SCHOOLBOYS' DREAM

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 6

SCHOOLBOYS' DREAM

"TO THE SOUTH POLE"

STOWED AWAY WITH BYRD

The powers of imagination upon boyish minds are shown by the story of two 17-year-old Americans who stowed away on the whaling ship C. A. Larson at Los Angeles on 7th November. They wero high school-boys, and they sot off on that morning with their school bags and thoughts of lessons. Frank Mellody and John Vaitaniaa were their names. . Reading news of the departure that day for Bunedin of the C. A.'Larsen, with Commander Richard Byrd aboard, completely changed the boys' mind and environments. They went to school in the morning, but the Byrd expedition and visions of adventure proved too strong, and they decided to stow away on the vessel that day. They did. Now they are working on farms in SouthTaranaki, states an exchango, and they told their experiences somewhat wistfully but nevertheless philosophically.

NOT WELCOME ON BOARD. They made several visits to ■ the whaler in the afternoon, but it was not until 9 p.m. on 7th November that they secreted themselves in a lifeboat, after having had hearty meals. Cigarettes,' sleep,, and stiffness featured the next 24 hours, and the second 24 hours were marked by ravenous hunger. The decision was that as the whaler was far out at sea they should show themselves. They did so, and found Captain Nielsen a hardened sea-dog .with mor'O:hardened precepts of human nature than school- 1 masters. The language was strong. They were set to work in the hold and tijld to sleep- in the boiler room. It i was too hot there, so the adventurers [ slept ou the open decks.

Commander Byrd was on board, but the skipper told them at first that the stowaways .could not see him. Later, however, they saw their hero and niado ardent requests that they should be taken to the South Pole.- They were told that they could not be taken. GIVEN MONEY BY BYRD. ' Handcuffs and confinement were their lot when Wellington was reached, but Commander Byrd had a kindly.feeling for them, and after an attempt to escape and an argument between the skipper and Commander Byrd they were allowed to land. Captain Nielsen wished to send the boys ashore as they stood, but the genial American bought them clothes and gave them a few pounds to help them till they found work. It was also stated that Commander Byrd became bondsman in the sum of £500 each in order that the lads might settle in New Zealand. "Did your parents know you were contemplating the trip?" the boys ! were asked. ' . . ' "No," replied Vaitanian, "I wrote a letter the night before I left, and sent them a radiogram." "Are you glad or sorry you stowed away?" . "I am glad, of course, because I have made a big start towards seeing the world." • "You were rather plucky, don't you think?" . ■ "No, era'zy! It was-not pluck, but sheer' craziness, believe me." "BEST CHAP WE EVER MET."

"Do you still wish you had gone with Commander Byrdtf" "Well, I don't think so now, because the work and lack of proper food made us thin and we were sickly. Had we been well and fit I would have gone and put up with:the consequences/? : .'.-.'■'. "Do you like Commander Byrd?" "Like him? Boy, he's great—the best chap, we've ever met;"