THE NIMROD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9403, 25 March 1909, Page 5

THE NIMROD.

LIEUT. SHAOKLETON’S REPORT. ASCENT OP MT. EREBUS. Press Association.— By Elecr trio Telegraph. —Copyright. London, March 24. Lieut. Shaokleton states that .Adams, Brooklehurst, Mackay, Marshall, Marson', and Prof. David left Cape Roy don sth March to ascend Mount Erebus, and on the 7th ■climbed to an altitude of 9500 feet, carrying the ' equipment on their backs. The thermometer registered ;50 degrees below freezing point. After’ a violent blizzard lasting thirty hours, the party reached the old crater on the 9th, and found unique fnmaroles or smoke holes. ■ The crater was filled with felspar crystals, pumice, and sulphur. The • summit was reached on the 10th, and they found an active crater, half a mile in diameter and 600 feetdeep, from which volumes of steam and .sulphurous gas were rising to ai height of 2000 feet. After making a collection they glissaded down and reached Oape Boyd on the llth. Meteorological observations were taken until the end of the expedition. Mr Murray found abundant microscopic life, rotifers,- etc., in the fresh waterlakes near ,Oape Royd, also ringed penguin, lichens, and mosses. Mr Marson made recordstff aurora displays, which were exceedingly brilliant throughout the winter, mostly in the east, btft seldom in the direction of the magnetic pole. Racing cascades of luminescence were darting across the heavens. Many and fall records were obtained of current and tides, by which were able to guage detailed 1 work. Prof. David considers the Antarctic bergs are mostly snow bergs. Fossil radiolaria were found in glacial boulders. Much marine dredging was done in the winter, shafts being sunk in the layer of ice. Biological winter studies were continued and cinematograph records obtained of the natural history. —— The lowest temperature recorded was 72 degrees below freezing point, EXPEDITION TOWARDS THE Pole. Sledging oh 13th August, Mr Armytage, Prof. David, and I examined the great ice barrier, the surface showing 89 degrees of frost. We returned to Oape Royd on 19th September. . s'; Adams, Joyce, Marshall, Marson, Will, and I re-started on S2nd and placed 124 miles south; of the Discovery’s winter quarters a depot for our southern journey.

A blizzard held us up for a week, the lowest reading being 88 degrees of frost. The Barrier surface was found impracticable for the motor sledge, but the Arrol-Johnston motor proved useful over the sea ice in laying depots and covering a distance aggregating 400 miles. The Southern party, consisting of Messrs Adams, Marshall, Will, and myself, with four ponies „ and the supporting party, namely, Sir P, Brooblehurst, Messrs Joyce, Marson, Armytage, and Priestly left. Cape Boyd on 29th October. We left the hut at Point Third with 91 days’ provisions, but were detained at White Island by a blizzard for 'four days. The supporting party returned on the 7th. Adams and his pony were nearly lost in the crevasses, owing to the bad light. On 13th we reached the depot established in September in Lat. 79.36, Long, 168, and took bn a pony, maize, and provisions, and, having reduced our rations, travelled South along meridian 168 on high ridges covered with snow. Owing to ! the prevalence soft snow the ponies often sank up to their bellies. In Lat. 81.4 I shot a pony. 1 On 26th we reached the Discovery’s southernmost latitude. ®We encountered soft snow in the large undulations. Two ponies went snowblind, and were shot. We made a depot at Lat. 82.45, Long. 170. MAGNETIC POLE REACHED. Lieut. Shackle ton states that Prof. David reports that the northern party, consisting of Messrs Marson and Maobay and himself, started on sth October over a difficult route, and after experiencing many hardships reached, on 16th January, the magnetic polo at Latitude 72.25 and Longitude 154, and hoisted the Union Jack. A DASH FOR THE POLE. Received March 25, 8 a.m.

Lieut. Shackleton continued;— South from a depot made after shooting the snowblind ponies, we approached a high range of new mountains tending sonth-east, and found on December 2nd that it was a 'barrier. Influenced by the presence of ridges of snow and ice we turned in to the land, and discovered a south-westerly glacier 120 miles long by 40 miles wide. Oh the sth we started in latitude 83, degrees 83min., longitude 172, to ascend the glacier, which was so crevassed that wo spent the whole day fighting our way up 800 yards. A pony disappeared into a crevasse owing to a swingletreo snapping, but we saved the load, wo now having 250 pounds each. Newsmountains were discovered on -Vi''Y'Y'Y-' J '' ; ■" ■■ ■■. ■■

Many rescues were effected with the help of alpine ropes, and we reached on the 18th an altitude of 6800 feet. A depot was made in latitude 85, where we left everything except food, instruments and equipment. We reduced the rations to twenty ounces daily, and on the 26th reached a plateau 10,000 feet in height. We experienced many hardships owing to the shortage of food and the rarefied air. We made a depot on the platean and took a tent, utilising the poles of the second tent as guiding marks for the return. The surface was soft and ■ we encountered a blizzard lasting 60 hours. We suffered from frequent frostbites. THE FURTHEST SOUTH, We left camp and on the ninth reached latitude 88, degress 23 min.,; longitude 162, the moat southerly poind hitherto reached, and hoisted the Queen's Union Jack. No mountains were visible, and the plain stretched south. THE RETURN. Fresh severe hardships were undergone, also dysentry on the slow returu journey, Marshall especially suilering. But with relief from the ship all reached the hot at Point Fourth. The total journey was 1708 statute miles. Coal measures were found in the limestone. Upwards of a hundred mountains ranging from 3000 to 12,000 feet, were seen in the eight ranges discovered. The glaciers photographed showed signs of former greater glaciation. The south pole is doubtless on the plateau 10,000 to 11,000 feet above the sea. Received March 25, 8.25 a.m. Judging from the violent blizzards in latitude 88, if a polar calm exists it is small in area, and not coincident with the geographi cal pole. Good zoological and geological discoveries were made. Lieut, Shaokleton, while on board the Nimrod after encountering pack Ice, discovered from a position in latitude 69 degrees, 48 min., longitude 166 deg. llmin., a new range|of coast mountains tending south-west; then west for 45 miles beyond Oape North. CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE QUEEN. ' The Queen, through the Daily Mail, sent her hearty congratulations to Lieut. Shaokleton on his great achievement.