THE MAWSON EXPEDITION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 25 May 1915, Page 7

THE MAWSON EXPEDITION

A MEMORABLE INCIDENT

The "following is an extract from Sir Douglas iViawson's booK: —

lvv.Toing up a long, tairly steep slope', deeply covered wita soft snow, broke through lid of crevasse but caught myseif us, tnigns, got out, turne.d fifty yards to tiie nortn, then attempted to er-oss trend of crevasse, there being no indication of it; a few moments later found myself dandling fourteen feet below on end of rope in crevasse—pledge creeping to moutn —had time to say to myself, 'so this is the end,' expecting the sledge every moment to crash on ray head and all to go to the unseen battom—then thought of the food uneaten on the sled»e; but as the sledge pulled up without letting me down, thought of Providence giving me another chance. The chance was very small considering my weak condition. The width of the crevasse was about six feet, so I hung freely in space, turning slowly round. A great effort brought a knot in the rope within *ny grasp, and. after a moment's rest. I was able to draw myself up and reach another, and, at length, hauled myself on. to tluv overhanging snow-lid into which the rope had cut. Then, when I was carefully climbing out on to the surface, a further section of the lid gave way, precipitating me once more to tho full length of the rope. Exhausted, weak, and chilled (for my hands we; c bate and pounds of snow had got juside my clothing) I hung with the firm conviction that all was ever except the passing. Below was a black chasm; it would be but the work of a moment to slip from the harness, then all the pain and toil would be" over. It was a rare situation, a rare temptation—a chance to quit small things for great—to pass trom the petty exploration of a planet to the contemplation of vaster worlds beyond: But there was all eternity for the last and, at its longest, the present would be but short. I felt better for the thought. My strength was fast ebbing; in a few minutes it would be too late. It Avas the occasion for a supreme attempt. New power seemed to come as I addressed myself to one last tremendous effort. The struggle occupied some i time, but by ji inirac-e I rose slowly > to the surface. This time I emerged feet first, still holding on to the r.oue, and pushed myself out. extended at full length, on the "Snow —on solid ground. Then can'o the reaction, and I could do nothing for qniie an hour."