BYRD EXPEDITION

Evening Star, Issue 21624, 20 January 1934, Page 13

BYRD EXPEDITION

ARRIVAL AT LITTLE AMERICA WIRELESS TOWERS INTACT £r«w Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, January 18. The Jacob Rpppert arrived at Little America at'12.30 on the afternoon of Thursday, and the expedition prepared to reoccupy the old camp. Dog teams were sent ahead, with campaign sup--plies. When the vessel is safely moored alongside the'firm bay ice on the west side of the Bay ot' Whales the aeroplanes will be unloaded. The landing party found, the three 60ft wireless towers intact, although the camp buildings were covered with snow. Admiral Byrd said ; “ It’s all here, even the administration building. You can see three ventilators sticking up and the chimney. There is the radio shack to th« left. It’s all there under the show.”- '

DIFFICULT ENTRY TO BAY

LEADER’S FIRST VISIT TO CAMP ... " V NEW YORK,. January 19. (Received, January 20, at 9 a.m.) Tha'effedts of the terrific upheaval of ic# in the Bay of Whales, which last .week minted Mr Ellsworth’s plane, were everywhere in evidence when the Jacob Ruppert arrived. The bottle-necked entrance to the bay was choked by great masses of broken' ice, 'and for a time it seemed that the Jacob Ruppert would be unable to find a safe passage .through the debris. Under Admiral Byrd’s direction the ship oasutiously, moved along the edge of the,ice, finally finding an opening neat the east cape. Fully five miles of solid ice had broken off since Mr Ellsworth entered . the bay. Admiral Byrd declared: “It is amazing. Mr Ellsworth must have had a frightful experience.”

Admiral Byrd, accompanied by seven men, nine dogs, a sled, and supplies, landed'from a small boat on the east side of the bay. While tbe dog teams .were . being harnessed Admiral Byrd and four companions started afoot for the camp. En Route Budkley crashed through the thinice roof of a crevasse. Fortunately he was 'roped j' 1 alpine fashion, to his companions, who pulled him to safety. With aching muscles Admiral Byrd’s party finally. reached the shallow' valley where lay Little America, covered:by the snows of four Winters. ; The 1 administration .building drew them first. Admiral Byrd and Haines, trying to decide where to start to make an .entry, delved into memories and paced off a distance from the chimfiey,' which marked the stove, beneath, .to the door. Neither was, able to telf exactly the' tfthnbbf .of steps once required. A broom’ was found beside the chimney. The men who remembered tbe brOom chuckled as it reminded them of the life that went ob years \ ago beneath them.