THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Evening Star, Issue 11278, 27 June 1900, Page 4

THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

PERILOUS ADVENTURES. Press AHoalation— By telegraph— Oopylight. SYDNEY, June 26. (deceived Junc ( £B, at 5 p.m.) Further details show that towards the end of July an attempt-was made to reach Possession Island over the ice, but after going through exciting adventures and suffering great hardships from the cold, it was found necessary to return to camp Ridley without the object sought being accomplished, although Mr Borcbogrevinck states that the trips were by no means unimportant, either in regard to meteorological observations or the geological studies of Victoria Land itself. Ou July 26 an attempt was made to reach the coast landto the west of Robertson's Bay. The camp was pitched with the thermometer registering 40deg below zero. An island . was discovered and named.the Puke of York Maud. On this journey the- lowest temperature registered was experienced—namely, 52deg below zero. Subsequently expeditions to Robertson's Bay were despatched during August and September, with the result that valuable collections were made and observations attended to whenever opportunity offered.

On one of the journeys on the glaciers of Victoria Laud the Finn (Sairo) had a thrilling experience.. He had carelessly walked ou the glacier without a rope, when he felt the snow give way under his feet and he fell headlong into a crevasse, turning three times round in the air before he jumped fc'Oft below, head downwards. He managed to turn himself bead upwards, then with great coolness and presence of mind took from his pocket a strong pocket kuife, with which he carved small supports for his feet, and thus gradually working his way upwards he reached the top in an exhausted condition.

The land towards the south-west of the Duke of York Island, in the Admiralty Range, was visited and named . Geikie Island, owing to its geological interest. The Duke of York Island itself was found to be cut through from east to west by broad, deep quartz reefs, and it may here suffice to say, remarks Borchgrevinck, " that minerals of great value occur in this vicinity, and that undoubtedly, in time to come, sojenca will receive that support from commerce which the progress of civilisation justifies, and that the future of Antarctic' exploration will never be in want of financial support, Officially I took possession of DuKe of York island for Sir George Newnes. Geikio Land, which we visited on several occasions, is also rieb in minerals,"