THE AURORA’S DRIFT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4207, 5 April 1916, Page 5

THE AURORA’S DRIFT.

CAPTAIN STENHOUSE’S

STORY.

A BRIEF SUMMARY AVAILABLE,

NARROW ESCAPE FROM

DISASTER.

THE AFANDONED SHORE

PARTIES.

(Press Association Telegram.) DUNEDIN, April 4. Interviewed to-niglit, Captain Stenhouse, of the Aurora, stated that after the arrival of the vessel at Cape Crozier a whale boat. ' left the ship with, a party and endeavored to land near the Cape with winter clothing and stores for the hut for a party of three, which was to leave in June for the Emperor Penguin Rookery. No landing was effected owing to the advancing Barrier along the Cape Crozier cliffs. A passage was made southwards, but no place for depotlaying was seen. The ship proceeded next to McMurdo Sound and arrived off Cape Evans on January 10. The party made r. survey of Scott’s hut and the ship proceeded towards Cape Evans. On January IS a party of six left for Hut Point, but were delayed for three days by a severe blizzard. A depot-laying party of three left on January 24 for Minna. Bluff, a distance of So miles.

On January 25 Captain Mclntosh and three others left for Mount Hooper, 175 miles on the main southern depot-laying journey. On January 31 Cope’s party of six men left for Minna Bluff with a motor tractor drawing two sledges, the members of the party pulling another. Meanwhile, the ship was endeavoring to reach Hut Point to lay in good supplies, but was prevented by the break up of the ice and a succession of blizzards. After nuudi'effort, the Aurora went towards Glacier Tongue for winter quarters. 'l’lie period spent there was one of constant anxiety owing to the drifting pack and continual blizzands. Finding no suitable place for winter quarters the Aurora anchored off Cape Evans- in a severe blizzard on March 10.

Next day provisions for four months for the non-returning party wore sent to Hut Point. Another severe blizzard sprang up and the ship, breaking her anchors, drifted dangerously dose to Cape Royds and Cape Barn, and out to the mouth of the 'Round. She returned to Cape Evans the following day. On March 23 Stevens and party were domiciled in the hut ashore.

Blizzards of constant recurrence, ever increasing in severity, and the bodily drifting of the ice, put a tremendous strain on- the moorings and during a drift tho iec parted from the tidal crack and went out bodily, snapping the ship’s moorings like threads, though these comprised the limit of the ship’s equipment. When the ship was driven away the southern party had not returned back. Wireless calls were sent out- in the hope that a small aerial might have been erected at the Cape or that constant calls might disturb uetic instillments regularly and let them know the ship was safe. The ship drifted towards Franklin Island on July 21. The ice broke up and tho snip swung athwart the ice, but it closed in and hipped the Aurora stern and stem crushing the rudder. 3 lie slup listed steadily and the position was critical for some hours. Sledging preparations were made for the abandonment of the ship and aerograms were sent asking for, ielief. The ship then drifted northwards. On October 4 new land was sighted Pood and clothing were very short for eight months and the men had two meals a day. On February 12 the ice broke up round the ship, which mack north. On March 10, during a heavy gale, two large bergs closed in on tho Aurora so steam was raised and, after many attempts, she passed close to the end of the bergs.

()n March 14 there were .°»0 bergs in. the vicinity of the ship and 100 within range of the horizon, hut the ship easily eot through. 1-l.er wireless signals were heard when the Aurora was 990 miles from Hobart.

THANKS TO N.Z. GOVERNMENT

(Press Association Telegram). WELLINGTON, Anvil 4. Mr Massey received the following telegram to-day from Lieut.. Stenhouse, commanding the Antarctic ship Aurora: “Please accept sincere thanks from all on hoard the Aurora for tlie hearty welcome extended hy you and the Government of New Zealand and for your congratulations on our sate arrival. Please also accept my sincere thanks tor your generous gift of timely assistance in our final stage. I hope soon to liavo the honor of your acquaintance, when _ I can more fully word liiv gratitude. ’