DR. MARSHALL INTERVIEWED. PICTURES, PONIES, AND THE POLE.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 839, 27 March 1909, Page 2

DR. MARSHALL INTERVIEWED. PICTURES, PONIES, AND THE POLE.

Dr. Marshall, medical officer of the expedition and the kineinatographer, was found by a Press reporter busy manipulating the kinematograph ma. chine for taking pictures of the interesting incidents of the Nimrod's arrival. Regarding the health of the members of the expedition, Dr. Marshal^ said that there had been no scurvy, and that the provisioning had been excellent. The ten sheep taken from New Zealand lasted till the southern party started on their expedition. The members of the party suffered badly from dysentery, caused by eating pony meat, and, at times, that party were brought down to a pannikin of meat, and from three to four biscuits a day. The plasmon biscuits and cocoa were found of tremendous value, and so also was the concentrated food. FOUR THOUSAND FEET OF FILMS. One interesting fact during this same journey was the low recorded temperature of the men's physical heat. * Tlie normal temperature of a man is 98.4, but, owing to the short rations, the temperature of members of the party went down to less than 94 degrees, indicating a very low amount of animal heat. In all, Dr Marshall estimates that fully 4000 feet of photographic kineniatograph film has been taken, and he has hopes that the pictures will turn out fairly well. Some of the films have been developed ,and have proved satisfactory. He has taken v very good selection of pictures of the scenery in the Antarctic. Included among them are films of sledging scenes, and about 2000 feet deal with the habits and doings of the Penguins, both "Emperor and Adelie. When the temperature got to 30deg. below freezing point Dr Marshall found a difficulty in operating the camera, owing to the oil freezing. On removing the oil he found no difficulty in photographing. SCALING EREBUS. Dr Marshall was one of the party who ascended Mount Erebus — a journey that extended over seven days. They were, he said, fortunate in experiencing a blizzard at 9000 feet, as it ensured clear weather for the remainder of the ascent The temperature experiencQd 1 was low, but not very low on the summit, where the lowest was ntinus 13deg. During the ascent Sir Philip Brockle. hurst got frost-bitten, and one of his toes had to be amputated. A HTJT THAT WILL LAST 100 YEARS. As one of the southern party Dr Marshall had some interesting facts to relate. The start was made from Hut Point, the Discovery's headquarters. The Discovery hut still stands, and is practically as good as ever. .Dr Marshall believes that it will stand for a hundred years, so splendidly was it built. The Manchurian ponies on the whole did wonderfully well. The greatest distance travelled by them in one day was eighteen miles. THE COUNTRY NEAR THE POLE. The party only took provisions for 91 days, and they were away for 120 days. From the nature of the, country* seen from this point, Dr Marshall was of opinion that there is no chance of anyone reaching the pole by way of the Barrier. Undoubtedly the pole was on the plateau. The glacjer is over 100 miles long, and it is crevassed almost the whole length.