DRAMA IN ANTARCTIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 9

DRAMA IN ANTARCTIC.

TWO SHIPS IN PERIL.

NARROW ESCAPE IN ICE.

MAN FLUNG OVERBOARD. BYRD LEAPS TO RESCUE.

AN EXCITING HALF-HOUR.

(Received February 3, 5.5 p.m.)

United Service. NEW YORK, Feb. 2. [By Mr. Russell Owen. Copyrighted 1908 by tho New York Times Company,_ and the St. Louis Post. Dispatch. All rights for publico lion reserved throughout the world. Wireless to tho New York Times.l

BAY OF "WHALES, Feb. 1

There was an exciting incident to-day, and a rescue from the icy water, in which Commander Byrd figured. In the ward room of the City of New York the men of the expedition were writing their last letters home, as in a few hours the Eleanor Boiling, which was tied between us and the Barrier edge, was to start back for New Zealand. Nearly 400 tons of supplies had been put ashoro in four days. It had been dangerous work.

Finally there was a crunching jar, which shook the ship, and tho City of New York heeled to port. As the ship reeled under them those .below leaped for the companionway. They could not see what had happened, or how serious it was. The men rushed on deck and saw that tho Eleanor Boiling had a list far to starboard, as if about to turn over under the crushing sho had received. Desperate Struggle in Icy Water.

Both ships were heeling in opposite directions, anil were being thrust out into the buy l>y tlio Mow, which tore the ice anchors looso as if they were straws. A man hung on a rope from the edge of the broken cliff, swinging helplessly under the overhanging snow. Tho head of another man bobbed above tho snow as largo cakes of ice swept past the stern. Clutching at the small ice cakes which slipped over from him and turned over, Bon Roth, an aeroplane mechanic, who was in the greatest danger, spluttered a cry for help, which was answered by Commander Byrd who jumped, but the ice floated between him and Roth. The ship settled back to an even keel, and it was seen that they were not sinking.

Captain Brown, tho skipper of the Eleanor Boiling, rushed on board his ship, that he might maneouvre • both vessels. The men were watching Byrd as he tried to force his way through the ice. Both men could be seen struggling desperately. Finally Roth's clothing froze to tho ica and so held him. A lifeboat was lowered and picked up both men. Lifeboat Crew Save Other Man. Byrd had been 10 minutes in the water. Later tho lifeboat crew rescued Henry Harrison, the aerologist, who had clung to a rope for a quarter of an hour. Byrd by a roll call assured himself that all the crew were safe. All the men quickly recovered from the shock of tho icy water.

la a short time the commander was on deck, giving directions for unloading the remaining small materials 011 the City of New York, but this ho ordered to be done out in the bay.

From tho time tho ice broke until the last man was on board was less than half an hour, but it seemed hours to those who watched helplessly. Byrd had taken tho chance, which had been forced on him by necessity, to get the heavy material ashore, and ho had won.