ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Otago Witness, Issue 2416, 28 June 1900, Page 22

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

THE CAMP ARRANGEMENTS,

•Tune ?d. In continuing his narrative of the Southern Cross I ntarctic expedition, Mr Borchgrevink says : All 10 of us realised our isolation as the vessel steamed away with wishes 'and greetings to those left behind. It seemed _to be an open question whether jiT was possible to sustain life on this desolate spot, 25jU miles south of Australia. The professional duties at the camp were allotted as follows : — Dr Kloorstad and Lieutenant Lolbeck, in charge of provisions ; Mr Bernacchi, in charge of the instruments and explosives ; Mr Fougher, in charge of the travelling gear ; Messrs Evans and Hansen, in charge of fuel, light, ammunition, and guns. -There were also in camp Colbern Ellefsen, cook, and two Finns.

SCALING CAPE ADAIR,

On March 12, Mr Borchgrevink, with Mr Bernacchi, moved from the camp - andscaled Cape Adair to a height of 3670 ft, the ascent being very steep for the first 800 ft. At the top vegetation was found of the same kind as, was found on the lower rocks in 1894.

OBSERVATIOx^S

From this until the end of April the days were spent in daily meteorological observation, and in magnetic work, whenever the magnetic conditions were favourable. Members of the staff daily returned to camp with, ears, nose, cheeks, hands, and feet frozen. The thermometer on May 16 registered 25 degrees below zero. As an interesting bioiogical fact Mr Borchgrevink mentions that six puppies born at this time seemed to do well under the snow. One night during A TERRIFIC STORM Mr Evans, whose duty it was to take the readings, got lost in crossing from the thermometer screen to the house, having for a minute let go his hold of the guiding rope stretched between the camp and thi screen. Search for three hours in a blinding snow drift and great cold ended in Fougher and a Finn finding him. He was brought to camp in an exhausted condition, vomiting violently, but under the doctor's treatment he soon recovered. The darkness and silence, says Mr Borchgrevink, weighed heavily on one's mind, and yet, paradoxically as it may seem, the silence roared in one's ears. We seemed to be experiencing centuries of heaped-uu solitude.