THE ANTARCTIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 31

THE ANTARCTIC.

COMMANDER BYRD’S EXPEDITION.

WINTER SETS IN EARLY', [By Russel Owen.] Copyright, 1928, by the New York Times Company and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All Rights for Publication Reserved Throughout the World. Wireless to New York Times.

BAY OF WHALES, February 23. The City of New York, with 20 men on board, has left for New Zealand, and if the Eleanor Boling should be turned back by the ice our little group on the barrier will be beyond reach except by radio until next December. It was with strangely mixed feelings that we stood on the edge of the bay ice yesterday and watched the tall white ship move slowly away and disappear in the mists northward.

Commander Byrd made the decision tc send the ship back after sailing to the north-east to et soundings in the uncharted waters, and, incidentally,, to lay bases on the barrier for a flight next jear. He was-driven back by a severe storm, and there were so many indications that the sea would soon freeze over that he merely tied the ship up long enough to get the last personal effects ashore, then sent her on her long journey back. The storm which checked his progress northward was the worst yet experienced down here. The wind was blowing 50 miles an hour, and lashing the waves into spray, which froze before it fell back into the sea or on the deck. The City of New York struck bad weather as soon as she pushed past the capes. It swept dow’n off the barrier in chilling gusts, which drove the temperature down to 29 degrees below zero. The lookout could see barely 100 yards ahead and with big cakes and "small bergs floating about the condition was disconcerting. The wind became stronger as the ship went farther aorth, and finally froze the surface of the water into a sort of slush, through which it was difficult to force a way. The commander determined to turn back, but when an attempt was made to tack it was found fu the ice had frozen around the rudder so thickly that it was jammed. With ice-cutte-s on long poles the men cut and chopped round the rudder post through a hole in the deck until the rudder could be freed, but even then the turn had be made very slowly. The men’s faces froze, and their hands and feet .were nipp-d as they worked. Dr Coman, on lookout or the forecastle, was caked in ice armour, as the spray froze on his clothes.

In the midst of this turmoil things began to go wrong below. The steam valve in the boiler room froze in the cold draught that came down from above, but fortunately the one in the engine room stayed warm. Then a gasket blew out, and later the high pressure valve slipped. They were quickly repaired, but without the engine the ship was almost helpless for a time.

February 27. Commander Byrd ordered the Eleanor Boling not to attempt to break through the ice, but to return with her cargo to New Zealand. The ship turned on Monday night when 1060 miles south-east of Taiaroa Heads. Commander Byrd stated that the winter is coming down with such rapidity that the Eleanor Boling would probably never escape if she continued southward. TWO SHIPS RETURNING. A wireless message received by Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co. from Captain G. L. Brown states that the Antarctic expedition ship Eleanor Boling, which is returning from the Ross Sea, will make a call at the Campbell Islands for the purpose of landing a man employed on a sheep station. Captain Brown also advised that the Eleanor Boling is expected to arrive at Dunedin to-day or on Wednesday. The whole of the ship’s cargo, consisting of provisions and equipment, will be discharged and stored in one of the Harbour Board’s sheds. The Eleanor Boling will afterwards go to Port Chalmers, where she will be laid up for the winter.

The City of New York, which is also returning from the Antarctic, should reach this port some time this month. This vessel will also lie up at Port Chalmers for the -winter.

THE MAW’SON EXPEDITION. LONDON, February 28. Sir Douglas Mawson, discussing his expedition arrangements, said he was taking over the Discovery, which was at present in the West India dock. Provided there was no unforeseen delay, she should be in readiness to start late in the autumn. The Discovery would shortly be taken over by Captain Davis, who would go to Australia in the summer. Sir Douglas Mawson himself will go to Australia by mail steamer. He said he had already been inundated with requests from all parts of the" world to join the expedition. “ My own opinion,” he said, “ is that the visions of a great polar continent affording facilities for human life on a big scale will never come true, but there is. no reason why small communities should not find life there . >lerable, and in some respects even advantageous. Although women could not reasonably participate in polar exploration, there is no reifson why they could

not endure settlement life in th* Antarctic regions. By Russell Owen. Copyright, 1928, by the New York Times Company and St. Louis Post Dispatch. All Rights for Publication Reserved Throughout the World. Wireless to New York Times. BAY OF WHALES, March 1. „ y° m ™ an< 3er Byrd remarked to-day: Ive just heard that the Australian Government is backing an Antarctic expedition for Sir Douglas Mawson. This is good news. My friend, Sir Douglas, is a great scientist as well as explorer, and there is no one with a greater knowledge of Antarctica than he. We therefore predict a brilliant success, and if it may be possible for our expedition to cooperate or to lend him assistance we shall be delighted. Antarctica is a tremendous area, and will take many expeditions to bring it out from the realms of the unknown.”