HIS LONELY VIGIL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 9

HIS LONELY VIGIL

ADMIRAL BYRD'S PERIL

SLOWLY BEING POISONED

"ALL BUT HELPLESS"

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. (deceived October 27, 11 a.m.) LHSTLE AMERICA, October 26. Admiral Byrd, in his special account for the Australian Press Association of his experiences while in solitary isolation at tho Advance Base, states: — " Coming back even to Litue America is like returning to a different world. No intelligent man could live isolated in tluit shack through, the Polar winter" night, enduring some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded, and not discover something new about himself, about people, and things. There wore I several weeks during which 1 kept busy ! and happy. The phonograph and books occupied me during the more leisurely hours in the afternoon. Besides meteorological and auroral records I kept a diary. "Out there I was utterly beyond the urgencies and transient crises of every- ! day life. There were no telephones, traffic noises, creditors importuning, friends' formal dinners, stock market reports, economic crises, defeatists, and bores with stiff collars. It was great.

"Then, during tho last weeks, my trouble began. Unknown to mo I was gradually being poisoned by tho fumes from the kerosene stove. My eyes commenced to smart, and puzzling riches and pains developed in my body. About the same ti.m6 1 was also seriously poisoned by carbon monoxide fumes from tho small gas generator for giving power to tho radjo. Tho poison settled into -my body. I was all but helpless. ThD first two weeks of Juno were really, hell. I did not think I had a oliaacc. First it was bewildering, then dismaying. I couuted my time in minutes. .Finally I think I accepted it calmly. There was nothing else to, do.

"Then to my great surprise a slow improvement set in towards the end of June. With more strength I was able to tako greater care of my diet.. But again in July, during tho period of tlie greatest cold, my health began failing until Poultei' arrived. I have boon through a wonderful experionuc. I have teen enriched."