WITH BYRD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 29, 21 January 1929, Page 6

WITH BYRD

MATERIAL FOR THE BASE TRANSPORTATION DIFFICULTIES GREAT WORK BEING ACCOMPLISHED By Russell Owen, copyright, 1928, by the New York “Tinies” Company ‘lm t - 11 ? OUIS “Dost Dispatch.” All lights lor publication reserved throughout the world Wireless to the "New York Times.” Bay of Whales, Jan. 18. A stiff wind is blowing off the Barrier, a wind that lashes the surface ot the snow into clouds, and a wind that cuts the face, nips tiie hands and feet. Into it the line ot sledges began to bore their way towards the base, the men tugging at the geepoles and calling to their dogs.

lhe frost from their breath was gathered on their unshaven faces, and on the sides of their fur caps under their parka hoods. They are building an epic of polar sledging, doggedly fighting their way eight miles inland and back twice daily, carrying loads that had been thought impossible. They began on December 31st., and in seventeen sledging days they have moved more than 100 t.ns of material to the base over the drifting and buckling bay ice. For two days during a blizzard work was stopped, but though the conditions are severe to-day they are plugging ahead, making two trips with undramatic coal sacks. They have not lost a dog or a parcel, although time and again a sledge with a load of more than 1,000 pounds has ti-pped over or slid into slough holes between pressure ridges. It is difficult to know which to admire most, the men or the dogs. Both are thoroughly tired at the end of each day. The men, who fight the sliding sledges and toppling loads when the trail is rough or along the knife edge of a pressure ridge, are able to ride hack to ship from the base, but the dogs trot the entire thirty-two miles, tugging at their harness, grabbing a mouthful of snow as they go. and occasionally turning aside to find a little recreation in trying to nick - fight with a passing rival team. AMAZED AT PROGRESS No men are more appreciative of such work than the Norwegians, who have done so much to develop polar travel, and they have been frankly amazed at the progress achieved. When Amundsen arrived here he was able to take his ship in beyond our present base, and within two and a half miles of Framheim, his base. Only a few days after the anniversary of Amundsen’s arrival here on January 14th. the Byrd expedition has put more than 180 tons ashore, and the ice, although shifting, has not yet shown any signs of going out. Yesterday a record was made, eight tons being hauled to the base. This achievement has been the more remarkable because everything else has gone on at the same time. Two houses have been erected at the base, and a great deal of other preparatory work has been carried cut, demonstrating that little has been forgotten. Amundsen forgot snow shovels. Some things have been forgotten on this expedition, hut nothing for which a substitute could not he found or replaced by some expert workman. The dog drivers never leave the ship or the base without being reported by radio at the other end of the trail, and a constant lookout is maintained from the crow's nest, and all information is constantly recorded, so that it would be difficult for much to go astray without it being quickly known. This country grows on one despite its loneliness, or perhaps because of it. After the airflight to the base it was a tremendous contrast to go out to the base with a dog team, over a winding trail past pressure ridges and over small cracks through which seals poke inquisitive noses. The bay ice then seems a great plain, varied only in its contours, silent, rigid and beautiful.

One driver, who has experienced this terrible silence and menace, took me with him. and when we were coming back riding behind the softly padding dogs, he turned round and said; “Sometimes 1 stop here alone, and you hear your heart.’’ It was not the sound of your heart he meant but your heart itself speaking strange things, unlifting, perhaps, all by the limitless white. There is nothing more purely white than the light here reflected from the snow. All the changes in colour, the softly glowing shadows of the barrier cliffs, shadows with just a hint of rose are caused by the breaking up of this pure white light, and as one rides along the trail or trots behind the dogs the surface gleams with gems, points of fire reflected from a - "ect crystal of snow. They look like nnals glowing with changing marvellous colour.