ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20113, 26 November 1928, Page 10

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

DETAILS OF THE BTORE3HIP.

WORK OF ELEANOR BOOING,

VESSEL WITH WAR HISTORY,

Something of tho stern reality of Antarctio adventure was brought home to the people of Wellington last Friday when the Eleanor Boiling, storeship of Commander Byrd's expedition, arrived from Dunedin to load the equipment and stores brought from America in the whaler C. A. Larson.

To those who had never seen an Antarctic expedition ship, says the Dominion, tho Eleanor Boiling seemed all too sinnd to venture on tho 2300-mile passage through stormy seas and grinding pack ice to tho* Boss Sea. Those who had known previous expeditions wondered how this tiny steamer was going to stow four great aeroplanes and the piles of othor essential equipment and stores waiting to be transported to the Ice Barrier, Tho Eleanor Boiling, despite first impressions, is a stout ship, and though hor smallness was accentuated by the contrast with 10,000-ton liners near which she moored, sho surprised the unknowing ones liy her capacity to swallow cargo, The aeroplanes apart, what she is taking from Wellington, is but a small part of the expedition's belongings, and although tho City of New York will carry part of tho load tho problem of transport is still an exceedingly knotty one. But Commander Byrd, who has a "horseshoo in every pocket," will find a out with the able assistance of his indefatigable business manager, Mr. R. Ilrophy, and the resourcefulness of his loyal companions in adventure. Everything essential will bo got into the ships somehow. From War to Peace. Tho Eleanor Boiling resembles nothing so much as a largo trawler—sho might easily pass as a big sister of the Nora Niven or the Futurist. Although she has been much altered in her upper works a Harbour Board pilot who saw much service in the navy during the war recognised her as tho Kilmarnock, ono of a class of large double-ended trawlers built for tho Admiralty. These ships, armed with a gun at cither end, were much used in convoy work and went as far afield as the Suez Canal. After the war the Kilmarnock worked for a time in the North Sea and then under the name of Chelsea she went to America. Confiscated as a rum-funner caught red-handed sho was subsequently acquired by tho Byrd expedition, and considerable alterations were made in her. Her bow has been strengthened by tho addition of a number of steel frames and otherwise reinforced for working through the pack-ice, and if time permits when she is docked at Dunedin some timber sheathing will bo worked on to her bow plates. Thero is not a square foot of room to spare anywhere in the little steamer, but her mission is one of arduous service, and her crowded company will cheerfully put up with the discomforts of her limited living space. Yet, taking her full and by, she does not lack anything in the way of comfort that could be given her. Loading the Big Planes.

Tito great floating crane Hikitia was placed at the disposal of the expedition, mid after taking 011 the huge crate containing the fuselage of the Ford plane, and thuse housing the wing sections, it went alongside tlio Eleanor Boiling to supplement tlio two hydraulic cranes 011 the wharf. No hitch occurred with the loading at the after-hatch, but although the fore-hatch of the Eleanor Boiling measures 40ft. long by 22ft. wide it was not until well on in the afternoon that the crate containing the body of the l'"ord plane was slowed. Tlio crato measured 49ft. in length by about 9ft. deep and sft. wide, and weighed between five and six tons.

At the first attempt the monster package, slung 011 a cant, would not pass down into the hold, and had to bo hoisted on to the wharf, reslung, and tiifned on to its side. Tho s(ings wero then readjusted, and after some careful juggling by the cranemen on the Hikitia and the stevedores it w.js safely lowered down into tho hold. There still remained half a dozen lingo crates containing parts of tho other planes find the motors of the Ford, and the uncrated 50ft. wing of the Fqkker pique to take in, but several of theso were disposed of beforo work ceased for tho night. Damage to Instruments. After a portion of the stores and other material had been discharged from the Eleanor Boiling at Dunedin it was fqund that some of the scientific instruments had suffered damage by water. The cases containing tho instruments were stowed in tho hold aft, and an investigation showed that one of the fresh water tanks had developed a leak, the water unfortunately percolating into tlio instrument cases. These were, opened after being removed to (ho wharf shed and the parts separated and dried. While the instruments were damaged to some extent they are not ruined, and the delicato parts which have been affected by the water will lie replaced. Several scientists from 'he Otago University and Mr. G. S. Marshall went to the assistance of tho visitors when they were informed of the mishap, and the combined staffs were last week engaged in rectifying the damage. The water also found its way into several cases containing photographic films, and the damage here is of a somewhat serious nature. Fresh supplies of film will be purchased in Dunedin.

EXPIiQREBS at chbistchijt.ch. TP I BUT ft TO CAPTAIN SCOTT. [liy Tpi-EG^I'II—PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] CnftISTCJIURCH, Sunday. Tlio Polar explorer, Commando! Richard Byrd. and party arrived from Wellington this morning. They were met at tho station by tlio Mayor, the town clerk and tho American consular agent, Mr. If. P. Bridge. They were subsequently takei] 011 motor tour of the city and suburbs. fn tho afternoon Commander Byrd deposited a wreath at the foot of the Scott statue, in the presence of a largo assemblage of tho public, including representatives of local bodies. The party left by tho night express for Dunedin.