BYRD EXPEDITION

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 8

BYRD EXPEDITION

SNOW CRUISER A FAILURE DUNEDIN, January 14. The announcement that the snow cruiser taken south by the Byrd expedition last year is lo be abandoned in Antarctica when th? last men finally leave will occasion no surprise to those who have kept in touch with the expedition. Even before the cruiser arrived at the seaboard of the United States to be shipped south the hug' l , unwieldly machine caused plenty of trouble. It was ditched at one part of the trip, and its huge bulk and smooth tyres made it a mammoth job for removal. Seamen aboard the North Star regarded it with disfavour, and when the time came to unload it there were more complications. A big ramp built half of steel and half of wooden beams was not strong enough to stand the strain. The story has been told how Dr. Poultep, driving the machine, took his foot off the brake and steppe 1 on the accelerator, saving further trouble. When it was finally brought into use the snow cruiser, dubbed ‘‘bouncing Betty,” did not put up any mileage records. In fact, . members of the crew of both the North Star and the Bear are firm in the statement that it “did not travel more than about 10 miles,” before it broke down for the last time. A problem bigger than loading awaits those who would ship this huge machine back to the States.. It would have to be first towed the 10 miles back.

' According to statements made by some of the personnel ?f the Bear, apparently its first trip was its last. That is not to say that the'cruiser was altogether a failure. Fitted with wireless capable of keeping it. in touch with the camp, a galley, sleeping quarters, etc., it was regarded as an ideal dwelling place for four members of the ice party. Messages received show that these men have been living in the cruiser for some time.