Winter Show Number.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 51 (Supplement)

Winter Show Number.

FRENCH EXPLORERS IN ".THE l ANTARCTIC.

«, The following account of Dr Charcot's Antarctic expedition in the Pourquoi-pas was written by the distinguished French explorer himself, and is the first full and connected narrative of Dr Cahrcot's travels. Dr Charcot writes : On leaving Deception Island (lat. 62deg 55min S), we made our way to Port Lockray, where we commenced our work. On January 1, Godefroy, Jaequc6, Gourdon, and I made a reconnaissance to find a better shelter, when we found, at Peter-

mann Island, the harbour which we named, in honour oi the day, '•Circumcision." A few days after we brought the Pourquoi-pas round, having escaped from Wandel without suffering any serious damage by gently wriggling round the icebergs. I set out toe same day with Godefvoy and Gourdon to explore the south, chiefly to climb some eminence to see whether we had any channels to pass with the Pourquoi-pas between Biscoe Islands and the coast. As we reckoned upon returning the same day, we had taken neither supplies nor change oi clothes Our mission was easily fulfilled, and we saw that the coast was blocked; but when we wanted in retrace our steps we found that our path was quite blocked

by the ice. During the four days' blinding snowstorm we struggled to liberate ourselves— I will pas; over the details of that trial. VIOLENT WEATHER. From Petermann Island we went towards the south, skirting the coast, and completing the chart 'of the Francais. We found the bay which was marked by Pendleton, the Am-r-.'iran whaler, and d'scovered to the north of Adelaide Island a large bav, which wo have since na red Martha Bay. Wo nex'+ trok hydrographio ob;ervat : ons of Adrlaid.3 Island, which has a very peculiar configuration. Put instead of being eight miles in length, as is gene-

rally' supposed, the configuration has a length of 70 miles ! South of Adelaide, in a region neither explored nor ever seen, we discovered a great bay, which I have ma-med Marguerite. We entered here, despite the reefs and compact ice, and anchored at a little isle which I named ••Jenny," after Bangrain's wife. We now encountered such violent weather for four days that it was a miracle the vessel escaped. An enormous iceberg appeared in front of us, from which only a. series of tacks saved u 6. During our sojourn at that little island three of my men made a two days' excursion, which enabled them to explore the seas between Adelaide and Terra Loubet. To the south of Marguerite

I Bay we were continually fighting our way j through ice and icebergs, hut we ir.aroa.gocl ! to take soundings of the sea bottom around j HO nicies of unknown coast, After two attempt's to find our way across the ice to j .Alexander Land, we decided to abandon the project till the following summer. A PAIVFUL >v'IXTER. Our winter station was organised as comfortably as possible. Numerous observations were taken with the electric light. | and during the throe days' tour I found j that the movable house of the Franca's I made a more comfortable observatory. | During the aut,U7iin we made numerous ex--1 cur&ions. We saw no sun for five days; the

wind blew strongly fr-jm the north-east, and the snow fell heavily. The ice flues were continually shifting. Many icebergs passed. Despite all precautions, cur barrier was frequently broken. The ship was often in danger, and her rudder was smashed. We constructed a new one by cutting up a spar. An expedition to cross Graham's Land was prepared with great car2. I intended to lead it myself, but I was disabled by scurvy. Gourdon took my place, setting out with six companions. They brought back some interesting observations, but were unable to scale the insurmountable barrier of granite and ice. Other excur sions were also made. After considerable

I trouble, towards the end of November, we were able to get the ship free. We returned to Deception Island, where we found -some whalers who had been held up by ice and bad weather. Here we were heartily welcomed by Mr Andresen and his wife on the Chilian steamer Gobernador Bories. With great generosity they helpcd us by all means at their disposal, and supplied us with 100 tons of coal by order of the Magellan Whalers' Society. As our vessel was making two tons of water per hour, the diver who had attempted to refloat the steamer Telefoni stranded the ! year before, examined our keel. From Deception Island I wanted to make for Joinville Land to seek for fossils, but the ice

very quickly compelled me to change my plan. We did not, wish to endanger our journey southward or to suffer the fate which befell the Antarctic in the same latitude. After a brief struggle we were beaten back to Bridgeman Island,' where we landed ; then to Admiralty Bay and the south coast of the Shetlands, where we did some good work Thence we set out to the. south, the weather all along being bad and mists', and the ice and icebergs abundant, Nevertheless, we were able to go beyond all the latitudes attained to the south-west of Alexander Laod : and to complete the chart. Wo then discovered a series of new lands

to the south and west of Alexander Land, in an unexpected place, thus solving an important problem. The deplorable icebelt barred our nearer approach; in one hour we got no further than 10 yards ! We continued our route by following the ice barrier until we reached Peter I Island, which has not been seen since Bellingshausen discovered it. There we were overwhelmed by a tempest and thick mist, during which we had to steer carefully among I the icebergs. They were so numerous that I estimated we saw more than 5000 of them in less than a week. We had to drift, without steam, all the time, through a fog so dense that we could not see further than 20 yards, ahead. Despite this and the

strong gusts of wind wo reached the 126th degree long. W., having sailed from tho place, where the Belgioa set out. between 69deg and 71deg lat., that is to say, well to the south of both Cook and Bellingshausen Our stock of coal being exhausted, tb~ health of several of the party becamj. alarming. We had to turn our faces northward; for a long time the icebergs had been innumerable, but they gradually diminished, and finally we saw the last. Ihe crossing of the Antarctic to Cape Pillar was extremely rapid, thanks to aji uninterrupted series of south-westerly and north-north-westerly winds, but the sea was terrific. In 10 days we arrived at the entrance of +he Magellan Straits.