MEMBERS OF MAWSON'S PARTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 7

MEMBERS OF MAWSON'S PARTY.

LIEUTENANT NINNIS AND DE. MERTZ. TWO .USEFUL EXPLORERS. ALL THE OTHERS WELL. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright (Received February 25, 8 p.m.) Sydney, February 25. A "wireless message has been received by Professor David stating that two members of Dr. Mawson's Antarctic exploration party (Lieutenant Ninnis and Dr. Mertz) are dead. Professor David received a message . last night from Macquarie Island stating that the Adelie Land wireless plant was again working, and adding that Dr. JVLawson and several men had missed the steamer Aurora owing to an unfortunate circumstance. The operator was then trying to receive a long message from Dr. Mawson, but the conditions were very bad. The message at this point became broken. The Message of Death. This afternoon Professor David received the following additional wireless message:— "Lieutenant Ninnis and Dr. Mertz are both dead. All the others are well. Dr. Mawson and six others will probably winter in Adelie Land. They have been very successful in sledging."

Professor David says that it is difficult to reconcile the messages just received with the earlier wireless reports which stated that the Adelie Land wireless plant had been dismantled and that Dr. Mawson and all hands had left on the Aurora for Mr. Frank Wild's base. Mr. Wild is in charge of the second portion of Dr. Mawson's expedition, consisting of about, eight men. This party wintered at the termination of the glacier, some 1200 miles west of Dr. Mawson's headquarters at Adelie Land.

It is thought by Proiessor David that possibly a fatal accident happened during the progress of embarkation, as for instance the springing up of a blizzard, but he points out that it is idle to speculate on the point. Two Men of Fine Physique. Professor David describes Lieutenant . Ninnis as a fine, fearless British military officer, much of the same type as the late heroic Captain Oates (who lost his life with Captain Scott's party). Dr. Mertz was_ a medical man, as well as a scientist of high attainments. Both men were possessed of a fine physique, and were looked upon as very valuable members of the expedition.

NO DETAILS RECEIVED. (Received February 26, 12.20 a.m.) Sydney, February 25. No details of the circumstances of the deaths of the two members of Dr. Mawson's expedition have yet been received.