PACK ICE GONE

Grey River Argus, 25 January 1934, Page 5

PACK ICE GONE

ELLSWORTH’S RETURN Great Change in Fortnight (Special to Press Assn.—From Ellsworth.) FROM “WYATT EARP.’’ Jan. 23. “We were at latitude 55.55, longitude 177.4 S al noon to-day. within 1000 miles of Dunedin, and should be in port earlv on Saturday morning. For two di’.vs after leaving the Bay of Whales. we had a strong wind from the south-east, but this helped us on the way. Since then we have had excellent weather. Strange to relate, since on our way south wp passed through a belt more than 300 miles -wide, we have seen no pack ice on the return tri]'. It seems almost miraculous that so much ice disappeared within 15 days. We arc south of it. but we know from bitter experience that changes in i«*e. like everything else in the Antarctit. can take place with extraordinary rapid i t y. “Two day- ago, we passed many icebergs strung out like huge battle ships in line. There were more than 50 of them averaging about a mile apart. It i< difficult to say whether it was wind or current which had influenced their distribution. They had been adrift for some time, and the waves bad eaten into most of them, exposing great caverns in the ice. Some had obviously turned turtle - at no distant date, and the overturned bergs with jagged peak- -rising 50 feet high, were- a great contrast to the flat table-topped- onec. which floated with the same exposure they had when they left the barrier.. ’ . - “As wo approach New Zealand, and during the watch below, there is great activity among the crew. Strange faces appear as the men decide - to - lop off whiskers, some -of which have been growing since leaving Capetown. “As we go northward, we miss the continuous daylight which we experienced while south. There is now about six hours’ darkness, and since the main light engine is out of commission. the Kohler set was called upon to furnish electric light, as well as service to the wireless. The temperature increases noticeably from day to day. The fresh water pipes have thawed, and a few days’ steady sea routine, after the strenuous time at the barrier, enabled the crew to get the -hip back to its customary clean- , ness. “By the time wo reach Dunedin, the whole Antarctic journey will seem like a dream. But there will be a | sharp sad reminder when the airplane “Polar Star’’ comes from the hold to be crated in readiness tn be shipped back to America. I have decided to send the machine on a passenger shin from Wellington to San Francisco. “The Wyatt Earp will first call at Dunedin to discharge fuel oil and gasoline and polar supplies - for storage. then take the airplane to Wellington. While | am awaiting developments. which will enable nie to decide my future plans, the ship will return to Dunedin and go into dry dock for slight repairs to the rudder, which was twisted while passing through the pack ice, and a general overhaul of the engine. ’ ’ Byrd’s Thanks FOR TRANSPORT OF SUPPLIES WELLINGTON. .Tantrary 24 Appreciation of the Government action in arranging for quicker transport. Of supplies for the Byrd expedition from Auckland to Dunedin -was (’xpress-.'d in a radiogram received by the Minister of Internal Affairs from Admiral Byrd, as follows: “Please accept for the people and Government of New Zealand my deep ami abiding gratitude fo r the generous donation of aeroplane service a! a moment most crificallv affecting 4he successful accomplishment of my expedition, the mission in which, through the New Zealand men attached to the expedition the New Zealand people ar 0 playing a most vital part. For yourself. Major Wilkes. Commander Isitt. Lieut. Wallingford and all others who were active. please accept personal thanks.— R. E. Byrd. ’ ’