who had taken an interest in the work of the expedition, he extended the heartiest of welcomes to the visitors, who he hoped would spend a very pleasant stay in Wellington. Mr. W H. P. Barber heartily endorsed the "emarks made by the Mayor. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister of Marine, said that it was not often that people had the opportunity of seeing the immortal in the flesh, but he could not help thinking that when they were all forgotten the name of Sir Douglas Maweon would be perpetuated amongst those who interested, tlwmsilvas ia the

history of scientific work. He expressed sympathy with Sir Douglas in the fact that, when he returned from doing perhaps the finest scientific work that ever wa«.done, his achievement should have been overshadowed by the tragedy of thb Scott expedition ; and now, when he was telling the story of his work, the public attention was concentrated upon the war. He commended to the public the story of the Mawson expedition. For indomitable pluck and perseverance in the face of the most terrible odds he did not think any man had surpassed the performance of Sir Douglas Mawson, who for thirty-one days alter the loss of both his companions had faced the Antarctic blizzards alone. Sir Douglas Mawson, in a brief reply, thanked the speakers heartily for their kindly remarks. He admitted that events had "taken the wind out of their sails." That would have concerned them comparatively little— for their scientific work would be published in due form—if it were not that the lectures he had undertaken were not intended to wipe out the remaining; debt of the oxpedi. tion. Such expeditions as he had conducted, he said, were ordinarily regarded as active service; and at least one-third of the party were now on the way to the front. One of the members, Mr. Hannah, who had been electrician to the expedition and was in the hall, was going as electrician on the Maungfanui. Referring to the lectures he was giving, Sir Douglas said the remaining debt was about £3000, and while the circumstances in Australasia were such that interest in the work was much reduced, he hoped to^ be able to clear the liability off in America without difficulty. These expeditions were very costly, and the party bad expended abonfc £50,000 in cash ancj £10,000 in kind. The Australian Government had contributed £28,000, and the British Government £3000 towards the cost, but the New Zealand Government, having already given large sums to previous expeditions, had not been in a position to help. A large amount of money had been given by private people in Australasia. The proceedings were conducted with enthusiasm, and when the formal reception was over the Mayor entertained those present at afternoon tea.