BYRD BACK

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1935, Page 5

BYRD BACK

DUNEDIN WELCOME REVIEW OF EXPEDITION Object Achieved (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February 18. Advice received.to-night states that the Jacob Ruppert, with .Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd, is expected off Otago Heads t.'his afternoon, and will proceed up the harbour, to berth about 4.30 p.m. If the vessel is delayed, it wiU be berthed at Port Chalmers for the night and will come to Dunedin on Tuesday. The Bear of Oakland is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Sunday’s Message

SIGHT OF LAND EAGERLY AWAITED. MONTREAL, February 17. News from aboard Admiral Byrd’s flagship, Jacob Ruppert, received at noon to-day (Sunday) stated that the vessel was then 240 miles from Dunedin. The Bear of Oakland was about 150 miles astern. 'Rhe message stated that ]»r(>parations were being made to dock at Dunedin on Monday afternoon, and to dock the Bear of Oakland on the following day. The men were becoming excited at the prospect of seeing land for the first time in fifteen months. Ragged beards were being trimmed, and nondescript clothes, which 'had been good enough for Antarctic wear were being thrown overboard. As the end of the adventurous phase was neared. Admiral Byrd expressed his satisfaction that their dangerous operations had been carried out without a single fatal casualty and with no serious injuries nor sickness. The men added an expression of their satisfaction. The leader himself performed the most hazardous task of maintaining the advance base from which he recovered only after a serious illness.

THE ARRIVAL

Explorers Welcomed GLAD TO BE BACK. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February 18. Two days earlier than expected, Admiral Byrd’s Expedition ship, the Jacob Ruppert, was sighted to-day off Otago Heads, shortly after midday. An hour and a half later the vessel arrived at Port Chalmers, and, after a medical examination, which found a clean bill of health, she proceeded to Dunedin, reaching her berth here at 4 p.m. An official reception was extended to the Leader of his party by the Mayor, Rev. E. T. Cox, the acting-Chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr John Loudon; and members of the Civic Committee and the Harbour Board. After their sojourn in the Antarctic extending over twelve months, the members of the Expedition were obviously delighted to make contact once again with civilisation, and though bearded and bewhiskered, they were fresh-complexioned, healthy, and cheerful. Few, if any, of the Expedition appeared to have suffered from the rigours of the Polar regions; but, when it is remembered that they have en joyed no company, save their own, for more than a year, it can well be imagined that they greeted land and the sight of new faces with feelings of heartfelt gratitude. LEADER INTERVIEWED. Admiral Byrd, in an interview, said that the main function of the Expedition had been to ascertain whether there was any connection between Marie Byrd Land and the main Antarctic Continent. As the result of the work of the Expedition, they were now satisfied that the existence of such a connecting link had been definitely established. A great deal of scientific work of great value has been accomplished, he said, but the full results would not be available for at least three years, owing to the necessity of correlating the information gathered.

The expedition, he stated, had left behind a large quantity of food and housing material, which would be available for any future expedition. Admiral Byrd leaves for Auckland in the morning to meet Mrs Byrd, who is due there on Friday. A FINE RECORD! Admiral Byrd said that he was not prepared to discuss the question of wl*ether he proposed to undertake any further polar exploration. ”1 have now completed four major expeditions without the loss of a single life,” he said. “That is what I regard as the high light of my exploring experience. At the same time,” he added modestly, “It is due to the special act of Providence, and not to any actual skill of my own.” COWS COME BACK.

The expedition enjoyed fresh milk as a regular article of diet at the Bay of Whales. However, of the three cows that were taken south, one succumbed to the rigorous Antarctic, while the two others, together with a bull calf born in the Far South, are now on board, and in good condition. It is of some interest to speculate on the commercial value of these animals, nnd especially of the calf, by the time that they reach America. THE PENGUINS. Also on board, travelling in luxury in a special ice chamber, are thirtyseven penguins, seventeen of the Emperor variety, and twenty of the Adele variety. So far. they have stood the voyage to the United States splendidly ANTARCTIC MINERALS. When interviewed, the geological members of the . party stated that no

minerals of a commercial value were found in the Antarctic. Traces were discovered of lead and molybdenite, as well as extensive deposits of coal in the Queen Maude area, but their inaccessibility is the chief barrier to their value. A Romantic Tour AN EXPEDITION LEADER MARRIED LAST EVENING (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February 18. A touch of romance was associated with the arrival here to-day of the Byrd Expedition. While the Jacob Ruppert was still some distance from the point of berthage, Doctor T. O. Poulter, the second-in-command, had hired a special launch and was speeding towards Port Chalmers, where he met Miss Helen Gray, to whom he proposed to be married the same night. Bringing the characteristic American bustle to bear .on the preliminaries, Doctor Poulter was so successful that in less than four hours after airival. his marriage was celebrated in the Manse of First Presbyterian Church. Admiral Byrd gave the bride away. Dr. Poulter met Miss Gray while he was a Professor at the lowa Wesleyan College, and she later assisted him in scientific work. ,She has been in Dunedin for some time in charge of Dr. Poulter’s three children of his former marriage. The pair had been in touch by means of radio brought out with the expedition, and it ‘is understood the, marriage arrangements were made over the air.