A PRESENT-DAY HERO

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1934, Page 2

A PRESENT-DAY HERO

ADMIRAL BYRD’S VIGIL. The bravest of living American ex-' plorers has been relieved from his long and lonely vigil. Readers will recall how Admiral I Byrd realised that it was impossible for a group of men to remain at his Antarctic outpost to study natural phenomena in the interests of science. Supplies were available for only one, and he decided to undertake the solitary vigil himself. His only contact with his staff at the base of the expedition 123 miles away was by wireless, but he had his books and his gramophone to vary his scientific work. He had hoped to stay the course until the Antarctic spring, but his health weakened, and he asked for a relief party if weather conditions would permit its journey. Three attempts were made, and the third succeeded in reaching him. His friends found his spirit as steadfast as ever, though his body was weak. The rescue party travelled on a tractor on which was a little wooden cabin. Members of the party had to make journeys on skis ahead of the tractor to ensue that they were on the right route, for the flags originally planted were in most cases buried by snow. They threw up piles of snow and set lighted candles on them as guides for the tractor. Ten miles from Byrd’s isolated hut they sighted a light on the horizon, and it proved to be a beacon the lonely man had lighted to guide the rescuers. So excited were they that they forgot to continue their wireless messages to the base camp, causing such alarm there that another tractor was prepared to go to the rescue of the rescue party. ' In the meantime they reached Byrd’s hut, and found him on its roof ready to welcome them. “Hullo, fellows!” he exclaimed. “Come down and get warm; I have some soup for you.” They must have needed it after their six hours of strenuous exertion in the bitter cold. Admiral' Byrd explained why he had sent for them. The fumes from his kerosene stove had made him ill. But he had one proud boast —he had experienced what is probably the coldest temperature man has ever endured, 80 degrees below zero. The base of the expedition is on the Bay of Whales and is called Little America. It may be small in area, but with its gallant little band living in darkness there it has occupied a great place in the admiring hearts of the American people and of the whole world, which will not forget its high example of outstanding courage.