CITY OF NEW YORK AT PORT CHALMERS FROM POLAR SEAS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6863, 19 March 1929, Page 7

CITY OF NEW YORK AT PORT CHALMERS FROM POLAR SEAS

Adventurous Days PERILOUS PASSAGE THROUGH PACK ICE MASTER INJURED. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Last Night. Bearing evidence of a hard fight with tho storms of the Antarctic, the barque of the Byrd Expedition, City of New York, arrived in Port Chalmers on Saturday afternoon after a hazardous voyage from the Bay of Whales. The ship had been absent for 103 days, and during that time sho had steamed and sailed close on 4500 miles on tha round voyage. Captain F. C. Melville reported that the 20 men on board were in splendid health. He also reported that every member of the expedition at the base on tho barrier was in good health and spirits when City of New York left on tho return to New Zealand. Captain Injured. None of the men who returned by City of New York bear signs of having gone through hardships with the ex ception of Captain Melville, who narrowly escaped being killed when tho barque was being towed through the ice by C. A. Larsen on the southward voyage. One of the scientific staff was at tho barque’s wheel, and Captain Melvillo went to his assistance, when C. A. Larsen suddenly stopped. To prevent her bow colliding with the whaler, City of New York’s engines were reversed and her rudder struct a heavy cake of ice. The concussion threw Captain Melville over the wheel, his Parka and his clothes being torn off by the spokes, while his face, chin, and lip were cut open and a deep wound was made close to his left eye. The scars gave evidence of Captain Melville’s painful experience. When he was thrown over the wheel he landed on the deck with such force that ha was rendered unconscious. Captain F. C. Melville, when interviewed, said that they had had a very rough passage from the Bay of Whales, but all hands were fit and well. There were 20 men, all told, on board, an cl it was only natural that tho majority were keenly disappointed because they were not given the opportunity to join tho party now on the barrier. . All hands worked hard day and night unloading stores and equipment, although tho weather was not favourable, while the ship was there. When heavy gales set in Commander Byrd gave ordors for tho ship to return immediately to New Zealand. AH the barrier anchorages in the Bay of Whales were then considered to be unsafe, as the ice was breaking away and. huge floes almost surrounded tho ship.

Ice Freezes Early. The solid pari of tho outer edge of the barrier is fully 15ft thick and this was not likely to break away. The outermost part, however, always breaks away and drifts out of. tho bay. At that time the pack ice in the bay extended over a distance of ten miles. Tho early freezing was probably due bo the early summer experienced m the Antarctic. Since his arrival on the barrier, Commander Byrd and his scientific staff had studied the records of Shackloton, Scott and Amundsen, and had found that a lot. of changes had taken place in the ice regions since these intrepid explorers had made their dash for the South Pole. Captain Melville said that the nearest, the City of New York had been to Little America was five miles. During all her movements along the face of the barrier, the ship encountered pack ice and bad weather. Icebergs were numerous and loose ice known as pancake floes was continually forming. Tho ship attempted to get clear on two occasions with tho object of Teaching a point at King Edward’s Land. Cape Colbeck, about 200 miles distant from tho baso of Little America, but this was found to be impracticable, and the conditions of the ice were such that it was necessary for the City of New York to leave the barrier immediately. „ . Ordered to Return.

On February 21, Commander Byrd instructed Captain Melville to get his ship clear and commence tho return voyage to Now Zealand. The next day when the sun was setting behind the barrier the City of New York under sail and steam worked her way out from the Bay of Whales. All hands had an anxious time for some days,, as for a distance of about a 100 miles City of New York had to push her way through new ice and also heavy pack ice at times.

She was hemmed in by solid ice on ono occasion, but she finally broke her way through. After clearing the ice the ship encountered very heavy weather, gale succeeding gale day after day. The ship, ho-wever, proved her seaworthiness by coming through without xoceiving any damage. Captain Melville said the only whales seen in the Bay of Whales were of the fin and killer variety. Sperm whales wore seldom seen so far south. The City of New York will be laid up at Port Chalmers until towards the end of the year. It is expected that she will then sail for the Bay of Whales in company with the Eleanor Bolling with a full supply of provisions. It is probable that about half of City of New York’s personnel will return to America.