ARCTIC SENSATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19170, 9 November 1925, Page 9

ARCTIC SENSATION.

ALGABSSON EXPEDITION LEADER S STRANGE ACTS. DEPOSED BY THE PARTY. WORSLEY NOW CAPTAIN. SHIP SAVED FROM PERIL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z." LONDON. Nov. 7. A special despatch to the Daily Express from the Algarsson expedition in the Arctic has been written by Mr, Mason, official cinematograph photographer, from Tromso, Norway. The writer states that it has been found necessary to depose Captain Algarsson from tho leadership of the party and to appoint Commander Frank Worslcy as captain. He adds that the fact that the i expedition is now safe is due entirely to Commandor Worsley, to whom the crew owe their lives. Mr. Mason gives an extraordinary account, of Captain Algarrson's conduct. He alleges that the latter claimed to be "tho only surviving heir to the throno of Iceland." The writer proceeds:— • "When our ship was in a gale Com- ! mander Worsley was on the bridge for j4O hours, while Captain Algarsson was j below singing comic songs. "The ship eventually reached Green Harbour after a bad voyage. She struck !an uncharted rock, but managed to | secure a tow from a Dutch collier to | Tromso." Mr. Mason pays a great tribute to | Commander Worsley, whom be says | sometimes seemed superhuman. When j the propeller was broken he drove the | ship on with one blade. When that went | he sailed her along the ice in an in- | credible fashion. j The Daily Express says Captain | Algarsson is now proceeding to England. Commander Frank A. Worsley, R.N.IL, |is a famous New Zeaiander. He was I captain of the Endurance in Shackleton's I South Polar expedition, and navigated | Shackleton's boat from Elephant Island ito South Georgia. He was also chief j navigator on the Quest in 1921. Ho I served with great distinction in the Great I War from 1916 to 1919, was mentioned |in despatches and won the D.S.O and , bars in 1917. He was lent to the War j Office as Diiector of Arctic Equipment i and Transport or. the Archangel front, | North Russia. Ho also commanded two i mystery shins in tho war, a gunboat, the | Cricket, and a monitor.