BYRD’S ISOLATION

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1934, Page 5

BYRD’S ISOLATION

A CELEBRATION Of North and South Ventures (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) MONTREAL, May 9. A message from Little America says: To-morrow. Byrd completes six weeks’ isolation at hi s advance post. Tie continues to report all weH, with the temperature ranging from fortyfour to sixty-one degrees below zero At times, he is suffering from intense cold. Yesterday, he declared over the radio: “ I am heating the stove economically to save fuel. The shack is only twenty above zero. It is quite co’d at the telegraph key. However. I am used to that now. There is wonderful peace and quiet in a place like this. I am enjoying myself. Besides lhe meteorological observations keep me busy. I had considerable trouble with the instruments, but they are still running.

”1 am also perfecting plans for Hi’ spring operations The expedition must be readv to start all units involved in the eastern and southern operations, and must be prepared to take the field with the first good weather in October.”

Here at the. camp, lhe expedition has finished the most fascinating building project. The d<ig town is completed ami 126 huskies have dwellings dug under. Each is chained in crate.s something like cells in long rows The dogs consume 600 pounds of seal carcass each meal. HOLIDAY AT LITTLE AMERICA. (Received May 11 at 7 p.m.) MONTREAL. May 10. A message from Litt'e America states; The members of the Byrd expedition to-day declared a holiday in commemoration of the eighth anniversary of Admiral Byrd's North Pole flight. Now Byrd is isolated 123 miles southward, but he participated in the ceremonies, by radio communication. After breakfast, lhe mess hall was cleared, and a microphone was set up; and, with Doctor Charles Morgan, the expedition’s geophysicist, at their wheezy collapsible organ, the men sang “Anchors A-Weigh,” the song of Byrd’s school, the American Navy Academy at Annapolis, and other favourites. Then each man passed before lhe microphone, and gave his name, and voiced greetings to Byrd. There were present three members of “The Seventy-eight” who have accompanied Admiral Byrd to that parallel both north and south, namely, Haines the second in command; Com- , mander Noville, and Mr E. J. Demas, who is in charge of the tractors.