ELEANOR BOILING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20491, 17 February 1930, Page 9

ELEANOR BOILING.

PERILS OF THE PACK IOE.

SUPPLY OFFICER'S STORY.

The ship Eleanor Boiling, which left Dunedin last Tuesday evening, is racing against time in an effort to reach the Antarctic ice barrier and pick up the Byrd expedition before it is too late to make the return passage through the pack

Mr.' Raymond- Mercola, who is visiting Auckland, described yesterday his experiences as supply officer in the vessel on her former .voyages. He said he went ashore upon her return to Dunedin for coal after finding the pack ice impenetrable and now was engaged upon business connected with the expedition. Pack Ice Further North.

DescribiiTfe- the Eleanor Boiling's attempt, in company with the City of New York, to find a way through the ice at the end of January Mr. Mercola stated that this year the fringe of the pack was 1250 miles south of Dunedin, or 100 miles further north than it was last year.

The ships had to thread- their way through ice for 600 miles before regaining the clear water adjacent to the barrier, which was 2450 miles from Dunedin. Soon after entering the pack the Eleanor Bdlling encountered ice blocks 45ft. in height. For five hours she was able to thread a way through the thinner ice, but then she became jammed.

It was impossible to go forward and only with great difficulty was the steamer eventually freed astern without-damaging the propeller. But she did receive damage to the hull, which set up leaks, and the pumps had to be kept going until she reached Dunedin. i

The return was made under wireless orders from Rear-Admiral Byrd because the delay being experienced meant that the vessel might run short of coal, and none could be. obtained from the C. A. Larsen or other whaling ships.

While the Eleanor Boiling was on the way back to Dunedin two storms broke up the pack ice and assisted the City of New York in making her way to Byrd's base.-

Quick Work at the Harrier. The Eleanor Boiling was being given 12 days in which to cover the 2450 miles between Dunedin and the barrior, Mr. Mercola said. As she had seldom done 200 miles a day she would have to be pushed severely to fulfil that expectation. A day of great activity would occur when she reached the barrier, because it was hoped that the expedition and its gear would be embarked in a day, so that the two vessels might immediately proceed north. The ice pack usually closed at the end of February. On account of the lateness of its opening it might'remain negotiable by vessels until the middle of March this year. The C. A. Larsen and her chasers would be standing by. to give any help possible if either of Byrd's vessels was caught in the ice on voyage north. The City of New York, a sailing vessel with auxiliai'y power, could load only a limited quantity of the expedition's gear. Most of it, including the aeroplanes and the radio equipment, would have to wait on the ice until the Eleanor Boiling' arrived. No doubt everything would be moved from Little America to the edge of the barrier in anticipation of her coming.

Scout Island Soen Twice. Just Ijefore returning to Dunedin for coal the Eleanor Boiling sighted for the second, time Scout Island, on the existence of which doubt had been thrown by the whalers. ', ■ " - Mr. Mercola said iti was situated in latitude 76deg. south and longitude 179deg. east. It was 1500 ft. long, 500 ft. wide and 125 ft. high. It was both beautiful and curious in appearance, one of the two big rocks which formed it having the appearance of .a man's face.