BYRD OFF AGAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1929, Page 7

BYRD OFF AGAIN

MYSTERY LAND EXPLORED MORE NEW MOUNTAINS [By Russell Owen—Copyrighted, 1929, by' the New York Times Company, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to New York Times.) (By Game—Press Assn.—Copyright.’ BAY OF WHALES, December 5. Commander Byrd started the first eastern exploration flight this season, taking off at 10.30 this morning, with Pilot Captain Parker, in the direction of King Edward Land, which holds the key to one of the Antarctic’s mysteries. It has long been a source of speculation as to what holds the ice there, as it curves to the north; its formation, indicating that somewhere in that direction to the north is land. Whether it is a series of small islands or an extension of the coast line has never been learned. There have been many attempts to penetrate the ice that way. Scott and ' Shackleton tried and were turned back by ice closing about them, and Byrd tried three times last year to get north with the City of New York, turning* back only when to go on might have meant imprisonment and the possible loss of the ship. Twice last year he tried' to fly past what is known of King Edward Land, but was headed off by snow and clouds. It has been one of the impenetrable and interesting lands of the Antarctic continent, as whoever solves the mystery as to what, keeps that mass of ice held to the north, will probably be able to delineate the new coast line. The following bulletins were received from Byrd at noon: Excellent visibility. Can see Rockefeller mountains to the south clearly, also high mountain ahead, just a little to the right of Scott’s Nunatak. We are about twenty miles west of Scott’s Nunatak. Air is rough and motors fine.” One o’clock: Many mountain peaks past Scott’s Nunatak. We are over an unexplored area, and new mountains, and are mapping the unknown coast line. Now are two miles westward of coast line over water, so that McKinley can map. Have made more than one hundred miles per hour. All well.” One thirty: “We have discovered a great mountain range in Marie Byrd Land, running generally in a north and south direction. We hope this is worth while for science, for we are flying in rough weather and taking chances to map it.”