BREAK IN ICE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10811, 4 February 1929, Page 5

BREAK IN ICE

EXCITEMENT IN ANTARCTIC A CRUSHING JAR.

MECHANIC IN DANGER

COMMANDER BYRD TO THE RESCUE.

(Copyright 1D29 by the New York Times Co. and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the -world.)

(By wireless to the New York Throes.) (By Russell Owen, aboard the City of New York).

(Copyriglit from Byrd Expedition). (Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m.) BAY OF WHALES, Feb. 1. In the ward room of the City of New York, the, men of the expedition were writing their last letters homo in the few hours the steamship Eleanor Bolling, tied between its and the Barrier edge, was to start back for New Zealand. Nearly four hundred tons of supplies had been put ashore in four days. It had been dangerous work. Finally there was a crushing jar, which shook the ship New York and .keeled her to port and,, as the ship reeled under them, those below leaped for the companion way.’ They could not see what had happened, or how serious was the break. Ihe men’ rushed on deck and saw that the Eleanor Bolling was listed far to starboard, as if about -to turn over under the crushing she received. ' Both ships, heeling in opposite directions, were being thrust out into the bay by a blow which tore the ice anchor loose as it it were straw. A man hung on a rope from the edge of a broken cliff, swinging helplessly under the snow overhead. The head of another bobbed above the snow. Large cakes swept past fcho stern- By clutching at small, ice cakes which slipped over from him and" turned over, Ben Roth, who was in the greatest danger, was able to sputter' a cry for help. Commander Byrd, who answered, jumped, hut tbe ice floated between him and Roth. The ships settled-hack to an even keel and it was seen that they were not sinking. . . /Captain- Brown, captain oi the Eleanor Bolling, rushed aboard Ins ship that he might- manoeuvre both vessels. The men were watching Commander Byrd as he tried to. force his way through the ice. Both could be seen desperately struggling. Finally, Roth’s clothing froze 1 to the ice. and go held him. A lifeboat was lowered and picked up both men. Commander Byrd had been ten minutes in the water. Roth is an aeroplane mechanic. Later they rescued Henry Harrison, the aerologist, who had clung to the rope for. a quarter of an. hour. Commander Byrd, hy the roll call, was assured that all the crew were safe and he quickly recovered from the shock of the icy water and, ,m a short time, was on deck giving directions for the unloading of the remaining small materials on the New York, but which he had ordered, to be done out in the Bay. EVont the time the ice broke until the lastman was aboard wag less than hail an hour, but it seemed hours\ to those who watched helplessly. Commander Byrd had taken - a chance which had been forced on him by the necessity 'to get the heavy material ashore and had won.