NEAR DISASTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18283, 29 December 1933, Page 7

NEAR DISASTER

BYRD SUPPLY SHIP FIRES EXTINGUISHED

’BERGS NARROWLY MISSED

(Special to Press Association from Byrd Expedition) (Received December 29, 10 a.m.)

AT! SEA, Dec. 27,

After the first spectacular success, the expedition now is apparently getting a taste of the conditions that for 160 years have defied explorations in this region. The Jacob Ruppert to-night, fighting fog and a north-west gale, steered a wary course among countless icebergs. The noon position was latitude 66.10 south, longitude 140.23 west, approximately 10 miles north of the main ice pack. The ship logged otdy 66 miles since Saturday at noon.

The past 24 hours have impressed upon all hands the perils latent in this region. We were particularly near disaster this morning when a large quantity of water which had collected in the starboard oil tank was inadvertently pumped into the boilers, extinguishing the fires. Meanwhile, two icebergs each 200 ft. high, loomed several hundred yards off the starboard and port side. The chief engineer immediately switched on the port tanks, restarting.the fires, but the Jacob Ruppert, rapidly losing speed, drifted helplessly. On the after-deck, Pilot June mobilised the aviation crew for emergency action on the plane. Fortunately, with the ’bergs less than 300yds away, the steam pressure returned to normal and the Jacob Ruppert fought her way back into the wind.

Commander Gjertsen told his mess : “Your lives were in the hands of God and the engine room. If either had failed, you would all he dead men tonight.”