DOUGHERTY ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 47, 24 August 1931, Page 6

DOUGHERTY ISLAND

SOUTHERN OCEAN MYSTERY DISCOVERY1 S HOMEWARD VOYAGE (From "The Post's" Representative) SYDNEY, 13tn August. - A report by Captain Mackenzie giving details of the exciting voyage to England of the Antarctic Research ship Discovery has just been released by Sir Douglas Mawson, who was leader of the expedition. All efforts to find the mysterious Dougherty Island, indicated on charts as being in a certain position in the Great Southern Ocean failed. In fact, the Discovery isa'ilcd straight across the spot where the island is supposed to be and found only deep water. The incident is described in an entry made on 22nd May, and is as follows: — ■■''■.■■•..'

"To-day the Discovery passed over the charted position of Dougherty Island, that mysterious outpost of the Great White South, which has been described as one of the most desolate and. isolated spots in the .ocean, and which so long has evaded the search of expedition ships, whalers, and other vessels. Good observations were obtained throughout the morning, and at noon our course was altered to enable us to pass directly over the island's.assigned position, where, at 2 p.m., soundings revealed a depth of 2470 fathoms. No land was j seen and there was' no indication of1 ,its existence in this locality. The weather for once was remarkably clear and had there been an island within twelve miles we would have Been it. It is our intention, if weather permits,, to continue along this ■ parallel of latitude to the- meridian of 90 degrees west longitude; in. the hope; that land may be fallen ..in with, or that somo evidence of it»;existence' may be found. In this running'search, however, our efforts are heavily handicapped. The darkness of itKe sub-Antarctic night is almost continuous, while snow and thick weather during the'few hours of daylight make it quite1 possible to pass within a short distance of land without being able to see it." 1

Captain Mackenzie goes on to describe a series-- of violent, storms which overtook the Discovery after leaving Wellington on. 6th May. "A continuous succession of westerly gales,"' he says, "has , been experienced. These fierce storms follow each-other with great rapidity and with-a .wind velocity. of fifty miles an hour.,- A-h'igh following sea helps' to induce our restless ship to hurry;, forward; -:-.: One morning in: the sight of :a2ooft; tabular iceberg the air temperature stood at 25 iiegrees Fahr., and a falling barometer at 28.10. The barometer proved; no; idle warning, for. on the. f ollowing,;day,/iii. the ceatre. of the depressioii- the mercury.,dropped to the abnormal figure of 27;46in. In readiness we watched and; anxiously waited ' for the zero . hour: of : attack. Suddenly, as if the heavens had ppehed>; the, full. might, of Kature'g bombardment was upon us—a tempest of indescribable force and fury. All square sails had previously been" taken in. and made, fast,, and it took both watches all. their time to handle the fore: and aft stern sails, which' would have been blown to ribbons, for in less than half an hour the gale had sprung to a force of more than 75 miles an hour. A tremendous breaking sea, thundering behind, threatened, to. engulf the little vessel. Many timea solid water'boarded at a height above! ;thebridge;.lifeboat, and swept on and pver.us. Islandstand icebergs were forgotten^ in the single thought of keeping dead before the gale. We have good reason to thank-God for the stout ship and for the stout fellows of Dundee who builtvher.", ; '• " > - :'