AURORA, ANTARCTIC SHIP

Evening Star, Issue 16091, 17 April 1916, Page 4

AURORA, ANTARCTIC SHIP

Tho Aurora, now lying at Rattray street wharf, was visited on Saturday by about 2,000 persons. The Arthur Street School Baud attended, and played in fine stylo. "X ester-day the visitors numbered about 3,000. There would have been twice- as ninny if the weather had beep line. There is a great deal to be learnt by a visit to this stout" little vessel. The. visitor can, with the aid of his imagination, conjure up a vast array of romantic thoughts about her. He mav also gather many interesting facts from the courteous members of the crew. As to the cold, for instance. The Aurora's party got their lowest readings of the instruments shortly after being blown off the land—minus •V&leg,. which means just on 70deg of frost, '(he men, howovey, did not suffer much from the cold. Captain Stenhonse saws they were made all right in that respect by having plenty of fresh meat and plenty of hard work. It was pretty fresh in the crow's nest, but- no man was* ever kept up there for a long stretch, and they never had a trouble about getting a half-frozen man down the rigging. During the Aurora's drift her men ate. 32 seals. 34 Emperor penguin*, and 320 " addles," 111 addition to what 'they took from the stock of provisions on board. A sharp look-out had to bekept during the early days of the drift for seals on the ice. Whenever they say one they wont alter it, hunted it to the ship's side, and there slaughtered it. When they came across a flock of penguins they 'bagged the lot. So thev went on until ample supplies of moat were laid in. Water was the subject of more anxiety. They used snow for water during tho drift., At first they could not get enough snow. A -light" sprinkle would come down, and the men wore promptly over the side- scraping it up to get enough for the tea. Then a blizzard set in, and the snow could be shovelled up or hoisted aboard in blocks. Those who visit tho Aurora and pay tho small sum asked for in aid of the' Red Cross fund may also inspect the exhibition of curiosities laid out in one of the adjacent sheds. Jt is a big collection. Amongst the articles of special interest are 0110 ot" Captain Scott's sledges, a tent that was used by his party, new and old types of ski, some rare specimens of Km-pr'i-or penguins and seals, including tho skeleton of a seal one <lav old. As many persons were stopped by the rain from visiting the Aurora yesterday, she was opened for inspection 'again today and this evening. A large crowd may be expected to-night, for the vessel is to be electrically illuminated.